Chicago Board of Trade Building vs The Bell Building

Comparing the Chicago Board of Trade Building and the The Bell Building is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in Chicago, IL, and were both designed by Holabird & Root. However, they were completed more than 27 years apart.

This offers a unique perspective on how the architect's style and the city's architecture evolved over time.

The Chicago Board of Trade Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 604ft (184m) with 44 floors above ground, while the The Bell Building reaches 427ft (130m) with 31 floors above ground.

Of course, each project may have faced different briefs or regulatory constraints, which we don't really know about and could also explain the outcome.

The Chicago Board of Trade Building was designed in the Art Deco style, while the The Bell Building reflects the principles of Modern.

Both towers were built when their respective styles were already past their prime. This makes them feel more like late continuations rather than groundbreaking statements, showing how architectural traditions can linger even as tastes shift. The fact that they were built 27 years apart also suggests that architectural fashions often outlast their supposed end dates in practice.

The Chicago Board of Trade Building is primarily commercial, while the The Bell Building is primarily .

Originally, the The Bell Building was designed for commercial, but over time it was converted to . The Chicago Board of Trade Building by contrast has maintained its original role.

The two buildings opted for different structural and facade solutions.

The Chicago Board of Trade Building uses a Frame system, which relies on a regular grid of columns and beams to sustain its weight, while the The Bell Building uses a Framed Tube In Tube system, that combines a strong central core with a perimeter tube of columns.

And when it came to the facade, the Masonry went with a Masonry facade, which features a heavy masonry skin that gives it a more clasical look, while the The Bell Building opted for a Curtain Wall facade, that uses a lightweight glass curtain wall hung from the structure.