The Parkshore vs 155 Harbor Condominium

Comparing the The Parkshore and the 155 Harbor Condominium is interesting because they both rise in Chicago, IL, yet they were conceived by two different design teams, Barancik Conte and Solomon Cordwell Buenz, and were completed at different points in time. They were finished more than a decade apart.

This contrast within the same city allows us to see how different creative minds interpreted the evolving needs of Chicago across time.

Let's take a closer look!

The The Parkshore is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 554ft (169m) with 56 floors above ground, while the 155 Harbor Condominium reaches 551ft (168m) with 54 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.

Both the The Parkshore and the 155 Harbor Condominium were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the Modern style.

Both buildings were completed when the Modern style was already past its peak. This makes them feel like late echoes of the movement, more reflective of continuity or nostalgia than of cutting-edge design at the time.

Both the The Parkshore and the 155 Harbor Condominium were designed to serve as residential towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

In terms of capacity, the The Parkshore offers 483 apartments, while the 155 Harbor Condominium provides 742 units.

The The Parkshore also provides 371 parking spaces.

Both the The Parkshore and the 155 Harbor Condominium rely on a Frame structural system.

A frame structure uses a grid of columns and beams to carry the building's loads. This frees the walls from structural duties, allowing for flexible floor plans and larger windows.

They also employ the same type of facade, a Curtain Wall facade.

A curtain wall is a non-load-bearing facade hung from the structural frame. It is anchored to floor slabs and transfers only its own weight and wind loads, allowing for sleek, glassy exteriors.