Russell Investments Center vs Two Union Square

Comparing the Russell Investments Center and the Two Union Square is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in Seattle, WA, and were both designed by NBBJ. However, they were completed more than 17 years apart.

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

The Two Union Square is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 741ft (226m) with 56 floors above ground, while the Russell Investments Center reaches 597ft (182m) with 42 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 Russell Investments Center was designed in the Contemporary style, while the Two Union Square reflects the principles of Modern.

The Two Union Square represents a late expression of the Modern, a style already in decline in 1989 when it was completed. By contrast, the Russell Investments Center followed the then mainstream Contemporary, embodying the dominant architectural direction of its time.

Both the Russell Investments Center and the Two Union Square were designed to serve as commercial towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

Both towers provide significant parking capacity, with Russell Investments Center offering 711 spaces and the Two Union Square offering 1100.

Both the Russell Investments Center and the Two Union Square rely on a Framed Tube In Tube structural system.

A tube-in-tube system combines a reinforced central core with a perimeter of columns connected by floor slabs. This arrangement creates a stiff structure that resists both vertical and lateral forces efficiently.

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.