Figueroa at Wilshire Building vs Union Bank Plaza Tower

Comparing the Figueroa at Wilshire Building and the Union Bank Plaza Tower is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in Los Angeles, CA, and were both designed by Albert C. Martin & Associates. However, they were completed more than 22 years apart.

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

The Figueroa at Wilshire Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 719ft (219m) with 52 floors above ground, while the Union Bank Plaza Tower reaches 515ft (157m) with 40 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 Figueroa at Wilshire Building was designed in the Postmodernism style, while the Union Bank Plaza Tower reflects the principles of International Style.

At the time of their completion, both styles were well established. This makes the comparison especially interesting, because both buildings represent a dominant aesthetic at a particular point in time.

Built 22 years apart (1990 vs 1968), these two buildings are a perfect example of how different architectural styles have shaped the architectural landscape of our cities over time.

Both the Figueroa at Wilshire Building and the Union Bank Plaza Tower were designed to serve as commercial towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

The Union Bank Plaza Tower also provides 914 parking spaces.

Both towers share the same structural solution, a Frame 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.

However, when it comes to the facade, both buildings use different approaches. The Figueroa at Wilshire Building uses a Curtain Wall facade, while the Union Bank Plaza Tower uses a Window Wall facade.

A Curtain Wall facade like the one seen in the Figueroa at Wilshire Building uses a lightweight glass curtain wall hung from the structure, while a window-wall facade like the one seen in the Union Bank Plaza Tower uses panels fitted between floor slabs, leaving slab edges visible.