U.S. Bancorp Tower vs University Club Tower

Comparing the U.S. Bancorp Tower and the University Club Tower is compelling because they were both designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, yet they stand in different cities (Portland, OR and Milwaukee, WI), and were completed over two decades apart.

What this will allow us to see, is how the same firm's approach adapted to different places in different periods of time.

The U.S. Bancorp Tower is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 535ft (163m) with 42 floors above ground, while the University Club Tower reaches 446ft (136m) with 34 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 U.S. Bancorp Tower was designed in the Modern style, while the University Club Tower reflects the principles of Contemporary.

The U.S. Bancorp Tower represents a late expression of the Modern, a style already in decline in 1983 when it was completed. By contrast, the University Club Tower followed the then mainstream Contemporary, embodying the dominant architectural direction of its time.

With 24 years between them, the comparison also reflects how quickly architectural priorities can shift from one dominant language to another.

The U.S. Bancorp Tower is primarily commercial, while the University Club Tower is primarily residential.

The University Club Tower offers 53 residential units.

Both towers provide significant parking capacity, with U.S. Bancorp Tower offering 1005 spaces and the University Club Tower offering 106.

Both the U.S. Bancorp Tower and the University Club Tower 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 Modular facade.

A modular facade is made of prefabricated panels, sometimes resembling stone or masonry, combined with smaller windows. It provides variety while maintaining efficiency in installation.