The competition garnered 260 entries, and the first place honor was awarded to a design by New York architects John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood.

[1] Many observers considered Saarinen's simplified yet soaring setback tower to be the most fitting entry, and his innovative modernist design exerted a significant influence on subsequent architectural projects.

Co-winner of the Tribune Tower competition, Raymond Hood, adopted Saarinen's skyscraper style for several subsequent projects.

[7] He said that under Saarinen's hand, the spirit of the skyscraper, "rid of its inhibitions and suppressed desires... leaps in joyous freedom to the sky.

Willis notes that setback architecture was being implemented in New York City highrises because of 1916 zoning ordinances related to building height and sunlight, and that Saarinen's design was understood to be an embodiment of this trend.

[9] Mercurio points to the Tribune Tower competition entry from American architect Bertram Goodhue as having the same modernist features as Saarinen's, with dramatic setbacks but a more pronounced simplification of the exterior.