US skyscraper milestone: closing in on 100 towers over 800' tall

[Steely Dan]

According to the CTBUH, there were 38 skyscrapers over 800' tall in the US at the close of the 20th century (tragically, the two WTC twins would soon be lost on 9/11, making for 36 that still survive).


US Skyscrapers over 800 ft. In 1999: 38 (36 still standing)

New York: 12 (10 still standing)

Chicago: 9

Rest of America: 17
- Houston: 3
- Atlanta: 3
- Los Angeles: 2
- Philly: 2
- Dallas: 2
- Seattle: 1
- Cleveland: 1
- Charlotte: 1
- San Francisco: 1
- Pittsburgh: 1



Since then, a further 64 800-footers have been built (or currently U/C) in the US according to the CTBUH.


US Skyscrapers over 800 ft. built or U/C since 2000: 64

New York: 38 (includes 1 tower in Jersey City)

Chicago: 12

Rest of America: 14
- Miami: 5
- Philly: 2
- San Francisco: 2
- Austin: 2
- Los Angeles: 1
- Seattle: 1
- Oklahoma City: 1




Total US skyscrapers over 800 ft. built or U/C: 100

New York: 48 (includes 1 tower in Jersey City)

Chicago: 21

Rest of America: 31
- Miami: 5
- Philly: 4
- San Francisco: 3
- Los Angeles: 3
- Houston: 3
- Atlanta: 3
- Austin: 2
- Dallas: 2
- Seattle: 2
- Cleveland: 1
- Charlotte: 1
- Pittsburgh: 1
- Oklahoma City: 1





So there are now a total of 100 800-footers in the US (including U/C), but 48% of them are in New York, and a further 21% of them are in Chicago, meaning 69% of America's big towers are located in just those two cities.








here's a fun little chart comparing the 100 tallest skyscrapers in the US today with how things stood back in 2000.


The 100 tallest US skyscrapers, 2000 vs. today:


city ------------ 2000 ---- Current --- change

New York ------- 28 ------- 48* ----- +20

Chicago --------- 13 ------- 21 ------- +8

Miami ----------- 1 --------- 5 ------- +4

Philly ------------ 4 --------- 4 ------- 0

San Francisco --- 3 --------- 3 ------- 0

Atlanta ---------- 6 ---------- 3 ------- -3

Los Angeles ---- 10 --------- 3 ------- -7

Houston -------- 10 --------- 3 ------- -7

Austin ---------- 0 ---------- 2 ------- +2

Seattle ---------- 4 --------- 2 -------- -2

Dallas ----------- 5 --------- 2 -------- -3

Oklahoma City - 0 ---------- 1 ------- +1

Charlotte ------- 1 ---------- 1 --------- 0

Cleveland ------- 2 --------- 1 -------- -1

Pittsburgh ------ 2 ---------- 1 ------- -1

Detroit --------- 1 ---------- 0 -------- -1

Indianapolis --- 1 ---------- 0 -------- -1

New Orleans --- 1 --------- 0 --------- -1

Boston --------- 2 ---------- 0 -------- -2

Denver --------- 3 --------- 0 --------- -3

Minneapolis ---- 3 ---------- 0 -------- -3





(*) NYC's current total includes 1 tower in Jersey City.


source: CTBUH database

[JManc]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

According to the CTBUH, there were 38 skyscrapers over 800' tall in the US at the close of the 20th century (tragically, the two WTC twins would soon be lost on 9/11, making for 36 that still survive).

Had 9/11 never happened, there probably would just be the two original WTC towers rather than the four or five that occupy that area now.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by JManc

Had 9/11 never happened, there probably would just be the two original WTC towers rather than the four or five that occupy that area now.

Only three on that spot right now. 2 WTC is yet to be completed. So only one additional 800+ ft. tower due to 9/11. And no additional supertalls (until 2 WTC is completed)

The other new towers are off the main WTC site. 7 WTC replaced the destroyed 7 WTC, and the upcoming 5 WTC replaces the old Deutsche Bank HQ.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by JManc

Had 9/11 never happened, there probably would just be the two original WTC towers rather than the four or five that occupy that area now.

There were more towers before than there are now. There were 7 before and only four now.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

There were more towers before than there are now. There were 7 before and only four now.

I assume he doesn't mean the hotel tower, or the midrise office towers.

Yeah, technically the WTC site is less dense, with fewer towers, than the original. But there's one (eventually to be two) more 800 ft. towers.

[craigs]

What was the reasoning behind picking 800' as the base height for the comparison? It's clear that towers of that height remain exceedingly rare in US cities other than New York and Chicago--and always were.

[homebucket]

SF should add another 2 to its tally shortly once Transbay Parcel F (806 ft) gets going early next year and when Oceanwide Center (910 ft) hopefully resumes. There's also that recent proposal for 50 Main Street (818 ft).

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by craigs

What was the reasoning behind picking 800' as the base height for the comparison? It's clear that towers of that height remain exceedingly rare in US cities other than New York and Chicago--and always were.

I guess exceedingly rare is subjective, 27 (w/o NY or Chi) is still quite a decent amount of 800 footers, way, way more than most countries on its own.

With NY or Chi though, China is the only country that beats the US in almost every category so we're pretty spoiled, but we just don't have 1+billion people.



In any case, I really hope the US steps up its game outside of the two megacities as there are a decent amount of proposals in places like Seattle / LA / Philly / Austin / Miami etc...

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by craigs

What was the reasoning behind picking 800' as the base height for the comparison?

It's a nice round number, and with 90 of them now, it gets us pretty damn close to the nation's top 100 tallest.

I could rerun the numbers using the nation's 100 tallest towers and the results would not substantively change.


The 100 tallest US skyscrapers:

New York: 46 (includes 2 in JC)

Chicago: 21

Rest of America: 33

[SFBruin]

It is true that the two biggest skylines in the US, by far, are New York and Chicago, and that the race for third is, at least, a discussion.

New York and Chicago not only have more skyscrapers, but are the only cities with any buildings > 1200 feet.

[MAC123]

Originally Posted by SFBruin

It is true that the two biggest skylines in the US, by far, are New York and Chicago, and that the race for third is, at least, a discussion.

New York and Chicago not only have more skyscrapers, but are the only cities with any buildings > 1200 feet.

Is LA planning on densifying anytime soon?

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by homebucket

SF should add another 2 to its tally shortly once Transbay Parcel F (806 ft) gets going early next year and when Oceanwide Center (910 ft) hopefully resumes. There's also that recent proposal for 50 Main Street (818 ft).

Based on land values alone, it seems to me that SF should rightfully be the 3rd undisputed US skyline heavyweight, were it not for that town's almost maniacal levels of NIMBYism.

It's so cool to see it finally re-enter the skyscraper game again after a roughly half-century hiatus.

[SFBruin]

I think that SF is the third largest skyline in the US, though it's in some dispute with Philadelphia and Houston.

Maybe LA too.

[homebucket]

Originally Posted by SFBruin

I think that SF is the third largest skyline in the US, though it's in some dispute with Philadelphia and Houston.

Maybe LA too.

SF has some advantage here due to its topography. Some towers appear taller than they really are due to the fact they sit on hills. One Rincon Hill (641 ft) sits on a 100 ft tall hill so from afar it has the appearance of a 740 footer. 555 California also sits at 35 ft so it has the appearance of being at 814 ft. The Nob Hill hotels and Russian Hill residential towers also have more prominence as well since they’re at the very top of their hills, so it helps extend the skyline in a way.

[homebucket]

Originally Posted by SFBruin

I think that SF is the third largest skyline in the US, though it's in some dispute with Philadelphia and Houston.

Maybe LA too.

If we examine this 2nd tier of skyscraper cities, here is the breakdown of completed buildings of at least 500 ft. I thought I'd look up some others too in addition to the ones you listed.

Miami 56 (!)
Houston 36 (this includes 8 non-downtown buildings)
Los Angeles 28 (this includes 6 non-DTLA buildings)
San Francisco 24
Seattle 21
Boston 21
Dallas 19
Atlanta 17
Philadelphia 14
Pittsburgh 10
Minneapolis 10
Austin 7
Charlotte 7
Detroit 7
Cleveland 4
Oklahoma City 2

It appears that Miami by far is the 3rd largest skyline in the US, followed by Houston, LA, and SF. Philadelphia is surprisingly low despite having an impressive looking skyline. Maybe because it's more top heavy? It doesn't seem like they have very many towers below 600 ft (unless Wikipedia is very off), yet the skyline still appears quite dense. Very interesting phenomenon. Austin will likely jump to the top half of this list in the next 5-10 years.

[plinko]

Las Vegas has 18 I believe. Jersey City has 15? Denver has 8. I don’t think any other US city has more than 5.

[chris08876]

Yeah Jersey City has 14 over 500 ft, and 1 over 800 ft. 30 Hudson is a close one, almost there.

Nearby NYC has 18 over 300 meters either complete or u/c and 319 either complete or u/c over 500 ft exact. Over 500 ft or exactly at it, there are 46 proposals of which 11 are 300m+.



Maybe someone who knows Chicago better can fill in something similar to above than compare.

On a side note, Miami is a solid 3rd with 54 complete 500 ft+ and 4 u/c over that range and 26 proposed over 500 ft.

[DCReid]

Originally Posted by homebucket

If we examine this 2nd tier of skyscraper cities, here is the breakdown of completed buildings of at least 500 ft. I thought I'd look up some others too in addition to the ones you listed.

Miami 56 (!)
Houston 36 (this includes 8 non-downtown buildings)
Los Angeles 28 (this includes 6 non-DTLA buildings)
San Francisco 24
Seattle 21
Boston 21
Dallas 19
Atlanta 17
Philadelphia 14
Pittsburgh 10
Minneapolis 10
Austin 7
Charlotte 7
Detroit 7
Cleveland 4
Oklahoma City 2

It appears that Miami by far is the 3rd largest skyline in the US, followed by Houston, LA, and SF. Philadelphia is surprisingly low despite having an impressive looking skyline. Maybe because it's more top heavy? It doesn't seem like they have very many towers below 600 ft (unless Wikipedia is very off), yet the skyline still appears quite dense. Very interesting phenomenon. Austin will likely jump to the top half of this list in the next 5-10 years.

One reason Philly is low is because they had a 'gentlemen's agreement' for decades that no building could be higher than city hall, which I believe is under 600 ft. I believe they finally started building taller buildings in the 1980s.

[Obadno]

I dont know what you people are talking about a skyscraper is anything over 10 stories

And Phoenix has tons of them at least 20 maybe even 30

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by chris08876

Maybe someone who knows Chicago better can fill in something similar to above than compare.

According to the CTBUH database, Chicago has:

7 towers over 300m, with none U/C

122 towers over 500 ft., with 6 more U/C