One may wonder – why do we have numerous skyscrapers? Despite posing several issues and accidents, it’s still one of the most significant infrastructures in an urban city. Why is it important?
Simple – it provides substantial space for New Yorkers to work and a place to live in this crowded city. This aspect is crucial nowadays with our ever-growing population.
As a matter of fact, the population of New York increased from 17,813,000 in 2000 to 18,867,000 in 2022.
Not only does it provide the space needed, but serves as another way to increase tourism and connect local and international businesses.
From a cultural aspect, skyscrapers paved the way in giving New York an iconic reputation when it comes to architecture.
As of today, New York has more than 6,000 tall buildings, which includes 274 skyscrapers. Out of 274 skyscrapers in NYC, I picked out the top 8 tallest skyscrapers to visit:
- One World Trade Center
- Central Park Tower
- 111 West 57th Street
- One Vanderbilt
- 432 Park Avenue
- 30 Hudson Yards
- Empire State Building
- Bank of America Tower
Tallest Building In NYC
1. One World Trade Center – 1,776 Ft
285 Fulton St, New York, NY 10007
Phone: 844-696-1776
One World Trade Center in New York City’s tallest skyscraper with a height of 1,776 feet or 541 meters.
Moreover, it is the seventh-tallest building in the world, which comes after the sixth-tallest building, the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea. One WTC and Freedom Tower are also other known names of the building.
Construction began in 2006 and opened its doors in 2014. The tower cost about $3.9 billion to construct the building, with a total of 104 floors, 73 elevators, and a floor area of 3,501,274 sq ft. It was designed by renowned architect, David Childs, who focused on wanting people to be inspired to work and come to the building.
Designed in a contemporary modern style, the building features a cubic base and entryways from all four sides. The Freedom Tower was built to remember the victims of the 9/11 attack and also serves as a reminder of hope.
Visitors can see the beauty of the tower from above through the One World Observatory NYC, one of the best tourist attractions in the city.
2. Central Park Tower – 1,550 Ft
217 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-957-5557
The Central Park Tower is the second-tallest skyscraper in the city that stands at a height of 1,550 feet tall. It is a modern residential and retail supertall building with a total of 98 floors, 11 elevators, and a floor area of 1,285,308 square feet.
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture is the architecture firm assigned to design the building, a reputable firm that also developed other international projects including the Jeddah Tower and 1 Dubai.
The tower started construction in 2014 and was completed in 2021, costing about $3 billion. Living in the residential tower promises astounding panoramic views of “The City That Never Sleeps” and a hotel-style service, which is no surprise as it comes with a whopping $1.5 million for a studio condo here.
It’s surely a grand living space with its Central Park Club amenities and park.
The tower has several prestigious titles, from being one of the world’s 15 tallest buildings to the second-tallest in the Western Hemisphere.
It is also known as the Nordstrom Tower for having the Nordstrom department store the first to open. Moreover, the residential tower has 179 residential units and a triplex penthouse which cost about $95 million.
3. 111 West 57th Street – 1,428 Ft
111 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-935-5757
Known as the Steinway Tower, 111 West 57th Street was completed in 2022 measuring a height of 1,428 feet.
Nestled in a floor area of 572,348 sq ft, the tower ascends 84 stories which are accessible via 14 elevators. It is a residential tower that includes 60 luxury condos.
SHoP Architects and Warren and Wetmore are the designers of the building, including JDS Development Group and Property Markets Group as the developers.
The tower is located in Midtown Manhattan, along with several other famous buildings such as the Empire State Building. Its state-of-the-art design accounts for its pencil tower characteristic.
In fact, this skyscraper is the skinniest in the world, having a high slenderness ratio of 1:24 (width: height ratio). Not only is it a masterpiece from the outside, but its elegant interior features a dome ceiling, marble arches, and classic paintings.
Its interior was designed by none other than Studio Sofield, and originally by Walter. L. Hopkins.
4. One Vanderbilt – 1,401 Ft
1 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017
Phone: Contact List
Located on Vanderbilt Avenue, One Vanderbilt is the second-tallest office building in the city, towering at a height of 1,401 feet. The massive 93-floor building opened in 2020 with an observatory at 1,020 feet.
The floors are divided into five areas: Sky, Penthouse, Tower, Executive, and Podium.
Moreover, it covers a floor area of 1,750,212 sq ft with 42 elevators. It was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, headed by Severud Associates as the structural engineer.
As of 2021, over 70% of the building is already leased by tenants, where some of which are TD Bank, Eatery Restaurant, SL Green, MFA Financial, and KPS Capital Partners.
Thus, you can expect exceptional amenities from outstanding dining to a contemporary auditorium and a vast outdoor veranda. Going beyond the 73rd floor is the Summit, an observatory spanning 71,938 sq ft.
It’s a place where you can experience world-class dining and scenic views for $39.
5. 432 Park Avenue – 1,397 Ft
432 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-432-2389
432 Park Avenue is an 85-floor residential skyscraper, standing at 1,397 feet tall. It is a contemporary building completed in 2015 in Midtown Manhattan, which is also included in the Billionaires’ Row.
The tower holds several distinguished records which include being the third-tallest residential tower and the 26th-tallest skyscraper in the world.
It’s not only a residential tower but also a place for lifestyle, dining, and well-being. The tower features several amenities including luxury concierge services, a well-equipped conference room, an exquisite billiards room and library, a private theater, and expansive wine cellars.
For health and wellness, Jay Wright of the Wright Fit offers expert advice and training on fitness for its residents.
Residents can also enjoy the tower’s huge pool, jacuzzi, gym, sauna, massage room, and steam room. In total, there are 147 apartments, where the 91st to 96th floors contain the penthouses.
With the tower’s world-renowned services and amenities, as well as top views, it would be a dream to live in a place like this.
6. 30 Hudson Yards – 1,270 Ft
30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001
Phone: 844-696-1776
Soaring at a height of 1,270 feet, 30 Hudson Yards is the sixth-tallest skyscraper in New York City and the tallest one in Hudson Yards.
It is a supertall skyscraper located on the West Side of Manhattan that is used for office, observation, and retail. It features an architectural style of neo-futurist that was designed and planned by Kohn Pedersen Fox.
The tower is known for many names including Manhattan Tower and Hudson Yards North Tower. Construction began in 2014 and was completed on March 15, 2019.
Today, the tower is leased by several tenants including Wells Fargo Securities, Warner Bros. Discovery, Facebook, Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee, and The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards.
Several known studios are also situated in the tower, including CNN Newsroom, CNN Tonight, At This Hour, Anderson Cooper 360, and Don Lemon Tonight, to name a few.
One of the most notable features of 30 Hudson Yards is its suspended triangular outdoor observatory deck, better known as The Edge on floors 100 and 101. Its mid-air suspension offers a thrilling experience, making you feel you’re walking in the sky.
7. Empire State Building – 1,250 Ft
20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-736-3100
Of course, let’s not forget about the most iconic and probably one of the most visited landmarks in New York, the Empire State Building.
Coming to New York without visiting the Empire State Building is like going to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. It’s one of the most exquisite skyscrapers ever built and is known as America’s Favorite Architecture.
With a height of 1,250 feet excluding the antenna, the tower is the seventh-tallest in New York City and the 43rd-tallest in the world. Its construction started in 1930 and ended in 1931, which is one of the fastest in the world, lasting only a year and 45 days from start to finish.
One of the most popular facts about the building is that it takes 1,872 steps to climb up to the 102nd-floor observatory.
The Empire State Building is the oldest skyscraper in New York and the world’s most-photographed skyscraper as well. Should you decide to visit, the building is open 365 days, seven days a week.
They offer several types of tickets which vary according to the floors and inclusions, of which the cheapest is $44 for adults.
8. Bank of America Tower – 1,200 Ft
Bank of America Tower, 1 Bryant Pk, New York, NY 10036
Phone: 315-724-4022
The eighth-tallest skyscraper in New York is the Bank of America Tower located at One Bryant Park. It’s one of the most high-tech and most environmentally-inclined buildings in the city, with a height of 1,200 feet and a total of 55 floors.
The building is used as commercial office space for several tenants. Its main tenants are Bank of America, The Durst Organization, Burger & Lobster, Charlie Palmer Steak, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
It took five years to complete its construction, which started in 2004 and ended in 2009 at a cost of $1 billion. Overall, it has three basement floors, a floor area of 2,100,000 sq ft, and 52 elevators.
These elevators were provided by Schindler Group, a Swiss multinational company known to provide elevators and escalators worldwide.
Cookfox and Adamson Associates were the architecture firms designated to design the building and worked along with Durst Organization, Severud Associates, and Tishman Construction Corporation.
One of the most impressive qualities of the building is its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, making it the first NYC building to acquire this.
Since the green building has environmental features, it includes a clean-burning 5.0 MW cogeneration plant, solar-heat reducing glass walls, and re-used rain and snowfall, among others.
See the World through Skyscrapers NYC
Most of the skyscrapers in NYC are nestled in Midtown Manhattan and Lower Manhattan. If you’re ever in the area, I recommend at least visiting these skyscrapers and admiring their beauty from the outside.
If you have the time and don’t mind spending, it’s also a great idea to come inside the observatory deck and see the city landscape by day and the city lights at night.
Have you visited these places? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. If you have any recommended must-do’s or facts about the buildings, we’d love to learn about them too!
