List of tallest buildings in Boston

Skyline of Boston's Back Bay
Skyline of Boston's Financial District

This list of tallest buildings in Boston ranks skyscrapers in the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts by height. The tallest structure in the city is the 60-story Hancock Place, better known to locals as the John Hancock Tower, which rises 790 feet (241 m) in Boston's Back Bay district.[1] Hancock Place is also the 46th-tallest building in the United States. The second-tallest building in Boston is the Prudential Tower, which is 749 feet (228 m) high.[2]

Boston's history of skyscrapers began with the completion in 1893 of the 13-story Ames Building, which is considered to be the city's first high-rise.[3] Boston went through a major building boom in the 1960s and 1970s, resulting in the construction of over 20 skyscrapers, including Hancock Place and the Prudential Tower. The city is the site of 16 skyscrapers that rise at least 500 feet (152 m) in height, more than any other city in New England. Based on existing and under-construction buildings over 500 feet (152 m) tall), the skyline of Boston is ranked second in the Northeast (after New York City) and tenth in the United States.[A]

As of June 2008, Boston has three major proposals to build skyscrapers within the next five years. The largest of these proposals is Trans National Place, which, if constructed, would become the new tallest building in the city at 1,175 feet (358 m). If built, the skyscraper would also rank among the tallest in the United States;[4] only three existing buildings in the country are taller. Another proposal is the South Bay Tower, which, at 800 feet (244 m), would become the city's second-tallest structure.[5] A third major proposal for the city is the South Station Tower, which would become the city's fifth-tallest building, assuming that both Trans National Place and the South Bay Tower are constructed.[6]

Contents
Boston skyline from from the north side of the Charles River
Boston skyline from from the north side of the Charles River

Tallest buildings

The current tallest building in Boston, Hancock Place
Boston's 2nd-and 8th-tallest buildings, the Prudential Tower and 111 Huntington Avenue
Boston's 9th-tallest building, Two International Place, reflected in the walls of Exchange Place, the city's 12th-tallest building
The Keystone Building, Boston's 26th-tallest building

This lists ranks Boston skyscrapers that stand at least 400 feet (122 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. Existing structures are included for ranking purposes based on present height.

Rank Name Height
ft (m)		 Floors Year Notes
01.01 Hancock Place 01.0790 (241) 60 1976 162nd-tallest building in the world, 46th-tallest in the U.S. Has been the tallest building in Boston and New England since 1976. More commonly known as John Hancock Tower. Tallest building in Boston constructed in the 1970s.[1][7][8]
02.02 Prudential Tower 02.0749 (228) 52 1964 70th-tallest building in the U.S. The Skywalk, the highest observation deck in New England, is located on the building's 50th floor. Tallest building in the city constructed in the 1960s.[2][9][10]
03.03 Federal Reserve Bank Building 03.0614 (187) 32 1976 Tallest building in Boston's Financial District.[11][12][13]
04.04 One Boston Place 04.0601 (183) 41 1970 Tallest building in the Government Center neighborhood of Boston.[14][15][16]
05.05 One International Place 05.0600 (183) 46 1987 Tallest building in Boston constructed in the 1980s.[17][18][19]
06.06 First National Bank Building 06.0591 (180) 37 1971 [20][21][22]
07.07 One Financial Center 07.0590 (180) 46 1983 [23][24][25]
08.08 111 Huntington Avenue 08.0554 (169) 36 2002 [26][27][28]
09.09 Two International Place 09.0538 (164) 35 1992 Tallest building in the city completed in the 1990s.[29][30][31]
10.010 One Post Office Square 10.0525 (160) 40 1981 [32][33][34]
11.011 One Federal Street 11.0520 (159) 38 1975 Originally known as the Shawmut Bank Building.[35][36][37]
12.012 Exchange Place 12.0510 (156) 40 1984 [38][39][40]
13.013 60 State Street 13.0509 (155) 38 1977 [41][42]
14.014 One Beacon Street 14.0505 (154) 37 1971 [43][44][45]
15.015 One Lincoln Street 15.0503 (153) 36 2003 [46][47][48]
16.016 28 State Street 16.0500 (152) 40 1970 [49][50][51]
17.017 Custom House Tower 17.0496 (151) 32 1915 Tallest all-hotel building in Boston. Tallest building in the city constructed in the 1910s.[52][53][54]
18.018 Berkeley Building 18.0495 (151) 36 1947 Also known as the Old John Hancock Building. Tallest building in Boston constructed in the 1940s.[55][56][57]
19.019= 33 Arch Street 19.0477 (145) 33 2004 Most recently completed skyscraper in the city.[58][59][60]
19.019= State Street Bank Building 19.0477 (145) 33 1966 Also known as 225 Franklin Street.[61][62][63]
21.021 Millennium Place Tower I 21.0475 (145) 38 2001 Tallest building in the Downtown Crossing neighborhood.[64][65][66]
22.022 125 High Street 22.0452 (138) 30 1991 [67][68][69]
23.023 100 Summer Street 23.0450 (137) 32 1974 [70][71][72]
24.024 Millennium Place Tower II 24.0446 (136) 36 2001 [73][74][75]
25.025 McCormack Building 25.0401 (122) 22 1975 [76][77][78]
26.026= Keystone Building 26.0400 (122) 32 1971 [79][80][81]
26.026= Harbor Towers I 26.0400 (122) 40 1971 [82][83][84]
Boston skyline from World's End in Hingham, Massachusetts
Boston skyline from World's End in Hingham, Massachusetts

Tallest buildings by pinnacle height

When measuring by pinnacle height, One Financial Center is the 3rd-tallest building in Boston.

This list ranks Boston skyscrapers based on their pinnacle height, which includes radio masts and antennas. As architectural features and spires can be regarded as subjective, some skyscraper enthusiasts prefer this method of measurement. Standard architectural height measurement, which excludes antennas in building height, is included for comparative purposes.

Rank Name Pinnacle height
feet / m		 Standard height
feet / m		 Reference
1 Prudential Tower 907 / 276 749 / 228 [9]
2 Hancock Place 790 / 228 790 / 241 [7]
3 One Financial Center 683 / 208 590 / 180 [23]
4 One Beacon Street 623 / 190 505 / 154 [43]
5 Federal Reserve Bank Building 614 / 187 614 / 187 [12]
6 One Boston Place 601 / 183 601 / 183 [14]
7 One International Place 600 / 183 600 / 183 [18]
8 First National Bank Building 591 / 180 591 / 180 [20]
9 111 Huntington Avenue 554 / 169 554 / 169 [26]
10 Two International Place 538 / 164 538 / 164 [29]

Tallest under construction, approved and proposed

This lists skyscrapers that are approved, proposed, or under construction in Boston over 395 ft (120 m), but are not yet completed structures. The rank that each building would hold if it were completed is listed. However, its rank is not dependent on any other buildings that are not currently completed.

Name Height*
ft (m)		 Floors Year
(est.)		 Status Notes
Trans National Place 01.01,175 (358) 75 2012 Proposed If completed, would become the tallest building in Boston.[4][85][86]
South Bay Tower 02.0800 (244) 67 2008 Proposed Would stand as the tallest building in Boston upon completion. As of July 2008, the project is all but dead.[87][88][89]
South Station Tower 03.0621 (189) 41 2012 Approved Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2009. Would stand as Boston's 3rd-tallest upon completion.[6][90]
Copley Place Residential Tower 04.0569 (173) 47 2012 Proposed July 2008, going through the public approval process.[91]
One Franklin 05.0495 (151) 38 2010 Under construction Would stand as Boston's 18th-tallest upon completion. Also referred to as the Filene's Complex. [92][93][94]
101 Clarendon Street 06.0420 (128) 35 2012 Approved Site prep began late 2007, however as of July 2008 project is on hold due to lack of funds. Would stand as the 25th-tallest building in the city upon completion.[95][96]
Nashua Street Residences 07.0415 (127) 37 2014 Approved Would become tallest all-residential building in the city upon completion. Would stand as the 26th-tallest building in Boston upon completion.[97][98]
Russia Wharf 08.0395 (120) 32 2010 Under construction Will be 31st-tallest building in Boston upon completion.[99][100]

* Table entries without text indicate that information regarding building heights, floor counts, and/or dates of completion has not yet been released.

Timeline of tallest buildings

Built in 1915, the Custom House Tower is Boston's 17th-tallest building and one of the city's oldest skyscrapers. The tower was Boston's tallest building for 49 years, from 1915 until 1964.

For most of Boston's earlier years, the tallest buildings in the city were churches with their steeples. The first skyscraper in the city is usually regarded to be the Ames Building, completed in 1893.[3] However, since the 13-story building did not surpass the steeple of the Church of the Covenant,[101] it never became a city record holder. The first skyscraper to have the distinction of being Boston's tallest building was the Custom House Tower, completed in 1915.[53]

Name Street address Years as tallest Height
feet / m		 Floors Reference
Old North Church 193 Salem Street 1745–1810 08.0175 / 53 1 [102]
Park Street Church 1 Park Street 1810–1867 07.0217 / 66 1 [103]
Church of the Covenant 67 Newbury Street 1867–1915 06.0236 / 72 1 [101]
Custom House Tower 3 McKinley Square 1915–1964 05.0496 / 151 32 [52]
Prudential Tower 800 Boylston Street 1964–1976 04.0749 / 228 52 [9]
Hancock Place 200 Clarendon Street 1976–present 03.0790 / 241 60 [7]

Notes

A. ^ New York has 216 existing and under construction buildings at least 500 ft (152 m) in height, Chicago has 107, Miami has 37, Houston has 31, Los Angeles has 22, Dallas has 19, Atlanta has 19, San Francisco has 18, Las Vegas has 17 and Boston has 16. Source of Skyline ranking information: SkyscraperPage.com diagrams: New York, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Boston.

References

General
Specific
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Hancock Place". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Prudential Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Boston. AMES BUILDING" (PDF). National Registry of Historic Places; National Park Service. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Trans National Place". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  5. ↑ "Gateway Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "South Station Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "John Hancock Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  8. ↑ "John Hancock Tower". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Prudential Tower: Prudential Center". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  10. ↑ "Prudential Tower". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  11. ↑ "Federal Reserve Bank Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Federal Reserve Bank". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  13. ↑ "Federal Reserve Bank of Boston". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "One Boston Place". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  15. ↑ "One Boston Place". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  16. ↑ "One Boston Place". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  17. ↑ "One International Place". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "One International Place". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  19. ↑ "One International Place". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "First National Bank". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  21. ↑ "First National Bank of Boston Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  22. ↑ "First National Bank of Boston". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "1 Financial Center". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  24. ↑ "One Financial Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  25. ↑ "One Financial Center". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "111 Huntington Avenue". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  27. ↑ "111 Huntington Avenue". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  28. ↑ "111 Huntington Avenue". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Two International Place". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  30. ↑ "Two International Place". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  31. ↑ "Two International Place". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  32. ↑ "One Post Office Square". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  33. ↑ "One Post Office Square". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  34. ↑ "One Post Office Square". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  35. ↑ "One Federal Street". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  36. ↑ "One Federal Street". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  37. ↑ "One Federal Street". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  38. ↑ "Exchange Place". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  39. ↑ "Exchange Place". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  40. ↑ "Exchange Place". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  41. ↑ "60 State Street". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  42. ↑ "60 State Street". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "One Beacon Street". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  44. ↑ "One Beacon Street". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  45. ↑ "One Beacon Street". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  46. ↑ "1 Lincoln Street". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  47. ↑ "State Street Financial Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  48. ↑ "State Street Financial Center". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  49. ↑ "28 State Street". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  50. ↑ "28 State Street". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  51. ↑ "28 State Street". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 "Custom House Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 "Marriot's Custom House". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  54. ↑ "Custom House". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  55. ↑ "John Hancock Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  56. ↑ "John Hancock Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  57. ↑ "Hancock Building". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  58. ↑ "33 Arch Street". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  59. ↑ "33 Arch Street". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  60. ↑ "33 Arch Street". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  61. ↑ "State Street Bank". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  62. ↑ "225 Franklin Street". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  63. ↑ "State Street Bank Building". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  64. ↑ "Millennium Place Tower I". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  65. ↑ "Millennium Place Tower 1". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  66. ↑ "Millennium Place Tower I". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  67. ↑ "125 High Street". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  68. ↑ "125 High Street". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  69. ↑ "125 High Street". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  70. ↑ "100 Summer Street". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  71. ↑ "100 Summer Street". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  72. ↑ "100 Summer Street". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  73. ↑ "Millennium Place Tower II". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  74. ↑ "Millennium Place Tower II". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  75. ↑ "Millennium Place Tower II". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  76. ↑ "McCormack Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  77. ↑ "McCormack Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  78. ↑ "McCormack Building". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  79. ↑ "Keystone Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  80. ↑ "Keystone Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  81. ↑ "Keystone Building". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  82. ↑ "Harbor Towers I". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  83. ↑ "Harbor Towers I". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  84. ↑ "Harbor Towers I". Structurae.de. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  85. ↑ Most, Doug. "In 10 years You Will Be Able to...". The Boston Globe Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  86. ↑ "Trans National Place". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
  87. ↑ Huang, Carol. "A land squeeze in America's Chinatowns". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  88. ↑ "South Bay Development". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  89. ↑ "Gateway Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  90. ↑ "South Station Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  91. ↑ "Copley Place Residential Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
  92. ↑ "One Franklin". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-27.
  93. ↑ "One Franklin". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-27.
  94. ↑ "Filene's Complex". Gale International Boston. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
  95. ↑ "100 Clarendon Street". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  96. ↑ "100 Clarendon Street". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  97. ↑ "Nashua Street Residences". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  98. ↑ "Nashua Street Residences". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  99. ↑ "Russia Wharf". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  100. ↑ "Russia Wharf". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  101. ↑ 101.0 101.1 "Church of the Covenant". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  102. ↑ "Old North Church". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
  103. ↑ "Park Street Church". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.

External links

Skyscrapers in Boston
Current
Hancock Place · Prudential Tower · Federal Reserve Bank Building · One Boston Place · One International Place · First National Bank Building · One Financial Center · 111 Huntington Avenue · Two International Place · One Post Office Square · One Federal Street · Exchange Place · 60 State Street · One Beacon Street · One Lincoln Street · 28 State Street · Custom House Tower · Berkeley Building · 33 Arch Street · State Street Bank Building · Millennium Place Tower I · 125 High Street · 100 Summer Street · Millennium Place Tower II · McCormack Building · Keystone Building · Harbor Towers I · One Devonshire Place · Harbor Towers II · Saltonstall Building · 500 Boylston Street · Ames Building
Proposed
Trans National Place · South Bay Tower · Copley Place Tower
Approved
South Station Tower · One Franklin · 101 Clarendon Street · Nashua Street Residences
Under construction
Russia Wharf
See also
List of tallest buildings in Boston
Lists of tallest buildings in the United States

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