Observation deck

Visitors on the observation deck of the Skylon Tower overlooking Niagara Falls
Midtown Manhattan in the distance. Photo taken at Two World Trade Center's observation deck, in the 1980s

An observation deck, observation platform or viewing platform is an elevated sightseeing platform usually situated upon a tall architectural structure such as a skyscraper or observation tower. Observation decks are sometimes enclosed from weather, as many skyscraper decks, and may include coin-operated telescopes for viewing distant features.

List of public observation decks

Notable public observation decks located on human made structures include the following:

List of public observation decks
Rank Name Date Completed Type Location Deck ht (m) Total ht (m) Notes
1 Shanghai Tower 2015 Skyscraper China Shanghai 561 632
2 Burj Khalifa 2010 Skyscraper United Arab Emirates Dubai 555[1] 829.8 148th floor, outdoor (opened October 2014[2])
3 Canton Tower 2010 Steel Tower China Guangzhou 488 604
4 Lotte World Tower 2017 Skyscraper South Korea Seoul 478 555 It has the highest glass deck
5 Shanghai World Financial Center 2008 Skyscraper China Shanghai 474[3] 492.3 100th floor, decks also on levels 94 & 97
6 Tokyo Skytree 2012 Steel Tower Japan Tokyo 451.2 634 Three additional observation decks at 340 m, 345 m, and 350 m
7 CN Tower 1976 Concrete tower Canada Toronto 446.7 553.3 Two additional observation decks at 342 m (outdoor) & 346 m (indoor).
8 Willis Tower 1974 Skyscraper United States Chicago 412.7 527.3 103rd floor
9 Sky100, International Commerce Centre 2011 Skyscraper China Hong Kong 393 484 100th floor 360 degree indoor observatory, it is the highest observation deck in Hong Kong.
10 Taipei 101 2004 Skyscraper Taiwan Taipei 391.6 509.2 91st floor's outdoor observatory, it's the previous record of highest outdoor observatory in the world. The 89th floor indoor observatory is 383.2 metres (1,257 ft).
11 One World Trade Center 2014 Skyscraper United States New York City 386.6 541.3 Observatory on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors
12 Petronas Towers 1998 Skyscraper Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 370 452.9 Observatory on 86th floor of tower 2, in addition there is the skybridge between the two towers on 41st and 42nd floors at 170 meters.
13 Empire State Building 1931 Skyscraper United States New York City 369[4] 448.7 102nd floor, additional 86th floor deck (320 m)
14 Oriental Pearl Tower 1994 Concrete tower China Shanghai 350 467.9 15 observation levels, the highest one being outdoors
15 Tuntex Sky Tower 1997 Skyscraper Taiwan Kaohsiung 341 347.5 74th floor
16 Jin Mao Tower 1998 Skyscraper China Shanghai 340.1 420.5 88th floor
17 Ostankino Tower 1967 Concrete tower Russia Moscow 340 540.1 Indoor deck is at 337 m
18 John Hancock Center 1969 Skyscraper United States Chicago 313.8 343.5 Observation deck (360 CHICAGO Observation Deck) on the 94th floor. TILT, a moving platform that leans to a 30-degree angle over the side of the building, is on the same floor.[5][6] Also an open air screened-in area and a full bar on same floor. 45 second elevator ride.
19 Milad Tower 2007 Concrete tower Iran Tehran 312 435 Top level
20 China World Trade Center Tower III 2010 Skyscraper China Beijing 311.8 330 81st floor
21 US Bank Tower 1989 Skyscraper United States Los Angeles 297 310 70th floor
22 Zhongyuan Tower 2011 Steel tower ChinaZhengzhou 292 388
23 Royal Gorge Bridge 1929 Bridge United StatesColorado 291 321 spans Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River
24 Abenobashi Terminal Building(Abeno Harukas) 2014 Skyscraper Japan Osaka 288 300 58th-60th floor (top floor)
25 Zifeng Tower 2010 Skyscraper China Nanjing 287 450
=26 Grande Dixence Dam 1964 Dam SwitzerlandValais 285 285
=26 Eureka Tower 2007 Skyscraper AustraliaMelbourne 285 297.3 Skydeck 88 is at a height of 285 m
27 SEG Plaza 2000 Skyscraper ChinaShenzhen 284 355.8
28 OUB Centre 2010 Skyscraper SingaporeSingapore 280 280 Rooftop gallery opened in 2010 as a part of 1-Altitude establishment
29 Eiffel Tower 1889 Wrought iron lattice tower FranceParis 276.1 324 3rd floor
30 Menara Kuala Lumpur 1996 Concrete tower MalaysiaKuala Lumpur 276 421
31 Columbia Center 1985 Skyscraper United StatesSeattle 275 284 73rd floor
32 Yokohama Landmark 1993 Skyscraper JapanYokohama 273 296 69th floor
33 Millau Viaduct 2004 Bridge FranceMillau 270 343 270 m clearance
34 Bank of America Plaza (Dallas) 1985 Skyscraper United StatesDallas 268.4 281 71st floor, additional 70th floor 264.6 metres (868 ft).
35 JPMorgan Chase Tower 1982 Skyscraper United StatesHouston 268.2 305.4 60th floor
36 Sydney Tower 1981 Steel Tower AustraliaSydney 268 309
37 Stratosphere Tower 1996 Concrete tower United StatesLas Vegas 266 350.2 108th Floor (Indoor)
38 Vajont Dam 1961 Dam ItalyErto e Casso 261.6 261.6 "disused"
39 Gran Torre Santiago 2013 Skyscraper ChileSantiago 261 300 62nd floor outdoor deck.
40 GE Building 1933 Skyscraper United StatesNew York City 259.1 259.1 70th floor ("Top of the Rock")
41 Tianjin Tower 1991 Concrete tower ChinaTianjin 257 415.2 "observation pod"
=42 Devon Energy Center 2012 Skyscraper United StatesOklahoma City 257 259 50th floor
=42 40 Wall Street 1929 Skyscraper United StatesNew York City 255 283 Once was second tallest observation deck in the world after the Eiffel Tower
43 Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building 1995 Skyscraper Japan Osaka 252 256
44 American International Building 1932 Skyscraper United StatesNew York City 250.2 290 Open only on few select days of the year since 9/11 attacks
45 Mauvoisin Dam 1957 Dam SwitzerlandBagnes 250 250 Raised 13.5 m in 1991
46 63 Building 1985 Skyscraper South KoreaSeoul 249 250 60th floor; North Korea can be seen on clear days
47 Midland Square 2007 Skyscraper JapanNagoya 247 247 47th floor
48 The Shard 2013 Skyscraper United KingdomLondon 244.8 306 72nd floor Observatory Deck
49 Central Radio & TV Tower 1992 Concrete tower ChinaBeijing 238 405
50 Sunshine 60 1978 Skyscraper JapanTokyo 237.6 239.8
51 Istanbul Sapphire 2011 Skyscraper TurkeyIstanbul 236 261 56th Floor open roof
52 Federation Tower (Tower West) 2008 Skyscraper RussiaMoscow 235[7] 252 62nd Floor
53 Q1 2005 Skyscraper AustraliaGold Coast 230 323 77th floor (SkyPoint), with the function hall on the 78th
54 West Pearl Tower 2006 Concrete tower ChinaChengdu 230 339
55 Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 2003 Skyscraper JapanTokyo 229.3 238 52nd floor (indoor) & 54th floor (roof-deck)
56 Olympic Park Observation Tower 2014 Steel tower ChinaBeijing 228 258 Several observation levels
57 Europaturm 1979 Concrete tower GermanyFrankfurt 227 337.5 Since 1999, the Europaturm has been closed to the public-->
=58 Luzzone Dam 1963 Dam SwitzerlandBlenio 225 225
=58 Rialto Towers 1986 Office AustraliaMelbourne 225 242.3
59 Tokyo Tower 1958 Steel truss tower JapanTokyo 223.5 332.6 6th floor
=60 Carlton Centre 1973 Building South AfricaJohannesburg 223 223 50th floor
=60 Macau Tower 2001 Concrete tower MacauMacau 223 338
=61 Verzasca Dam 1965 Dam SwitzerlandTicino 220 220
=61 Westin Peachtree 1973 Skyscraper United StatesAtlanta 220 220 73rd floor
=61 Mratinje Dam 1975 Dam MontenegroMratinje 220 220 in Plužine municipality
=61 Sky Tower 1997 Concrete tower New ZealandAuckland 220 328
62 Long Ta 2000 Steel lattice tower ChinaHarbin 216.1 335.9
63 Terminal Tower 1930 Skyscraper United StatesCleveland 216 235
64 Prudential Tower 1964 Skyscraper United StatesBoston 213[8] 228 50th floor ("Prudential Skywalk")
65 Detroit Marriott 1977 Skyscraper United StatesDetroit 212.3 221.5 70th floor
66 Act Tower 1994 Skyscraper JapanHamamatsu 211 213
67 Tour Montparnasse 1972 Skyscraper FranceParis 209 209
68 Fernsehturm Berlin 1969 Concrete tower GermanyBerlin 207 368
=69 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building 1990 Skyscraper JapanTokyo 202 243.4
=69 Almendra Dam 1970 Dam SpainAlmendra 202 202
70 Sky Tower 2012 Skyscraper PolandWrocław 201 212 Highest in Poland
=71 Kölnbrein Dam 1979 Dam AustriaMalta 200 200
=71 Main Tower 1999 Skyscraper GermanyFrankfurt 200 240
=71 Marina Bay Sands 2010 Skyscraper SingaporeSingapore 200 200
72 Fernmeldeturm Nürnberg 1980 Concrete Tower GermanyNuremberg 194 292 VIP access only; public expansion planned
73 Olympiaturm 1968 Concrete tower GermanyMunich 192 291
74 Vysotsky 2011 Skyscraper RussiaYekaterinburg 186 188.3 Observation deck was opened on 3 May 2012[9]
75 Gateway Arch 1965 steel/concrete United StatesSt Louis 185 192
76 Bitexco Financial Tower 2010 Skyscraper VietnamHo Chi Minh City 181 262.5 47th floor
77 Colonius 1968 Concrete tower GermanyCologne 177 266
78 Tower of the Americas 1968 Concrete tower United StatesSan Antonio 176 229
79 Olympic Stadium 1987 Concrete tower CanadaMontreal 175 175
80 Rheinturm 1982 Concrete tower GermanyDüsseldorf 174.5 240.5
81 Carew Tower 1931 Skyscraper United StatesCincinnati 171.3 175 roof observation deck
82 Reunion Tower 1978 Concrete tower United StatesDallas 170.7 170.7 Closed for renovations since November 16, 2007
=83 Shennong Tower 1999 Concrete tower ChinaZhuzhou 170 293
=83 Umeda Sky Building 1993 Skyscraper Japan Osaka 170 173
84 Donauturm 1964 Concrete tower AustriaVienna 169.4 252
85 N Seoul Tower 1975 Steel tower South KoreaSeoul 168.3 236.7 Tower sits atop Namsan Mountain
86 Harbour Centre 1977 Skyscraper CanadaVancouver 168 147 Observation deck sits about the top of the main building
87 Space Needle 1962 Steel tower United StatesSeattle 158.5 184.4
88 Calgary Tower 1968 Concrete tower CanadaCalgary 157.5 190.8
89 Fernsehturm Stuttgart 1956 Concrete tower GermanyStuttgart 153 216.6 The Alps and the Black Forest can be seen on clear days
=90 Washington Monument 1885 Masonry tower United StatesWashington D.C. 152 169
=90 Philadelphia City Hall 1901 Masonry tower United StatesPhiladelphia 152 167
91 Nina Tower 2006 Skyscraper ChinaHong Kong 151.7 320 41st floor
92 Fernsehturm Dresden-Wachwitz 1969 Concrete tower GermanyDresden 145 252
93 Kaikyō Yume Tower 1996 Tower Japan Shimonoseki 143 153
94 Las Vegas Eiffel Tower 1999 Steel tower United StatesParadise 140.2 164.6 ½ scale (originally to be full-sized)
95 Foshay Tower 1929 Skyscraper United StatesMinneapolis 136.2 185 30th floor
96 Custom House Tower 1915 Skyscraper United StatesBoston 136 151 26th floor
=97 Kansas City City Hall 1937 Skyscraper United StatesKansas City 135 151 30th floor
=97 Avala Tower 2009 Concrete tower SerbiaBelgrade 135 204.5
98 Penobscot Observatory 2007 bridge tower United StatesPenobscot R 133[10] 136 3rd level (1st & 2nd levels @ 122 & 128 m)
99 Gold Tower 1988 Tower Japan Utazu 127 158
100 Edifice Marie-Guyart 1972 Skyscraper CanadaQuebec City 126.5 126.5 31st floor
101 Fukuoka Tower 1989 Tower Japan Fukuoka 123 234
102 Smith Tower 1914 Skyscraper United StatesSeattle 122 141 35th floor
103 Kuwait viewing sphere 1979 Concrete tower KuwaitKuwait City 120 187 (1990 Liberation Tower of ~300 m is not open to public)
104 National Monument (Indonesia) 1975 Obelisk Monument IndonesiaJakarta 115 132
105 Chiba Port Tower 1986 Tower Japan Chiba 113 125.1
106 KölnTriangle 2006 Skyscraper GermanyCologne 103.2 103.2 29th floor[11]
=107 Kyoto Tower 1964 Tower Japan Kyoto 100 131
=107 Nagoya TV Tower 1954 Tower Japan Nagoya 100 180
=107 Higashiyama Sky Tower 1989 Tower Japan Nagoya 100 134
=107 Twin Arch 138 1995 Tower Japan Ichinomiya 100 138
=107 SELION 1994 Tower Japan Akita 100 143
108 Yokohama Marine Tower 1961 Tower Japan Yokohama 94 106
109 Kobe Port Tower 1963 Tower Japan Kobe 90.8 108
110 Goryokaku Tower 1964 Tower Japan Hakodate 90 107
111 Sapporo TV Tower 1957 Tower Japan Sapporo 90 147.2
112 Tsūtenkaku 1956 Tower Japan Osaka 87.5 108
113 Faro de Moncloa 1992 Concrete Tower SpainMadrid 90 110
114 Alor Setar Tower 1998 Tower MalaysiaAlor Setar 88 165.5
115 Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument 1888 Obelisk Monument United StatesIndianapolis 84[12] 87
116 George Washington Masonic National Memorial 1932 Stone building United StatesAlexandria 82 101 Offers views of Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia; open on national holidays
117 Statue of Liberty 1886 Statue United StatesLiberty Island 80 93[13] crown level (~90 m torch level closed to public in 1916)
118 Antey-1 2004 Skyscraper RussiaYekaterinburg 76 76
119 Hakata Port Tower 1964 Tower Japan Fukuoka 70 100
=120 Liberty Memorial 1926 Concrete tower United StatesKansas City 66 66
=120 Mt Washington towers 2000 Steel Structure United StatesPittsburgh 66 66 towers overlook Downtown Pittsburgh
121 Coit Tower 1933 Concrete tower United StatesSan Francisco 64 64
122 John Hancock Tower 1976 Skyscraper United StatesBoston 60 241 Closed to the public since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.[14]

List of highest observation decks by type

Type Name and Location Constructed Height Notes
Enclosed Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China 2008 474 m (1,555 ft)
Outdoor Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE 2010 555 m (1,821 ft)
On skyscraper Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE 2010 555 m (1,821 ft)
On tower Canton Tower, Guangzhou, China 2011 488 m (1,601 ft)
Bridge Royal Gorge Bridge 1929 291 m (955 ft) Above water level.
Dam Grande Dixence Dam 1964 285 m (935 ft)

Timeline of world's highest observation decks

This is a timeline of the development of world's highest observation decks since inauguration of the Washington Monument in 1885.

Held record Name and Location Constructed Height of highest observation deck Notes
From To
1885 1889 Washington Monument, Washington D.C., United States 1889 152.3 m (500 ft) Was the world's tallest structure when completed.
1889 1931 Eiffel Tower, Paris, France 1889 275 m (902 ft) Two further observation decks 57 & 115 m.
1931 1973 Empire State Building, New York City, United States 1931 369 m (1,211 ft)[4] A second observation deck is located on the 86th floor at 320 metres above ground.
1973 1974 World Trade Center, New York City, United States (article) 1973 399.4 m (1,310 ft) Measured from sea level, street level was 10 feet above sea level. Indoor observatory on the 107th floor of South Tower opened on April 4, 1973. Destroyed during the September 11 attacks.
1974 1975 Sears Tower (since renamed Willis Tower), Chicago, United States 1974 412.4 m (1,353 ft) Measured from the Franklin Street entrance, 103rd floor observation deck opened on June 22, 1974
1975 1976 World Trade Center, New York City, United States (article) 1973 419.7 m (1,377 ft) Measured from sea level, street level was 10 feet above sea level. Outdoor observatory on rooftop of the South Tower opened on December 15, 1975. Destroyed during the September 11 attacks.
1976 2008 CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1976 446.5 m (1,465 ft) Two further observation decks 342 and 346 metres above ground.
2008 2011 Shanghai World Financial Centre, Shanghai, People's Republic of China 2008 474 m (1,555 ft) Other observation decks are at 423 m (1,388 ft) and 439 m (1,440 ft).
2011 2014 Canton Tower, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China 2011 488 m (1,601 ft) The outdoor rooftop observation deck opened in December 2011. There are also several other indoor observation decks in the tower, the highest at 433.2 m (1,421 ft).
2014 2016 Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE 2010 555 m (1,821 ft) Opened on October 15, 2014 on the 148th floor. There is another observation deck at 452.1 m (1,483 ft) on the 124th floor, which has been open since the building was opened to the public.
2016 present Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China 2015 561 m (1,841 ft) Opened on July 1, 2016.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "At the Top, Burj Khalifa Experience". burjkhalifa.ae. Burj Khalifa. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Willett, Megan (17 October 2014). "Dubai's Burj Khalifa Now Has The Highest Observation Deck In The World At 1,821 Feet, decks are also on 124th floor And It Looks Incredible". businessinsider.com. Business Insider. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Skyscraper Page". Retrieved 2010-03-27. Atlanta, Cincinnati, CN, Detroit, Eiffel, GE, Las Vegas, Sears, Seattle, Shanghai, Tianjin
  4. 1 2 "The Empire State Building". Wired New York. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  5. ↑ "Lean Out: 360 Chicago Unveils 'Tilt' At John Hancock Center". Retrieved 2017-03-14.
  6. ↑ Donahue, Wendy. "Willis or Hancock, it's high time to visit". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017-03-14.
  7. ↑ "Смотровая площадка Башня Федерация".
  8. ↑ "Prudential Skywalk Observation Deck & Exhibit". World Travel Guide. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  9. ↑ "Открытие смотровой площадки в БЦ "Высоцкий"".
  10. ↑ "Penobscot Narrows Observatory". MaineGuide.com. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  11. ↑ Fact and Figures koelntrianglepanorama.de
  12. ↑ "Soldiers and Sailors Monument and Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum website". Indiana War Memorials Commission. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  13. ↑ "Statue of Liberty Facts". Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  14. ↑ "Boston.com / US under attack". The Boston Globe.
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