Currently, due to a rising population and limited space available, most of the cities in the United States use skyscrapers to cater to the growing demands, but which are the top 11 US cities with the most skyscrapers in 2015?
Skyscrapers are more of a necessity than a luxury. It is no surprise that cities with a high population and limited space such as New York have an increasingly large number of skyscrapers. These are often residential buildings but are also used for office space. Since skyscrapers are often used as headquarters for giant companies, it is no surprise that there is some overlap between the top 11 US cities with the most skyscrapers in 2015 and the 15 biggest US cities ranked by GDP. A lot of effort went into ensuring that these skyscrapers don’t stick out like a sore thumb but instead create an integral part of city’s skyline.
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Before we rank cities according to the number of skyscrapers they boast, it is important to be aware of the exact definition of a skyscraper. The accepted definition of a skyscraper is any building whose height exceeds 150 meters, which is also the criteria accepted by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, which is our source for the number of skyscrapers in each US city.
10. Seattle
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 14
With a population of over 2.6 million people and an area of just 630 square kilometers, Seattle has resorted to high-rise buildings, which are generally used for offices. The first high-rise building in the city was constructed back in 1969 and is known as the Safeco Plaza, with a height of 192 meters. Over the years, the number of high-rise buildings has grown to more than a dozen, with three more buildings currently under construction.
10. Las Vegas
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 14
Located in Nevada, Las Vegas has a population of nearly 600,000, but that is not the main reason behind the number of high-rise buildings in the city. Due to the high influx of tourists to the region, all trying to get a taste of the high-flying life that can only be experienced in Vegas, a large number of high-rise hotels have been built, with The Palazzo hotel being the tallest building in the city.
9. Atlanta
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 16
The capital of Georgia, Atlanta’s skyscrapers are mostly focused on the Peachtree Street. The first skyscraper in the city was the State of Georgia building which was constructed in 1967. Meanwhile, the tallest building in Atlanta is the Bank of America Plaza, which is 55 stories and has a height of 312 meters.
8. Boston
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 18
It is not surprising that capitals of states are frequently mentioned in the top US cities with most skyscrapers in 2015, mainly due to the fact that major companies are hosted there. Hence, it isn’t a surprise that most of the skyscrapers are located in the Financial District and Back Bay District of Boston, with the 241 meters tall John Hancock Tower, the tallest building in the city, located there as well.
7. Dallas
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 20
Located in Texas, Dallas’s tallest building is the Bank of America Plaza, which has a height of 281 meters. The first skyscraper in the city was the Mercantile Building, which opened in 1943 but today it isn’t even among top 10 tallest buildings in the city.
6. San Francisco
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 21
With a skyline that is second to only Los Angeles in the Pacific region, San Fransico has its share of skyscrapers, with the tallest building being the Transamerica Pyramid standing at 260 meters.
5. Los Angeles
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 23
Los Angeles built its first skyscraper, 611 Place, nearly half a century ago, in 1967. Currently, the tallest building in the city is the US Bank Tower, with a height of 310 meters.
4. Miami
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 31
Most of the high-rise buildings in Miami are residential though the first skyscraper in the city was the Southeast Financial Center built in 1983. Currently, the Four Seasons Hotel and Tower is the tallest building in the city, standing at 240 meters.
3. Houston
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 33
Houston got its first skyscraper in 1962, with the El Paso Energy Building. The tallest building in the city currently is the JP Morgan Chase Tower, which is 305 meters tall and was built in 1982.
2. Chicago
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 116
With over 100 skyscrapers, Chicago has no shortage of tall buildings, with the tallest being the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, once the tallest building in the world.
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1. New York City
Number of skyscrapers in the city: 238
New York City built its first skyscraper over a century ago, with the Metropolitan Life Tower. Currently, it is home to the One World Trade Center, which at 541 meters, is the fifth tallest building in the entire world.
