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Skyline of Chicago from the John Hancock Center, with Aon Center to the left and the Sears Tower to the right

This list of tallest buildings in Chicago ranks skyscrapers by height in the U.S. city of Chicago, Illinois, which is considered to be the birthplace of the skyscraper.12 The tallest building in Chicago is the 108-story Sears Tower, which rises 1,451 feet (442 m) in the Chicago Loop and was completed in 1974.3 It also stands as the tallest building in the United States, and the fifth-tallest building in the world. In addition, the Sears Tower has the most floors of any completed building in the world, and stands as the world's tallest completed skyscraper when measuring to pinnacle height,3 rising 1,730 feet (527 m) with the addition of its western antenna.4 The second- and third-tallest buildings in Chicago are the Aon Center and the John Hancock Center, respectively. As of June 2008, the John Hancock Center, with 49 floors of condominiums,5 holds the world record for the highest residence.6 In addition, Chicago has the distinction of being the only city in the world with more than one completed building containing at least 100 floors.[A]

The history of skyscrapers in Chicago began with the 1885 completion of the Home Insurance Building, which is often regarded as the first steel-framed skyscraper in the world. The building was originally constructed with a height of 138 feet (42 m) and 10 stories, and was later expanded to a height of 180 feet (55 m) and 12 stories before being demolished in 1931.78 Historically, Chicago has played a prominent role in the development of the skyscraper. The Masonic Temple Building was the tallest building in the world using the unconventional definition that excludes the New York World Building's ornamental lantern.9 Three past buildings have been considered the tallest building in the United States, including the Chicago Board of Trade Building, which in both of its incarnations held the title of Chicago's tallest building.10 Chicago went through a very early high-rise construction boom that lasted from the early 1920s to the mid-1930s, during which time 11 of the city's 91 tallest buildings were constructed. The city then went through an even larger building boom that has lasted from the early 1960s until the present. During this time, the city has seen the completion of 79 buildings rising at least 500 feet (152 m) in height, including the Sears Tower, the Aon Center and the John Hancock Tower. The high-rises that have been constructed are mostly concentrated in the Loop and along the Magnificent Mile in Chicago's Near North Side community area. Chicago is the site of 91 completed buildings that stand at least 500 feet (152 m) in height, with 16 more under construction. Overall, the skyline of Chicago is ranked (based on existing and under-construction buildings over 500 feet (152 m) tall) first in the Midwestern United States and second in the United States, after New York City.[B] As of December 2008, there are 1,089 completed high-rises in the city, second in the country behind New York.11 Based on the average height of the ten tallest completed buildings, Chicago has the tallest skyline in the world.12

Chicago has three buildings under construction that are planned to exceed 1,000 feet (304.8 m) in height: the 2,000-foot (610 m) Chicago Spire,13 the 1,362-foot (415 m) Trump International Hotel & Tower,14 and the 1,047-foot (319 m) Waterview Tower.15 The 150-story Chicago Spire, upon its completion in 2012, would become the tallest building in the United States and the tenth tallest building in the world.13 The tower would also stand as the second tallest all-residential building in the world,surpassing Q1 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.16 There are also several buildings proposed for construction in the city, the largest being the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and Residence Tower, which would rise 1,265 feet (386 m) and 107 floors upon its completion in 2012.17 As of June 2008, there are 160 high-rise buildings under construction, approved for construction, and proposed for construction in Chicago.11

Contents


Chicago Skyline in 2006 from Adler Planetarium, stretching from Shedd Aquarium on the left to Navy Pier
Chicago Skyline in 2006 from Adler Planetarium, stretching from Shedd Aquarium on the left to Navy Pier

Tallest buildings

The Sears Tower, the tallest building in Chicago and the United States
The Aon Center, the city's second-tallest building, with Two Prudential Plaza, Chicago's fifth-tallest, to the left
The John Hancock Center, the third-tallest building in Chicago
The Chase Tower, Chicago's ninth-tallest building
The Park Tower, the city's 10th-tallest building
77 West Wacker Drive, the 20th-tallest building in the city
Lake Point Tower, Chicago's 24th-tallest building
NBC Tower, the city's 29th-tallest building
The Marina City Towers, the 38th-tallest buildings in Chicago
The Smurfit-Stone Building, Chicago's 42nd-tallest building
The Carbide & Carbon Building, the 86th-tallest building in Chicago

This list ranks Chicago skyscrapers that stand at least 500 feet (152 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
1 Sears Tower 01.01,451 / 442 108 1974 5th-tallest building in the world, tallest building in the United States. Has been the tallest building in the city, the state, and the country since 1974. Tallest building in the world from 1974 until 1998. Remains the tallest completed building in the world when measuring to pinnacle height. Tallest building constructed in the city and the world in the 1970s.34
2 Trump International Hotel and Tower* 01.11,362 / 415 96 2009 This building topped out in August 2008 to become the second-tallest building in the city.1418
3 Aon Center 02.01,136 / 346 83 1973 17th-tallest building in the world, 4th-tallest in the United States.1920
4 John Hancock Center 03.01,127 / 344 100 1969 19th-tallest building in the world, 5th-tallest in the United States. Tallest completed building in the world that contains both commercial and residential units. Tallest building constructed in Chicago in the 1960s. 621
5 AT&T Corporate Center 04.01,007 / 307 61 1989 35th-tallest building in the world, 10th-tallest in the United States. Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1980s.2223
6 Two Prudential Plaza 05.0995 / 303 64 1990 39th-tallest building in the world, 12th-tallest in the United States. Tallest building constructed in Chicago in the 1990s.2425
7 311 South Wacker Drive 06.0961 / 293 65 1990 47th-tallest building in the world, 15th-tallest in the United States.2627
8 900 North Michigan 07.0871 / 265 66 1989 77th-tallest building in the world, 25th-tallest in the United States.2829
9 Water Tower Place 08.0859 / 262 74 1976 89th-tallest building in the world, 29th-tallest in the United States.3031
10 Chase Tower 09.0850 / 259 60 1969 101st-tallest building in the world, 32nd-tallest in the United States.3233
11 Park Tower 10.0844 / 257 67 2000 108th-tallest building in the world, 35th-tallest in the United States.3435
12 300 North LaSalle* 10.1785 / 239 60 2009 Under construction - this building topped out in July 2008 to become the 12th tallest building in the city.3637
13 Three First National Plaza 11.0767 / 234 57 1981 58th-tallest in the United States.3839
14 Chicago Title & Trust Center 12.0756 / 230 50 1992 63rd-tallest building in the United States.4041
15 One Museum Park* 13.0734 / 224 62 2008 Under construction; this building was topped out in early 2008. 85th-tallest building in the United States. Tallest building on South Side of Chicago. Tallest all-residential building in the city, second-tallest all-residential building in the United States after Trump World Tower in New York City.4243 Tallest building in the city located outside of the Chicago Loop and the Near North Side.
16 Olympia Centre 14.0725 / 221 63 1986 89th-tallest building in the United States.4445
17 330 North Wabash 15.0695 / 212 47 1973 Also known as IBM Building.4647
18 111 South Wacker Drive 16.0681 / 208 51 2005 4849
19 181 West Madison Street 17.0680 / 207 50 1990 5051
20 Hyatt Center 18.0679 / 207 48 2005 5253
21 One Magnificent Mile 19.0673 / 205 58 1983 5455
22 340 on the Park 20.0672 / 205 64 2007 Tallest completed all-residential building in the city5657
23 77 West Wacker Drive 21.0668 / 204 49 1992 Also known as the United Building. Formerly known as the R.R. Donnelley Building.5859
24 UBS Tower 22.0652 / 199 50 2001 6061
25 Richard J. Daley Center 23.0648 / 198 31 1965 Tallest flat-roofed building in the world that contains less than 40 floors.6263
26 55 East Erie Street 24.0647 / 197 56 2003 2nd-tallest completed all-residential building in the city, and 3rd-tallest all-residential building in the country.6465
27 Lake Point Tower 25.0645 / 197 70 1968 Shortest building in the world to contain 70 floors.6667
28 River East Center 26.0644 / 196 58 2001 6869
29 Grand Plaza I 27.0641 / 195 57 2003 7071
30 Leo Burnett Building 28.0635 / 194 50 1989 7273
31 The Heritage at Millennium Park 29.0631 / 192 57 2005 7475
32 NBC Tower 30.0627 / 191 37 1989 7677
33 Millennium Centre 31.0610 / 186 59 2003 7879
34 Chicago Place 32.0608 / 185 49 1991 8081
35 Chicago Board of Trade Building 33.0605 / 184 44 1930 Tallest Art Deco building in the world outside of New York City. Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1930s.1082
36= One Prudential Plaza 34.0601 / 183 41 1955 Tallest building constructed in Chicago in the 1950s.8384
36= CNA Center 34.0601 / 183 44 1972 8586
38 Heller International Building 36.0600 / 183 45 1992 Tallest building in the city west of the Chicago River.8788
39 Madison Plaza 37.0599 / 182 45 1982 8990
40 1000 Lake Shore Plaza 38.0590 / 180 55 1964 9192
41 The Clare at Water Tower 38.0589 / 179 52 2008 Will stand as one of the tallest senior living centers in the world upon completion.9394
42= Marina City I 39.0588 / 179 61 1964 9596
42= Marina City II 39.0588 / 179 61 1964 9798
42= Citigroup Center 39.0588 / 179 41 1985 99100
45 Mid-Continental Plaza 42.0583 / 178 49 1972 101102
46 Smurfit-Stone Building 43.0582 / 177 41 1983 103104
47 North Pier Apartments 44.0581 / 177 61 1990 105106
48 Citadel Center 45.0580 / 177 37 2003 107
49 The Fordham 46.0574 / 175 52 2003 108109
50 190 South LaSalle Street 47.0573 / 175 42 1987 110111
51 One South Dearborn 48.0571 / 174 39 2005 112113
52 Onterie Center 49.0570 / 174 57 1985 114115
53 Chicago Temple Building 50.0568 / 173 21 1924 Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1920s.116117
54 Palmolive Building 51.0565 / 172 37 1929 118119
55= Huron Plaza 52.0560 / 171 56 1983 120121
55= Boeing International Headquarters 52.0560 / 171 36 1990 122123
57= The Parkshore 54.0556 / 169 56 1991 124125
57= North Harbor Tower 54.0556 / 169 55 1988 126127
59 Civic Opera House 56.0555 / 169 45 1929 128
60= Newberry Plaza 57.0553 / 169 53 1974 129130
60= Michigan Plaza South 57.0553 / 169 46 1985 131132
60= 30 North LaSalle 57.0553 / 169 44 1975 133134
63 Pittsfield Building 60.0551 / 168 39 1927 135136
64= Harbor Point 61.0550 / 168 54 1975 137138
64= One South Wacker 61.0550 / 168 40 1982 139140
66 Kluczynski Federal Building 63.0545 / 166 45 1975 141142
67 Park Millennium 64.0544 / 166 57 2002 143144
68 USG Building 65.0538 / 164 35 1992 145146
69= The Pinnacle 66.0535 / 163 48 2004 147148
69= LaSalle Bank Building 66.0535 / 163 45 1934 149150
71 Park Place Tower 68.0531 / 162 56 1971 Tallest building in the city located outside of Downtown Chicago (Chicago Loop, Near North Side, Near South Side or Near West Side).151152
72 One North LaSalle 69.0530 / 162 48 1930 153154
73 Elysées Condominiums 70.0529 / 161 56 1972 155156
74 River Plaza 71.0524 / 160 56 1977 157158
75 35 East Wacker Drive 72.0523 / 159 40 1927 159160
76 Unitrin Building 73.0522 / 159 41 1962 161162
77 Mather Tower 74.0521 / 159 42 1928 163164
78= 10 South Wacker 75.0520 / 158 40 1987 165166
78= 30 South Wacker 75.0520 / 158 40 1987 167168
80 The Columbian 77.0517 / 158 47 2008 169170
81 191 North Wacker 78.0516 / 157 37 2002 171172
82= 401 East Ontario 79.0515 / 157 51 1990 173174
82= One Financial Place 79.0515 / 157 39 1985 175176
84 The Streeter 81.0514 / 157 50 2007 177178
85= Park Tower Condominiums 82.0513 / 156 54 1974 Also known as 5415 North Sheridan.179180
85= 600 Lake Shore Drive, South Tower* 82.0513 / 156 47 2008 Under construction; this building was topped out in early 2008.181
87 LaSalle-Wacker Building 84.0512 / 156 41 1930 182183
88= Harris Bank Addition II 85.0510 / 155 38 1977 184185
88= 321 North Clark 85.0510 / 155 35 1987 Also known as Quaker Tower.186187
90 400 East Ohio Street 87.0505 / 154 50 1983 188189
91 Carbide & Carbon Building 88.0503 / 153 38 1929 190191
92= One Superior Place 89.0502 / 153 52 1999 192193
92= 10 South LaSalle 89.0502 / 153 37 1986 Also known as Chase Plaza.194195
94 120 North LaSalle 91.0501 / 153 39 1992 196197
95= The Tides 92.0500 / 152 51 2008 198199
95= 200 South Wacker Drive 92.0500 / 152 41 1981 200201

* indicates still under construction, but has been topped out

Tallest buildings by pinnacle height

One Prudential Plaza, the seventh-tallest building in Chicago when measuring by pinnacle height, with Two Prudential Plaza in the background

This list ranks Chicago 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
ft / m		 Standard height
ft / m		 Reference
1 Sears Tower 01.01,730 / 527 01.01,451 / 442 4
2 John Hancock Center 02.01,500 / 457 03.01,127 / 344 21
3 Aon Center 03.01,136 / 346 02.01,136 / 346 20
4 AT&T Corporate Center 04.01,007 / 307 04.01,007 / 307 23
5 Two Prudential Plaza 05.0995 / 303 05.0995 / 303 25
6 311 South Wacker Drive 06.0961 / 293 06.0961 / 293 27
7 One Prudential Plaza 07.0912 / 278 10.0601 / 183 84
8 900 North Michigan 08.0871 / 265 07.0871 / 265 29
9 Water Tower Place 09.0859 / 262 08.0859 / 262 31
10 Chase Tower 10.0850 / 259 09.0850 / 259 33

Tallest under construction, approved, and proposed

 This article or section contains information about expected future buildings or structures.
Some or all of this information may be speculative, and the content may change as building construction begins.

Under construction

The construction site of the Chicago Spire in May 2008
The Trump International Hotel and Tower under construction in late-July 2008
One Museum Park, as seen from Lake Shore Drive in May 2008
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower undergoing a height expansion in April 2008

This lists buildings that are under construction in Chicago and are planned to rise at least 500 feet (152 m). Under construction buildings that have already been topped out are also included.

Name Height
ft / m		 Floors Year Notes
Chicago Spire 01.02,000 / 610 150 2012 Construction of this building has been suspended. Upon completion, will be the tallest building in the United States. It will also stand as the second-tallest all-residential building in the world and tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere.13202203
Trump International Hotel and Tower 02.01,362 / 415 96 2009 This building topped out in August 2008. Tallest development by Donald Trump currently under construction in the world. Upon completion, it will break the record for the world's highest residence that is currently held by the John Hancock Center, but will lose that title to the Chicago Spire if and when construction on the latter is resumed and completed.1418
Waterview Tower 03.01,047 / 319 89 2009 Construction suspended.15204
Aqua 04.0822 / 251 82 2009 Upon completion, will stand as one of tallest buildings in the world designed by a female-lead architectural firm. Will be the first skyscraper in Chicago to contain a hotel, condominiums, apartments and retail space.205206207208
The Legacy at Millennium Park 05.0819 / 250 73 2009 209210
300 North LaSalle 06.0785 / 239 60 2009 Topped out in July 2008.3637
Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower 07.0743 / 226 54 2010 Building is undergoing a height addition; it was originally completed in 1997 with a height of 571 feet (174 m).211212
One Museum Park 08.0734 / 224 62 2008 Topped out in early 2008.4243
Elysian 09.0686 / 209 60 2009 213214
155 North Wacker 10.0638 / 195 45 2009 215216
353 North Clark 11.0624 / 190 44 2009 217218
One Museum Park West 12.0620 / 189 54 2009 219220
The Clare at Water Tower 13.0589 / 179 52 2008 Will stand as one of the tallest senior living centers in the world upon completion.221222
Streeter Place 14.0570 / 174 53 2009 223
600 Lake Shore Drive, South Tower 15.0513 / 156 47 2008 Topped out in early 2008.181

Approved

This lists buildings that are approved for construction in Chicago and are planned to rise at least 500 feet (152 m). A floor count of 40 stories is used as the cutoff in place of a height of 500 feet (152 m) for buildings whose heights have not yet been released by their developers.

Name Height*
ft / m		 Floors Year Notes
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and Residence Tower 01.01,265 / 386 107 2012 17224
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Chicago 02.0930 / 283 78 2010 225226
Cityfront Plaza Tower III 65 2009 227228

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

Proposed

This lists buildings that are proposed for construction in Chicago and are planned to rise at least 500 feet (152 m). A floor count of 40 stories is used as the cutoff in place of a height of 500 feet (152 m) for buildings whose heights have not yet been released by their developers.

Name Height*
ft / m		 Floors* Year* Notes
Grant Park Tower IV 02.0900 / 274 83 229
29 South LaSalle 03.0870 / 265 51 2009 230231
Park Michigan 04.0866 / 264 80 2009 232233
InterContinental Chicago (North Tower) 05.0850 / 259 71 2009 234235
375 East Wacker Drive 06.0840 / 259 76 2010 236
Grant Park Tower III 07.0790 / 241 73 237238
200 North Riverside Plaza 09.0700 / 213 50 2009 239
Lakeshore East Building 2-O 10.0650 / 198 240
150 East Ontario 11.0588 / 179 51 241
Lakeshore East Building 2-A 12.0550 / 168 2010 242
Lakeshore East Building 3-I 13.0525 / 160 2010 243
630 North McClurg Court, South Tower 14.0515 / 157 50 2009 Also known as 335-363 East Erie South.244245
630 North McClurg Court, North Tower 15.0515 / 157 50 2009 Also known as 335-363 East Erie North.246247
The Peshtigo 16.0 58 2010 248
Medici Towers I 17.0 53 249
Central Station - 1200 South Indiana 18.0 53 2009 250
222 West Randolph 19.0 50 251
740 North Rush 20.0 50 252
319 East Illinois Street 21.0 50 253

* 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

[[Image:|180px|]]
141 West Jackson has twice been the address of Chicago's tallest building.

This lists structures that once held the title of tallest building in Chicago. The title of tallest building in the city has changed many times over the decades, although only the Sears Tower has held the title of world's tallest building.

Name Street address Years as tallest Height
ft / m		 Floors Reference
First Holy Name Cathedral[C] 09.0733 N. State Street 1854–1869 12.0245 / 75 1 254
Saint Michael's Church 11.01633 N. Cleveland Avenue 1869–1885 11.0290 / 88 1 255
Chicago Board of Trade Building[D] 04.0141 W. Jackson Boulevard 1885–1895 09.0322 / 98 10 256
Masonic Temple Building 12.0N. State Street and E. Randolph Street 1895–1899 10.0302 / 92 21 257
Montgomery Ward Building[E] 01.06 N. Michigan Avenue 1889–1922 08.0394 / 120 22 258
Wrigley Building 08.0400 N. Michigan Avenue 1922–1924 07.0438 / 134 27 259
Chicago Temple Building 03.077 W. Washington Street 1924–1930 06.0568 / 173 23 117
Chicago Board of Trade Building 04.0141 W. Jackson Boulevard 1930–1965 05.0605 / 184 44 82
Richard J. Daley Center 02.050 W. Washington Street 1965–1969 04.0648 / 198 32 63
John Hancock Center 10.0875 N. Michigan Avenue 1969–1973 03.01,127 / 344 100 21
Aon Center 06.0200 E. Randolph Street 1973–1974 02.01,136 / 346 83 20
Sears Tower 07.0233 S. Wacker Drive 1974–present 01.01,451 / 442 108 4

See also

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Skyscrapers in Chicago


Notes

A. ^ New York City had three buildings with 100 floors or more prior to the destruction of the twin 110–story towers of the World Trade Center in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
B. ^ New York has 219 existing and under construction buildings over 500 ft (152 m), and Chicago has 107. Source of skyline ranking information: SkyscraperPage.com: New York, Chicago.
C. ^ This building was destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, and replaced by the current cathedral of the same name in 1875.
D. ^ The clock tower on this building was removed in 1895, allowing a shorter building to become the tallest in the city.
E. ^ This building is currently 282 feet (86 m) tall, following the removal of a pyramid top and sculpture.

References

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