12 Tallest Buildings in NYC

New York has long been home to some of the tallest cities in the world, dating back to the late 19th Century. Around that time, architects in the city realized that they needed to focus on building up rather than building out. That trend has only accelerated over the last hundred years, and today over 300 buildings in the city are over 150 m tall (492 feet). Here is a closer look at some of the tallest buildings in New York.  

12 Tallest Buildings in NYC in 2023

1. One World Trade Center
2. Central Park Tower
3. 111 West 57th Street
4. One Vanderbilt
5. 432 Park Avenue
6. 30 Hudson Yards
7. Empire State Building
8. Bank of America Tower
9. 3 World Trade Center
10. The Brooklyn Tower
11. 53W53
12. The Chrysler Building

1. One World Trade Center

One World Trade Center is the tallest building in New York City. The building stands at 1776 feet tall and features 104 floors. It’s also the tallest in the entire Western Hemisphere and the 7th tallest in the world. Also known as the Freedom Tower, the building plans for the building were conceived after the original twin towers were destroyed on September 11th. It was designed by architect David Chiles, whose firm also designed the Willis Tower in Chicago. 

2. Central Park Tower

Central Park Tower is a supertall skyscraper located at 225 West 57th Street along Manhattan’s Billionaire’s Row. It’s the 14th tallest skyscraper in the world, and it tops the list of buildings that are primarily residential. Also called the Nordstrom Tower, the famous department store occupies the basement and first five floors. There are also 179 residential condos inside the building, amenity space, and a private club on floor 100. Standing at 1550 feet, Central Park Tower is the crown jewel of Billionaire’s Row. 

3. 111 West 57th Street

Also a part of Billionaire’s Row is 111 West 57th Street, also known as the Steinway Building. Standing at 1428 feet, 111 West 57th Street is the thinnest skyscraper in the world, with a width to height ratio of 1:24. The residential building features 60 luxury condominiums and 20,000 square feet of amenity space. The Steinway and Sons store on the ground floor originally opened in 1925. Many of the apartments in the building occupy Steinway Hall, a former store, office, and recital space that was a hub for artists and famous musicians when it was in operation. 

4. One Vanderbilt

One Vanderbilt is a supertall skyscraper near Grand Central Station on 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue. Standing at 1401 feet tall, it’s the second-tallest office building in NYC. The building was developed by the real estate investment trust SL Green and designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox. The idea was originally conceived following a rezoning of Midtown East in the 2010s meant to attract new commercial office building development. There is a TD bank on the third floor, while on the second is Le Pavilion, an 11,000 sq ft restaurant owned by French chef David Boulud. 

5. 432 Park Avenue

432 Park Avenue is a residential skyscraper located at 57th and Park Avenue in Midtown East. Another addition to Billionaire’s Row, 432 Park Avenue is a luxury residential building with 147 apartments and amenities that include a golf training facility, a clubhouse with a fitness center and sauna, and an 8500 square foot private restaurant led by a Michelin star-rated chef. The building was constructed on the site of the former Drake Hotel, which the developers purchased in 2006. At the time of its completion in 2014, it was the tallest residential building in the world (today, it’s the third). 

6. 30 Hudson Yards

30 Hudson Yards is the tallest of all the buildings constructed as part of the Hudson Yards redevelopment project that began in 2012. The supertall skyscraper features a distinct triangular observation deck on the 100th floor, making it the second-highest in the world after Toronto’s CN Tower. The building is mostly made up of corporate offices with tenants, including Wells Fargo Securities, Warner Media, and Facebook. At the very top on the 101st floor is a 10,000 sq ft event space with a private bar, restaurant, and dining area. 

7. Empire State Building

The famous Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper located at 350 Fifth Avenue. Initially completed in 1931, it was the tallest building in the world – a title it held until 1971. The building has become a defining feature of New York City, and tourists can still go to the observation deck 365 days a year to enjoy the breathtaking views. Standing at 1,250 feet, the Empire State Building is still the ninth tallest building in the United States and the 49th in the world.

8. Bank of America Tower

The Bank of America Tower, also known as 1 Bryant Park, is a skyscraper located at 1111 Avenue of the Americas between 42nd and 43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan. Developed by the Durst Organization for the Bank of America, the building features over 2 million square feet of office space, with BoA serving as the anchor tenant. At the base of the building is the Stephen Sondheim Theater, which has been named a New York City landmark. The building is 55-stories in total and stands at 1200 feet.

9. 3 World Trade Center

3 World Trade is the second tallest building that was part of the redevelopment of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan following the September 11th attacks. Located on Greenwich Street, the building occupies the eastern side of the World Trade Center site. It was built on the grounds of the Marriot World Trade Center, a 22-story hotel that closed due to structural damage suffered on 9/11. The new building features 2.5 million square feet of office space and five retail floors.

10. The Brooklyn Tower

The only building outside of Manhattan that’s on this list, the Brooklyn Tower is a supertall, mixed-use skyscraper in downtown Brooklyn. The 93-story skyscraper is located on DeKalb Avenue near Flatbush Avenue and is still currently under construction (although it’s set to be completed later this year). The building is primarily residential. However, there will be at least 93,000 square feet of commercial space. The ground floor is currently occupied by the preserved Dime Savings Bank Building, a local landmark that was originally constructed in 1908.  

11. 53W53

The fourth building along Billionaire’s Row on this list, 53W53 is a supertall skyscraper located at 53 West 53rd Street in Midtown Manhattan. Standing at 1050 feet, the building is 77 stories tall. Situated beside the Museum of Modern Art, 53W53 features a gallery and restaurant space at the base. It also has 145 condos, four floors of amenity space, and a lounge on the 46th and 47th floors. Construction was completed in 2020. But like many luxury properties along Billionaire’s Row, most of the units are vacant. 

12. The Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building is another iconic building that is a defining feature of the New York City skyline. The Art-Deco style building is located at 405 Lexington Avenue along 42nd Street in Midtown East. It was the tallest building in the world when it was completed in 1930, although the Empire State Building stole that title when it was completed the following year. The Chrysler Building was among the first skyscrapers ever constructed and was conceived through a partnership between former senator and real estate developer William H Reynolds and Walter Chrysler, head of the Chrysler Corporation. At 1,046 feet, the Chrysler building is the 12th tallest building in New York and the 65th tallest in the world. 

Tallest Buildings in NYC Comparison