10 tallest buildings in New York (USA)

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Until the end of the 19th century, even the largest cities consisted mainly of low-rise buildings with no more than six floors. But with the invention of new construction technologies and materials, powerful water pumps and safe, fast elevators, the situation has changed dramatically. The world's first skyscraper was built in 1885 in the American city of Chicago. It was a 42-meter building for an insurance company. After that, high-rise buildings began to appear one after another, all over the United States, and then in other megacities of the world. For a long time, New York was the leader in the number of tallest skyscrapers, but the situation has changed dramatically after the construction boom in large cities in Asia, such as Hong Kong. Nevertheless, in terms of recognizability and originality of architecture, the “Big Apple” is still in the first place. Today, the American metropolis is decorated with almost six and a half thousand high-rises, of which more than 80 exceed the 200-meter mark. Which of these giants are the tallest?

Ranking of tallest buildings in New York (USA)

Nomination	a place	Building	Height
Ranking of tallest buildings in New York (USA)	10	Hudson Yards 35	308 meters away
	9	New York Times Building	319 meters away
	8	Chrysler Building	319 meters away
	7	53W53	320 meters away
	6	World Trade Center 3	329 meters away
	5	Bank of America Tower	366 meters away
	4	Hudson Yards 30	395 meters away
	3	Park Avenue 432	426 meters away
	2	Empire State Building	443 meters away
	1	World Trade Center 1	541 meters

10th place – 35 Hudson Yards

Rating: 4.1

A multi-functional 72-story skyscraper located in West Manhattan, opened in March 2019. The building is 308 meters high and consists mostly of a hotel and living quarters. The first floor serves as a vestibule, with retail stores above it, and then office space on six floors. There is also a medical center specializing in orthopedic surgery. The hotel, owned by Equinox, has over two hundred spacious rooms. Also, the residents of the skyscraper have access to such modern amenities as a gym, a huge SPA-salon, a yoga center and much more.

The building's chief architect is David Childs of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. The original project called for the construction of a 270-meter structure, but during the subsequent redesign it was decided to increase the height of the skyscraper.

9th place – New York Times Building

Rating: 4.2

This 52-story building, called the Times Tower by residents, is located on Eighth Avenue, on the western side of Manhattan Island, close to Bryant Park and the world-famous Times Square. The skyscraper is 319 meters high and has been the seat of the city's main newspaper, The New York Times, since the late 19th century. The publication is popular for its hot topics, thorough investigative journalism and its well-deserved reputation as a source of reliable news. The office premises of the newspaper are closed to visitors, with the exception of the first floor, where there are several cafes and restaurants.

The skyscraper was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano in collaboration with FXFOWLE Architects. Its structure has an original feature: the outer walls rise above the roof level by almost three dozen meters, giving the upper part of the building a characteristic look. During the construction, energy-saving materials and special technologies were used to counteract heating in the summer. Moving between the floors of the building is provided by more than three dozen elevators.

8th place – Chrysler Building

Rating: 4.3

At the time of its opening in 1930, the Chrysler Building was the tallest building in the entire world. The creation of this magnificent structure was commissioned by Walter Chrysler, the founder of a large automotive corporation. The talented architect William Van Helen took over the implementation of the ambitious project. He managed to design a real 77-storey Art Deco masterpiece. Although the walls of the structure, like many other high-rise buildings, are constructed of concrete, steel and stone, it impresses with its visual lightness and elegance.

One of the goals of the project was to set a new altitude record. However, by the end of construction, the Chrysler Building was losing on this indicator to its competitor, the trust bank building (now called the Trump Building). The decisive factor that determined the winner was the installation of an almost 40-meter spire at the top of the building. The total height of the skyscraper is 319 meters. According to polls, it is one of the most beautiful high-rise buildings not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Inside the Chrysler Building are offices rented by large American companies.

7th place – 53W53

Rating: 4.4

Tower 53W53 is located on West 53rd Street, in midtown Manhattan. The 77-storey building is adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art. The design of the building began to be developed back in 2006, but the tower opened only in August 2018. The author of the project, French architect Jean Nouvel, initially presented the plan of the building with a height of 381 meters, but later it was decided to reduce the height due to fears that it would shade the Central Park too much. As a result, the skyscraper is 320 meters high and contains an ultra-modern residential complex, as well as galleries and a private restaurant. The upper floors offer spectacular views of New York's Central Park, and a range of luxurious amenities are also available to residents: swimming pools, gyms, a private theater, a tasting cellar and the like.

6th place – World Trade Center 3

Rating: 4.5

The new building of the New York World Trade Center was opened 13 years after the destruction of the Twin Towers in the 2011 terrorist attack. Construction lasted from 2010 to 2018 and cost approximately $ 3.8 billion. It is located where the Marriott Hotel used to be. The building, 329 meters high, filled a gap in the city's architectural ensemble. According to Patrick Foy, executive director of the New York Port Authority, this skyscraper can be considered one of the safest high-rise business centers in the United States. The strength parameters of reinforced concrete, which is the basis of the structure's frame, are much higher than building standards.

The project was created by a British architect named Richard Rogers, he is considered one of the founders of the high-tech fashion style. The minimalist interior of the 80-story skyscraper is enlivened by panoramic terraces. Most of the internal premises are occupied by offices and trading floors. The building is served by 37 elevators.

5th place – Bank of America Tower

Rating: 4.6

Bank of America Tower is located on Sixth Avenue, near Bryant Park. The 366-meter building has been in operation since 2009 and was designed by architects Gensler and Fox from Cookfox. The main characteristic features of the skyscraper are high environmental friendliness and energy efficiency. At the request of the bank's management, a large amount of recycled materials were used during the construction, and special insulating glass was installed between the floors, which significantly reduce heat loss in the cold season. The building also has a rainwater purification system and automatic light control, and double-glazed windows are made of special glass, providing ideal natural daylight.

For its environmental friendliness and sustainability, the building was awarded the LEED platinum certificate. The tower is mostly powered by its own generators. The 54-story skyscraper has three escalators and 53 elevators.

4th place – 30 Hudson Yards

Rating: 4.7

The Hudson Yards skyscraper is located in the western part of Manhattan Island. It is a multi-functional facility used by major American companies such as Warner Media, DNB Bank and others. This project was developed by the architectural firm Kohn Pederson Fox. The initial plan called for the construction of a 408-meter building, but in the end it was decided to reduce the height to 395 meters. There are 59 elevators operating inside, providing high-speed movement. On the last, 101st floor, there is a triangular observation deck, one of the highest in the entire western hemisphere.

3rd place – 432 Park Avenue

Rating: 4.8

The skyscraper next to New York City's Central Park is the tallest residential building in the world. The structure, 426 meters high, seems very light and even fragile from a distance, with a height-to-width ratio of an impressive 15 to 1. For the construction of 432 Park Avenue, the Drake Hotel, which previously stood on this site, had to be demolished. The author of the project was the Uruguayan architect Rafael Vignoli. He was inspired by the square, because he believed that this geometric shape would fit perfectly into the image of Manhattan. The building has 85 floors of perfectly square shape, as well as square panoramic windows from which an incredible view of the entire central part of New York opens. The cost of implementing the project was about $ 1.25 billion.

Inside the skyscraper there are luxurious residential apartments of the luxury class, the design of their interior was done by designer Deborah Berke. All imaginable amenities are available to apartment owners: spa, fitness centers, saunas, billiards, children's rooms, cinemas, a 23-meter pool, and so on. The comfort is monitored by a huge number of staff, many of the services are available around the clock. For city residents, this skyscraper has become primarily a symbol of sky-high prices, as the cost of housing in it starts from several million dollars and ends at around $ 95 million for a penthouse.

2nd place – Empire State Building

Rating: 4.9

The 443-meter building embodies the best features of the Art Deco style and is one of the main symbols of New York and the pride of its residents. Construction of the Empire State Building was completed in 1931 and until 1970 it was the tallest structure in the world. The project was developed by the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. Curiously, according to the idea of ​​the architects, the characteristic spire of the skyscraper was supposed to serve for parking airships, but this extremely original engineering idea was never implemented.

The 103-story office building has been listed as one of the seven wonders of the modern world and is considered one of America's top architectural achievements. One of its highlights is the top lighting system, which has been in operation since 1964. The color scheme of the backlighting is usually set according to the days of the week or holidays. The structure has two observation platforms: on the 86th and 102nd floors, from where tourists can enjoy panoramic views of the city. Due to its “photogenicity”, the Empire State Building has become famous in the cinema as the most frequently filmed skyscraper.

1st place – World Trade Center 1

Rating: 5.0

The tallest building in New York and the entire United States of America was designed by architect David Childs and was built from 2006 to 2014. When developing it, engineers tried to take into account all the weaknesses of the World Trade Center destroyed in the terrorist attack, and now the tower is considered the safest office building in the world. During construction, high-strength concrete was used, many times exceeding standard standards in reliability. The base of the tower is made without windows in order to strengthen the structure, it is able to withstand the simultaneous explosion of several mined vehicles. The ventilation is equipped with special filters as a precaution in case of chemical or biological attack.

World Trade Center 1 has 104 floors and is 541 meters high. The underground level lobbies connect the building directly to the PATH metro and rail transport lines. The upper floors are home to restaurants and viewing platforms. A distinctive feature of the structure is a bluish glazing with a surface reflecting light. The upper part of the skyscraper is decorated with a 124-meter spire.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.