San Diego Skyline
History
The history of skyscrapers in San Diego began with the completion of the U.S. Grant Hotel in 1910. The building, at a height of 211 feet (64 m), remained the tallest building in San Diego until 1927, when the El Cortez Hotel at 310 feet (94 m) took its place. The skyscraper's height was surpassed in 1967 by the 530 B Street, which stood as the tallest building for two decades with its height of 388 feet (118 m). In 1989, with a height of 499 feet (152 m), Symphony Towers gained the title, before being passed two years later by One America Plaza. During the 1990s, the city was compared to a "handful of tools in a scarcely stocked toolbox" and a "mouth with a lot of missing teeth". Development in the late 1990s and 2000s led to many new high-rises, mainly residential skyscrapers. Many of these new residential buildings are pairs of twin towers.
I believe that our skyline is a collective composition of many buildings. We don't have to have one landmark like the Empire State Building or Petronas towers. I think the landmark is the entire Downtown.
— Garry Papers, manager of architecture and planning for the Center City Development Corporation
As of October 2019, San Diego is ranked 98th in the world and 3rd in California with its 162 high-rises. However, due to the FAA height restriction, none of San Diego's buildings are within the top 100 tallest buildings in the United States. As of October 2019, there are around 20 buildings that have been proposed, approved, or are currently undergoing construction which will join the tallest buildings in San Diego (over 300 feet).
Cityscape
Tallest buildings
This list ranks San Diego skyscrapers that stand at least 300 feet (91 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed.
Tallest under construction
There is one building under construction in San Diego that is planned to rise at least 300 feet (91 m) (as of July 2023). Under construction buildings that have already been topped out are also included.
Name | Image | Height feet (ft) |
Floors | Year | Coordinates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8th & B | 503 | 40 | ||||
800 Broadway | 434 | 40 | ||||
Columbia & A | 448 | 39 | ||||
Front & A | 445 | 34 | ||||
The Lindley | 415 | 37 | ||||
RaDD - Block 2B I | 307 | 17 | ||||
West | 445 | 37 |
Timeline of tallest buildings
There have been five buildings that have held the title of tallest building in San Diego including the current tallest building, the One America Plaza.
Name | Image | Height ft (m) |
Floors | Years as tallest | Coordinates | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
El Cortez Hotel | 310 feet (94 m) | 16 | 36 years (1927–1963) |
32°43′12″N 117°9′29″W / 32.72000°N 117.15806°W | ||
Executive Complex | 350 feet (110 m) | 25 | 6 years (1963–1969) |
32°42′57″N 117°9′47″W / 32.71583°N 117.16306°W | ||
530 B Street | 388 feet (118 m) | 27 | 20 years (1969–1989) |
32°43′2″N 117°9′35″W / 32.71722°N 117.15972°W | ||
Symphony Towers | 499 feet (152 m) | 34 | 2 years (1989–1991) |
32°43′6″N 117°9′28″W / 32.71833°N 117.15778°W | ||
One America Plaza | 500 feet (150 m) | 34 | 33 years (1991–present) |
32°42′57″N 117°10′7″W / 32.71583°N 117.16861°W |
Notes
- ^ Information on the Federal Aviation Administration's reasoning behind building height limitations can be read in their Advisory Circular, AC 150/5190-4A - A Model Zoning Ordinance to Limit Height of Objects Around Airports
See also
References
- General
- "San Diego". Emporis. Archived from the original on July 1, 2004. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - "San Diego". SkyscraperPage. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- Specific
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- ^ "Advanced Equities Plaza". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
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- ^ "Pacific Highway @ Ash Condominium". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
- ^ "Bayside at the Embarcadero". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
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- ^ "Executive Complex". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
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- ^ "Comerica Bank Building". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
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- ^ "U.S. Federal Courthouse". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
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- ^ "Wells Fargo Plaza". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
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- ^ "Sheraton Suites San Diego". Emporis. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "El Cortez Hotel". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "El Cortez". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
- ^ "225 Broadway". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "NBC Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
- ^ "The Rey". Emporis. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ https://webmaps.sandiego.gov/portal/apps/storymaps/stories/826d9f690a354f6a9634d7559e5a4d98
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20230726235455/https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/july_2023_final.pdf
- ^ "Project Details | Open DSD".
- ^ "Project Details | Open DSD".
- ^ "Accela Citizen Access".
- ^ "Accela Citizen Access".
- ^ "Project Details | Open DSD".
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20230726235455/https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/july_2023_final.pdf
- ^ "Project Details | Open DSD".
External links
- "San Diego" and skyscraper diagram at SkyscraperPage
- "San Diego" at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat