What is the tallest building in england

Tallest Buildings In London

The Shard, London, Skyline, England, United Kingdom

Tallest Buildings in London

London is the biggest city and also the capital of England and a global city in finance, health, commerce, trade, finance, art, media, and entertainment among other sectors. The skyline of London is dramatically changing with several tall buildings coming up adding to the 16 existing tallest buildings that are over 150 meters. In the 1970s and 1980s only one skyscraper, Nat Tower renamed Tower 42, ruled London’s skyline as compared to the expected 250 or more once the ongoing constructions are completed. London has experienced a construction boom in the last two decades with most of the skyscrapers constructed during this period. Tallest buildings in London include;

1. The Shard

The Shard is Western Europe’s highest building. It has been renamed several times before the current name. The 309.6-meter tower was formerly called the London Bridge Tower because it was part of London Bridge Quarter. The construction of the Shard Tower started in 2009 and was finished in 2012. The 87-floor glass-clad pyramidal building was developed by Sellar Property Group who owns it jointly with the State of Qatar. Only 72 floors of this tower are inhabited while the rest of the upper floors are for the spire. The Shard’s tenants include Hospital Corporations of America, Shangri-La Hotel, Al Jazeera Media Network, the Office Group, and Greenberg Traurig.

2. One Canada Square

One Canada Square was constructed in Canary Wharf in London. The building was the tallest in the UK between 1990 and 2010 at 235 meters and comprising of 50 floors. The tower was designed by Cesar Pelli with its shape resembling the World Financial Center and that of the Elizabeth Tower. The construction work began in 1988 and was completed in August 1991. One Canada Square building has a pyramid roof which encloses a maintenance plant and houses facilities of water supply. The tower is currently owned by the British Land and has several tenants including Bank of New York Mellon, CFA Institute, HSBC, JP Morgan, and International Business Times.

3. Heron Tower

Ranking third among the tallest buildings in London is the Heron Tower. It is a commercial tower in London which stands at 230 meters and has 46 floors. The construction of the tower started in 2007 and was completed in 2011 making it the tallest building in London’s financial district. Heron Tower is formally known as 110 Bishopsgate, and it is almost fully let with tenants including McDermott Will & Emery, Partnership Assurance, Harvey Nash, Salesforce.com, and Proskauer Rose Law Firm.

4. 122 Leadenhall Street

122 Leadenhall Street is a 225-meter building located on Leadenhall Street in London. The tower was opened in 2014 after its completion in 2013. The 48-floor skyscraper was designed by Roger Stirk Harbor and Partners. The tower was formally known as Cheesegrater because of the wedge shape design. 122 Leadenhall Street is built on a site that was previously occupied by the building that was damaged in 1990 by an IRA bomb but was demolished in 2008 to create room for the new development. 122 Leadenhall Street is currently occupied by AON, Amlin, and Roger Stirk Harbor and Partners.

5. Crystal Palace Transmitter

Crystal Palace Transmitter, ranking fifth amongst the tallest buildings in London, is currently called Arqiva Crystal Palace. It is a telecommunication and broadcasting center and the main television transmitter for London. Crystal Palace Transmitter was constructed in the 1950s on the ruins of Crystal Palace. The transmitter was designed and built by British Insulated Callender’s Construction Company LTD for BBC. The first transmission from the site took place in March 1956. Crystal Palace Transmitter is owned and maintained by Arqiva.

London Skyscrapers

London’s Tallest Buildings

London is becoming an increasingly vertical city, especially in the City, the financial district of the capital. We introduce some of London’s tallest buildings.

The Shard, London

The Shard

The Shard, originally known as the London Bridge Tower, is a 95 story high skyscraper forming part of the London Bridge Quarter Development. It is the tallest building in the UK and also the fourth tallest building in all of Europe. The privately operated observation deck called «The View From The Shard» has been open to the public since 2013 and gives visitors a fantastic view of the city of London. The project’s architect is Renzo Piano and he designed the Shard as a spire-like sculpture that was emerging from the River Thames. One of the surprising facts about the Shard is that 95% of the construction materials come from recycled sources. The Shard currently has 306 flights of stairs available for visitors courageous enough to tackle the towering skyscraper on foot. They also have the option to take the elevator up to the top floor, however.

The Walkie Talkie, London

Walkie Talkie

The skyscraper at 20 Fenchurch Street is nicknamed the Walkie Talkie due to its unusual shape resembling an old-school portable radio transceiver. The building was designed by Uruguayan architect, Rafael Vinoly, and was completed in 2013. The Walkie Talkie has frequently been called the worst building in the UK despite the fact that it cost over 200 million pounds in construction. Originally, the Walkie Talkie was meant to be 656 feet tall but was scaled down due to concern about its visual impact on the nearby St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower of London. The structure curves outward toward the top of the building in order to maximize the high-value space at the upper levels. Visitors are highly recommended to visit the top of the tower that is home to the sky garden, set over the 35th, 36th and 37th floors. The sky garden gives visitors an uninterrupted view of the city of London while being surrounded by beautiful and exotic greenery. Due to the high numbers of visitors per day, bookings should be made for a visit far in advance.

Canary Wharf Tower, London

Canary Wharf Tower

Canary Wharf Tower, located at 1, Canada Square, Canary Wharf, is used primarily for offices with some lower floors featuring retail units. The building gains its name from the once abundant sea trade on the West India Trade Docks with the Canary Islands. From 1990 to 2010, Canary Wharf Tower was the tallest building in the UK until it was surpassed by the Shard in 2012. The architect, Cesar Pelli, designed the skyscraper in 1990 inspired by earlier precedents such as: Brookfield Place and Elizabeth Tower and the building is covered with high resistance stainless steel. The most distinctive feature of the Canary Wharf, the sharp pyramid shaped pinnacle, is 800 feet above sea level. The mallincludes three different shopping malls including: Canada Place, Cabot Place and Jubilee Place. The Canary Wharf Tube station lies within easy reach of the tower for visitors. Amazingly, the Canary Wharf tube station is big enough for the entire tower to lie down horizontally and possesses over 20 escalators.

Heron Tower

Heron Tower is the tallest building in the London commercial district and is located at 110 Bishopsgate, London. The building was completed in 2011 and is formally known as Heron International. The interior of Heron Tower features a concierge style entrance and a 70,000 litre fish aquarium that is home to over 1,200 fish. This aquarium is the largest privately owned aquarium in the UK with an entirely sustainable ecosystem. A bar-restaurant, called the Drift, is on the first floor and is popular with first time and seasoned visitors for its laid back atmosphere and handcrafted cocktails. The building is known for being environmentally friendly due to its use of photovoltaic cells to generate energy using solar power. The Heron Tower has been awarded the highest BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating of «excellent». At the very top of the tower is the restaurant and sky bar where visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of the city while enjoying a luxurious dinner and drinks.

The Leadenhall Building aka the «Cheesegrater»

The Leadenhall Building

The Leadenhall Building, known informally as the «Cheesegrater» for its wedge-like shape, is one of the newest skyscrapers built in the London financial district. In 2017, the building was sold to a Chinese business tycoon for 1.15 billion pounds, becoming the second biggest sale in UK building history. The building leans away from St Paul’s Cathedral so as to avoid blocking the view of St Paul’s and other historical sites in the area. The Leadenhall building is 224 meters high and is now completely leased by financial companies. This building is extremely unusual in that it possesses no central core like most other skyscrapers, but instead makes use of a tube structural perimeter envelope that allows the building to have an external support core. On the ground level, there is a 28 meter high open public space that pedestrians can access the building through.

Tower 42 commonly referred to as the NatWest Tower

Tower 42

Tower 42, commonly referred to as the NatWest Tower, is located at 25 Old Broad Street and is the third tallest building in London at present. It derives its name from originally being the National Westminster Bank’s international headquarters. The tower was formally opened in 1981 by Queen Elizabeth the Second. The tower cost approximately £278 million in construction costs when we take into account inflation today. There are grade A office spaces and restaurant facilities throughout the building for visitors to enjoy. NatWest Tower was the first skyscraper to be built in London to international standards and represented a huge departure from the previous restrictions on tall buildings in London in the 1980’s. Tower 42 is also known for having one of London’s tallest LED lighting displays seen during the London Olympics when they displayed the intertwined five rings for all to see.

St George Wharf Tower

St George Wharf Tower

St George Wharf Tower (aka Vauxhall Tower) is the tallest residential building in the UK and also the eighth tallest building in London. Located in Vauxhall, London, the building is part of the St George Wharf development. Interestingly, the tower’s floor plan is based on the design of a Catherine Wheel, a type of firework consisting of a powder filled spiral tube giving out bright sparks. The sky garden allows residents to have easy access to semi-outdoor spaces where they can lounge within view of exotic flowers and plants. The tower’s location right next to the River Thames also gives residents a excellent view of the city skyline and river. The majority of the apartments have been purchased by the super rich from overseas.

30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin)

30 St Mary Axe

30 St Mary Axe, known popularly as the Gherkin, is a commercial skyscraper that is located in London’s main financial district, The City. The building has become one of the most iconic features of the city of London and stands as an example of contemporary London architecture. One of London’s highest bar and restaurants is in the Gherkin, standing a lofty 180 meters higher than the restaurants in the Shard or 20 Fenchurch Street. The Gherkin has an astonishing 24,000 square meters of glass forming its exterior, which is roughly the equivalent of five football pitches. Another fascinating fact about the Gherkin is that the remains of a young Roman girl were found at its base at the very beginning of construction and reburied there upon completion of the skyscraper.

Broadgate Tower

Broadgate Tower is one of the newer skyscrapers located in the Broadgate development in London, having been built between 2005 and 2009. The building stands as a landmark to the northern entrance of the city and offers high quality office spaces to financial companies such as Adapt PLC and Dickson Minto. It was built at an estimated cost of £240 million, and was designed by the architects: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.

Strata SE1

Strata SE1, also known as the Electric Razor, is located at Elephant and Castle in the London Borough of Southwark. It is currently one of the tallest residential buildings in all of London with more than 1,000 residents currently residing there. The building is comprised of 43 stories and is popular to its residents for the unobstructed and spectacular view of the city it provides. Strata SE1 is the first building in the world to incorporate wind turbines into its structure to promote sustainability. The electricity generated by the turbines are used to supplement the landlord’s supply for the common area of the building. This eco-friendly new luxury residential building in London divides opinion having won a number of awards for its architecture and design as well as being nominated as one of the ugliest buildings in the capital.

The Lloyd’s Building reflected in one of the neighbouring glass towers

Lloyd’s Building

The Lloyd’s Building is a somewhat older and shorter tower block that no longer gets much limelight but which is equally fascinating.

The Lloyd’s Building was completed in 1986 after a rather lengthy period of construction that lasted 34 years.

The most striking thing about its appearance is that the guts of the building, the staircases, elevators, and all the pipes and ducts that carry power, water, heating, ventilation, etc are on the exterior of the building rather than the more usual central core of a structure. What this provides is of course a more spacious, open interior.

The BT Tower seen from Blackfriars Bridge on the River Thames

BT Tower

The BT Tower in Fitzrovia is one of the oldest of the capital’s tall buildings. It is located near Warren Street and Euston Square tube stations to the west of Tottenham Court Road. 177 metres in height, the BT Tower was completed in 1965 and was designed by architects Eric Bedford and G. R. Yeats. The BT Tower has gone through a number of name changes in its history. It has been variously known as the Post Office Tower, the London Telecom Tower, and the British Telecom Tower.

No. 7 More London Riverside aka The Batman Building

No. 7 More London Riverside

No. 7 More London Riverside is the location of a gleaming, glass-sheathed, modern commercial building on the south bank of the River Thames in central London. Welcome to the Batman Building. Across the internet, on social media sites, it has earned several nicknames, all with Batman themes like The Batman Building, The Bat Building, and Wayne Enterprises, etc. The reason is obvious from the photo above, as from a certain viewpoint a combination of shadow and reflection causes shapes very similar to the logo of the famous comic book and blockbuster movie franchise hero.

Heron Tower

Heron Tower is the second tallest building in The City financial district and in the top ten tallest buildings in London. It is 230 meters (755 feet) tall including its 28-meter(92 feet) mast. It was completed in 2011 after fours years in construction. Tenants include various law firms, stockbrokers and software companies. It is a short walk south from Liverpool Street Station and close to St Paul’s Cathedral.

Where is The Shard, is it the UK’s tallest building and who designed the London skyscraper?

THE Shard has become a London landmark, visible from 50 miles away and a tourist attraction in its own right.

Here’s what you need to know about the iconic skyscraper.

What is The Shard and where is it?

The Shard, also called the Shard of Glass, is a 95-storey skyscraper in London.

It stands above London Bridge Station on the South bank of the River Thames.

The building houses offices, restaurants, a hotel and the highest public viewing platform in Britain on the 72nd floor.

It features a 26 floor office complex.

When was The Shard built and who designed it?

Italian architect Renzi Piano came up with the design, meant to resemble a jagged glass sculpture rising from the river.

Building began in March 2009 and the structure was finished in November 2012.

The observation deck on the 72nd floor opened to the public in February 2013.

The Shard won first place in the 2013 Emporis Skyscraper Awards, which was won by Norman Foster’s Gherkin ten years earlier.

Is The Shard the tallest building in Britain?

At 1,016ft (310m), The Shard is the tallest building in Britain and the European Union, and 96th tallest in the world.

It is eight feet shorter than the Eiffel Tower, although that does NOT count as a building as it is not habitable.

Britain’s previous tallest building was One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, East London, which stands at 770ft (235m).

The Shard was briefly the tallest building in the continent of Europe until it was surpassed by the 1,112ft (339m) Mercury City Tower in Moscow.

The Federation Tower, also in Moscow, is now the tallest at 1,226ft (374m).

The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, is more than twice as high as The Shard at 2,717ft (828m).

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What restaurants and bars are in The Shard?

The Shard houses the five star Shangri-La hotel on floors 34 to 52.

It also has a range of bars and restaurants boasting views high above the city.

Aqua Shard offers «innovative contemporary British cuisine» on the 31st floor.

On the floor above there is «sophisticated urban casual dining» at Oblix.

Hutong, on floor 33, is based on a Hong Kong restaurant of the same name.

Gong, on floor 52, claims to be the highest hotel bar in Western Europe.

There is also the cafe and wine bar Lang at the foot of the tower next to the train station.

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The 10 Most Spectacular Buildings in London

London is filled with spectacular architecture that has been built over centuries of rich history. You can capture the feel of these time periods just by looking at their amazing structures. It’s hard to narrow down all the amazing buildings in London to just ten. These are our picks for the 10 most spectacular buildings in London.

Table of Contents

1. St. Paul’s Cathedral

The Bishop of London resides here today. Five churches have been built in this exact location to date.

This dome was created because Londoners feared 1666 would be a horrible year. Their dreams became a reality on September 2nd when a fire started—the great fire burned for four days straight and destroyed 13,000 houses and 93 churches, and St Paul’s Cathedral was severely damaged.

After the fire, the city decided to build a new church that reflected London’s place as a world leader.

St. Paul’s Cathedral was one of the most extraordinary buildings of the age and one of the largest in Europe. This is where the king and people would meet. It was also the focal point of old London. The man behind its classical design was an astronomer, anatomist, mathematician-physicist and architect named Christopher Wren.

In the 17th century, architecture was considered mathematics so he was a logical selection. He was from the Royal Society and pushed for a classical design. He used a large-scale model to persuade Charles II to approve his design. The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of London’s most iconic monuments—t is even illegal to conceal its view with new construction

2. Tower Of London

This historic landmark is over 900 years old and arguably London’s most famous structure. It served as an infamous prison where high-level political prisoners would be held or executed. The tower was originally built to keep invaders out.

The main entrance is known as Traitor’s Gate, which you must enter from the River Thames. This building has had over 1,000 years of constant use and it is a symbol of London and Britain. It is now 20 towers forming a defensive stronghold, and for many years, it was the country’s strongest fortress.

When it was built, it was the tallest building in London, and is now home to the crown jewels.

3. Church of St. Bartholomew the Great

We’ve seen this gorgeous church before in our Historic London Churches post.

The main room is intricately carved stone with ornate designs. It is three-storeys tall with a beautifully artistic ceiling.

The face now is the original face. The Elizabethan face was levelled during the London Blitz when a random bomb destroyed it.

Later, it was decided that it would be a good idea to restore the original face. This was surprisingly easy because of the excellent condition the original face was in.

4. The Gherkin

Locate at 30 St. Mary Axe and standing tall at 590 ft., this 40-floor smartscraper was completed in 2003, and is a combination of beauty and brains.

The unique curvature makes this a one-of-a-kind design. It is a high-performance building that incorporates the smart use of light. Its outer frame is a curved diameter so you get a much wider view.

The Gherkin is a smart building as it automatically adjusts to the weather. This is truly an extraordinary work of architecture. Despite its unique design, the only piece of curved glass is its dome.

5. The Leaden Hall Building

The Leaden Hall Building, also known as the “cheese grater”, stands tall at 737 ft. This amazing feat of modern technology was the first ever prefabricated skyscraper assembled in a small space.

One of the most cutting edge and ambitious products to take place in downtown London in decades, the distinctive triangular shape is 52-storeys tall and incorporates 75,000 sq. ft. of glass. It was built in this new fashion as they had to build with no storage space.

This was solved by the means of a steel exoskeleton. All the creation work was done 200 miles away in northern England. It only took 26 months to complete because of this new construction style—it was built like a big jigsaw puzzle.

he elevator has a wonderful view of London’s skyline and it is one of the tallest buildings in London. The peculiar shape was designed not to obstruct views of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

6. The Shard

This imposing, and somewhat controversial, building was completed in 2012. It is the tallest building in London at 1,004 ft., also making it the tallest building in the EU. It’s hard to miss. The public entrance is tucked away in a tunnel on London Street.

There is viewing gallery on the 69th floor that has a three-storey high atrium that provides a 360° view of the whole city. You are so high up that the railways look like model train sets.

There are 12 digital telescopes that will tell you what you are looking at on the skyline. The 72nd floor is a partially open observation deck.

You can look up and feel the sounds of London and the wind. Even the bathroom has an amazing view.

7. Palace Of Westminster

This amazing structure is home to the English Parliament. Thousands work here every day and millions come to see it every year as it is a very iconic London building full of history.

It was completed in the mid-1800 and many of its features are still original. The ceilings are stone carved and there is a cast iron gutter system that runs throughout the stonework. The central lobby has a beautiful decorative ceiling. The large stained-glass windows and woodwork are impressive.

Westminster Hall has a roof from the 1500’s and the Jubilee Window is a huge work of art. The tile work is also breathtaking

8. The ‘Walkie Talkie Building’

This lovely building is located at 20 Fenchurch St., London. This bold new landmark provides an amazing view of London.

This work of art functions as 61,000 sq. metres of office space. There are many unique features. The building curves out towards the top.

This design was chosen because the higher floor plates are more rentable and this design is larger and adds space. This bending-out effect creates more real estate at the top levels and so adds 25 percent per floor. There is a sky garden on the 38th floor and restaurants where you can enjoy the view. This building has continued London’s excellent architectural reputation.

9. Tate Modern London

This modern marvel is an architectural masterpiece and truly lives up to its status as a modern museum.

The sharp angles and curves give this building the look of a spaceship. The lines flow together effortlessly createing a unique structure perfect for housing art.

10. Buckingham Palace

This amazing building is the residence of the British monarch. Located in the heart of London it is easily one of London’s most recognisable buildings.

It is also the headquarters of royal affairs of state. It has a strange and surprising history. The staterooms are less than 200 years old. Every room is filled with clues to kings past.

The architecture was designed when Britain was the richest and most powerful nation on the planet and originally it was a royal retreat. Henry VIII loved the land so much he made it a private hunting and deer park.

The Tallest Buildings in the World

Keeping Up With an Ever-Changing List of Skyscrapers

Tall buildings are everywhere. Since it opened in 2010, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has been considered the tallest building in the world, BUT.

Skyscrapers are being built all around the world. The measured height of new skyscrapers seems to rise every year. Other Supertall and Megatall buildings are on the drawing board. Today the tallest building is in Dubai, but soon the Burj may be second tallest or third or further down the list.

What is the tallest building in the world? It depends on who does the measuring and when it’s built. Skyscraper buffs disagree on whether features like flagpoles, antennae, and spires should be included when measuring building height. Also under dispute is the question of what, exactly, is the definition of a building. Technically, observation towers and communications towers are considered «structures,» not buildings, because they are not habitable. They do not have residential or office space.

Here are the contenders for the world’s tallest:

1. Burj Khalifa

It opened on January 4, 2010, and at a soaring 828 meters (2,717 feet), the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is now considered the world’s tallest building. Keep in mind, however, that these statistics include the skyscraper’s enormous spire.

2. Shanghai Tower

When it opened in 2015, the Shanghai Tower wasn’t even close to the height of Burj Dubai, but it readily slipped into place as the second tallest building in the world at 632 meters (2,073 feet).

3. Makkah Clock Royal Tower Hotel

The city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia jumped on the skyscraper bandwagon with the 2012 completion of the Fairmont Hotel in the Abraj Al Bait Complex. At 601 meters (1,972 feet), this towering multi-use building is considered the third tallest in the world. The 40 meters (130 feet) four-faced clock atop the tower announces daily prayers and can be seen 10 miles away from this holy city.

4. Ping An Finance Center

Completed in 2017, PAFC is yet another skyscraper to be built in Shenzhen, China—China’s first Special Economic Zone. Since 1980, the population of this once-rural community has increased by millions of people, millions of dollars, and millions of square feet of vertical space. At 599 meters high (1,965 feet), it’s roughly the same height as the Makkah Clock Royal.

5. Lotte World Tower

Like PAFC, the Lotte was also completed in 2017 and designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. It will be in the top 10 highest buildings for a while, at 554.5 meters (1,819 feet). Located in Seoul, Lotte World Tower is the tallest building in South Korea and third tallest in all of Asia.

6. One World Trade Center

For a while it was thought that the 2002 plan for Freedom Tower in Lower Manhattan easily would become the world’s tallest building. However, security concerns led designers to scale down their plans. The design of One World Trade Center changed many times between 2002 and when it opened in 2014. Today it rises 541 meters (1,776 feet), but much of that height is in its needle-like spire.

The occupied height is a mere 386.6 meters (1,268 feet)—Willis Tower in Chicago and the IFC in Hong Kong are taller when measured in occupied height. Yet, in 2013 the design architect, David Childs, argued that the 1WTC spire was a «permanent architectural feature,» whose height should be included. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) agreed and ruled that 1WTC would be the third tallest building in the world when it opened in November 2014. Although 1WTC may be New York’s tallest building for a long time, it already has slipped in global ranking—but so will most of today’s completed skyscrapers.

Its story will always be included in books about skyscrapers.

7. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre

Another Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed Chinese skyscraper, the Chow Thai Fook Finance Centre in the port city of Guangzhou rises 530 meters (1,739 feet) above the Pearl River. Completed in 2016, it is the third tallest skyscraper in China, a country gone wild with building tall in the 21st century.

8. The Taipei 101 Tower

Measuring 508 meters (1,667 feet) tall, the Taipei 101 Tower in Taipei, Taiwan was widely considered the world’s tallest building when it opened back in 2004. But, like the Burj Dubai, the Taipei 101 Tower gets much of its height from a huge spire.

9. Shanghai World Financial Centre

Yes, this is the skyscraper that looks like a giant bottle opener. The Shanghai Financial Centre still turns heads, but not only because it’s more than 1,600 feet high. It’s been in the top 10 list of world’s tallest buildings since it opened in 2008.

10. International Commerce Centre (ICC)

By 2017, five of the top 10 tallest buildings were in China. The ICC Building, like most of the new skyscrapers on this list, is a multi-use structure that includes hotel space. Built between 2002 and 2010, the Hong Kong building, at 484 meters (1,588 feet) high, will surely slip from the world’s top 10 list, but the hotel will still provide great views!

More From the Top 100

Petronas Twin Towers: At one time the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were described as the tallest buildings in the world at 452 meters (1,483 feet). Today they don’t even make the top 10 list. Once again, we should look upward—Cesar Pelli’s Petronas Towers get much of their height from spires and not from usable space.

Willis Tower: If you count only habitable space and measure from the sidewalk level of the main entrance to the structural top of the building (excluding flagpoles and spires), then Chicago’s Sears Tower («Willis Tower»), built in 1974, still ranks among the tallest buildings in the world.

Wilshire Grand Center: Up until now, New York City and Chicago have been the two cities to dominate skyscraper height in the U.S. Not anymore. In 2014, the City of Los Angeles changed an old 1974 local rule that mandated rooftop landing pads for emergency helicopters. Now, with a new fire code and construction methods and materials that mitigate earthquake damage, Los Angeles is looking up. The first to rise is the Wilshire Grand Center in 2017. At 335.3 meters (1,100 feet), it’s on the list of top 100 world’s tallest buildings, but L.A. should be able to get higher than that.

Future Contenders

Jeddah Tower: In ranking the tallest, do you count buildings that are still being built? Kingdom Tower, also known as Jeddah Tower under construction in Saudi Arabia, is designed to have 167 floors above ground—at a whopping 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) high, Kingdom Tower will be more than 500 feet higher than the Burj Khalifa and more than 1,500 feet higher than 1WTC. The list of 100 future tallest buildings in the world points to 1WTC not even being in the top 20 in a matter of years.

Tokyo Sky Tree: Supposing we included spires, flagpoles, and antennae when measuring building heights, it might not make sense to distinguish between buildings and towers when ranking building heights. If we rank all man-made structures, whether or not they contain habitable space, then we’d have to give high rankings to the Tokyo Sky Tree in Japan, measuring 634 meters (2,080 feet). Next in running is China’s Canton Tower, which measures 604 meters (1,982 feet). Finally, there’s the old 1976 CN Tower in Toronto, Canada. Measuring 553 meters (1,815 feet) tall, the iconic CN Tower was the world’s tallest for many years.