List of tallest buildings in San Diego

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An overhead view of a San Diego's downtown with tall skyscrapers present throughout the area of different colors and sizes. A bay can be seen at the bottom of the image with several boats in the water. In the background are other neighborhoods near the downtown area as well as mountains in the distance.
Downtown San Diego skyline from the air in November 2008


San Diego has over 150 high-rises, mainly in the downtown district. In the city, there are 42 buildings that stand taller than 300 feet (91 m). In the 1970s, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began restricting downtown building height to maximum of 500 feet (152 m) within a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) radius of San Diego International Airport's single runway.[1][2][a] The tallest building in the city is the 34-story One America Plaza, completed in 1991, which stands 500 feet (152 m) tall.[3]

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 Union Bank of California Building, 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".[1] Development in the late 1990s and 2000s led to many new high-rises, mainly residential skyscrapers.[1] 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[1]

As of October 2019, San Diego is ranked 92nd in the world and 3rd in California with its 162 high-rises.[4] 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).[5][6]

Cityscape[]

San Diego skyline from Coronado Island in 2021.
Downtown San Diego skyline in 2009.

Tallest buildings[]

Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap 
Download coordinates as: KML


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.

Rank Name Image Height
ft (m) 		Floors Year Coordinates Notes
1 One America Plaza OneAmericaPlaza.jpg 500 (152) 34 1991 32°42′57″N 117°10′7″W / 32.71583°N 117.16861°W / 32.71583; -117.16861 Tallest building in the city; tallest building constructed in the 1990s; tallest building in California outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco [3][7]
2 Symphony Towers SymphonyTowersSanDiegoDec06.jpg 499 (152) 34 1989 32°43′6″N 117°9′28″W / 32.71833°N 117.15778°W / 32.71833; -117.15778 Tallest building constructed in the 1980s[8][9]
3 Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, San Diego.jpg 497 (151) 40 1992 32°42′34″N 117°10′4″W / 32.70944°N 117.16778°W / 32.70944; -117.16778 Tallest building on the waterfront on the West Coast[10][11]
4 Pinnacle on the Park I PinnacleOnTheParkSanDiego.png 479 (146) 45 2015 32°42′35″N 117°09′03″W / 32.70972°N 117.15083°W / 32.70972; -117.15083 Tallest residential tower in San Diego together with the Pinnacle II tower [12]
Pinnacle on the Park II Pinnacle 2 SD Wikipedia.jpg 479 (146) 45 2019 32°42′36.7″N 117°09′02.9″W / 32.710194°N 117.150806°W / 32.710194; -117.150806 Tallest residential tower in San Diego together with the Pinnacle I tower [13]
6 Electra ElectraSanDiegoApr09.jpg 475 (145) 43 2007 32°42′53″N 117°10′10″W / 32.71472°N 117.16944°W / 32.71472; -117.16944 [14][15]
7 Pacific Gate Pacific Gate SD.jpeg 450 (137) 41 2017 32°47′54″N 117°9′44″W / 32.79833°N 117.16222°W / 32.79833; -117.16222 [70]
Emerald Plaza EmeraldPlazaSanDiegoApr09.jpg 450 (137) 30 1990 32°42′58″N 117°10′1″W / 32.71611°N 117.16694°W / 32.71611; -117.16694 [16][17]
Pinnacle Marina Tower PinnacleMuseumTowerSanDiegoApr09.jpg 450 (137) 36 2005 32°42′39″N 117°9′54″W / 32.71083°N 117.16500°W / 32.71083; -117.16500 [18][19]
10 Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport ManchesterHotelSeaportTowerSanDiegoApr09.jpg 446 (136) 34 2003 32°42′37″N 117°10′6″W / 32.71028°N 117.16833°W / 32.71028; -117.16833 [20][21]
11 Diega South Tower 440 (134) 41 2021 32°42′57.2″N 117°09′28.5″W / 32.715889°N 117.157917°W / 32.715889; -117.157917 [22][23]
12 Harbor Club West HarborClubWestTowerSanDiegoApr09.jpg 424 (129) 41 1992 32°42′32″N 117°9′46″W / 32.70889°N 117.16278°W / 32.70889; -117.16278 [24][25]
Harbor Club East HarborClubEastTowerSanDiegoApr09.jpg 424 (129) 41 1992 32°42′31″N 117°9′44″W / 32.70861°N 117.16222°W / 32.70861; -117.16222 [26][27]
14 The Grande South at Santa Fe Place GrandeSouthSantaFeSanDiegoApr09.jpg 420 (128) 39 2004 32°43′2″N 117°10′13″W / 32.71722°N 117.17028°W / 32.71722; -117.17028 [28][29]
The Grande North at Santa Fe Place GrandeNorthSantaFeSanDiegoApr09.jpg 420 (128) 39 2005 32°43′5″N 117°10′13″W / 32.71806°N 117.17028°W / 32.71806; -117.17028 [30][31]
Vantage Pointe Condominium VantagePointeCondoSanDiegoApr09.jpg 420 (128) 41 2009 32°43′6″N 117°9′21″W / 32.71833°N 117.15583°W / 32.71833; -117.15583 [32][33]
17 Savina by Bosa Savina by Bosa Building.jpg 414 (126) 36 2018 32°43′10″N 117°10′10″W / 32.71944°N 117.16944°W / 32.71944; -117.16944 [34][35][36]
18 First Allied Plaza AdvancedEquitiesPlazaSanDiegoApr09.jpg 412 (126) 23 2005 32°42′55″N 117°10′7″W / 32.71528°N 117.16861°W / 32.71528; -117.16861 [37][38]
19 BaysideEmbarcaderoRearSanDiegoApr09.jpg 395 (120) 36 2009 32°43′9″N 117°10′14″W / 32.71917°N 117.17056°W / 32.71917; -117.17056 [39][40]
20 SDCentralCourthouse.jpeg 389 (119) 23 2017 32°43′2″N 117°9′58″W / 32.71722°N 117.16611°W / 32.71722; -117.16611 [41]
21 Union Bank of California Building UnionBankCASanDiegoApr09.jpg 388 (118) 27 1969 32°43′2″N 117°9′35″W / 32.71722°N 117.15972°W / 32.71722; -117.15972 Tallest building constructed in the 1960s[42][43]
22 Park 12 386 (118) 36 2018 32°42′23.3″N 117°9′18.4″W / 32.706472°N 117.155111°W / 32.706472; -117.155111 [44]
23 Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel.jpg 385 (117) 32 2008 32°42′11″N 117°9′31″W / 32.70306°N 117.15861°W / 32.70306; -117.15861 [45][46]
24 The Mark TheMarkSanDiegoApr09.jpg 381 (116) 33 2007 32°42′40″N 117°9′25″W / 32.71111°N 117.15694°W / 32.71111; -117.15694 [47][48]
25 Sapphire Tower SapphireTowerRearSanDiegoApr09.jpg 380 (116) 32 2008 32°43′6″N 117°10′10″W / 32.71833°N 117.16944°W / 32.71833; -117.16944 [49][50]
26 One Columbia Place FirstNationalBankCenter1SanDiegoApr09.jpg 379 (116) 27 1982 32°43′5″N 117°10′1″W / 32.71806°N 117.16694°W / 32.71806; -117.16694 [51][52]
27 Omni San Diego Hotel OmniHotelSanDiegoApr09.jpg 375 (114) 34 2004 32°42′24″N 117°9′32″W / 32.70667°N 117.15889°W / 32.70667; -117.15889 [53][54][55]
28 Meridian Condominiums MeridianCondosRearSanDiegoApr09.jpg 371 (113) 28 1985 32°42′47″N 117°9′54″W / 32.71306°N 117.16500°W / 32.71306; -117.16500 [56][57]
29 Marriott Hotel and Marina Tower I MarriottHotelTower1SanDiegoApr09.jpg 361 (110) 24 1987 32°42′28″N 117°9′54″W / 32.70778°N 117.16500°W / 32.70778; -117.16500 [58][59]
Marriott Hotel and Marina Tower II MarriottHotelTower2SanDiegoApr09.jpg 361 (110) 24 1987 32°42′30″N 117°9′57″W / 32.70833°N 117.16583°W / 32.70833; -117.16583 [60][61]
31 The Merian 360 (110) 34 2020 32°42′43.7″N 117°9′15.9″W / 32.712139°N 117.154417°W / 32.712139; -117.154417 [62]
32 Imperial Bank Tower 701B Tower San Diego.jpeg 355 (108) 24 1982 32°43′2″N 117°9′28″W / 32.71722°N 117.15778°W / 32.71722; -117.15778 [63][64]
33 Executive Complex ExecutiveComplexSanDiegoApr09.jpg 350 (107) 25 1963 32°42′57″N 117°9′47″W / 32.71583°N 117.16306°W / 32.71583; -117.16306 [65][66]
34 AT&T Building AT&TBuildingSanDiegoApr09.jpg 348 (106) 20 1982 32°42′54″N 117°9′51″W / 32.71500°N 117.16417°W / 32.71500; -117.16417 [67][68]
35 The San Diego Union-Tribune Building, 600 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101, USA. Looking south. 339 (103) 23 1974 32°43′5″N 117°9′31″W / 32.71806°N 117.15861°W / 32.71806; -117.15861 Tallest building constructed in the 1970s[69][70]
36 James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse P521 (2).JPG 333 (101) 16 2012 32°42′54″N 117°9′57″W / 32.71500°N 117.16583°W / 32.71500; -117.16583 [71][72]
37 Wells Fargo Plaza WellsFargoPlazaSanDiegoApr09.jpg 331 (101) 23 1984 32°43′2″N 117°9′38″W / 32.71722°N 117.16056°W / 32.71722; -117.16056 [73][74]
38 Marriott Vacation Club Pulse 326 (99) 27 1990 32°43′07.2″N 117°9′28.6″W / 32.718667°N 117.157944°W / 32.718667; -117.157944 Formerly the Sheraton Suites.[75]
40 El Cortez ElCortezHotelSanDiegoApr09.jpg 310 (94) 16 1927 32°43′12″N 117°9′29″W / 32.72000°N 117.15806°W / 32.72000; -117.15806 Tallest building in San Diego until 1963[76][77]
41 225 Broadway NBCBuilding1SanDiegoApr09.jpg 306 (93) 22 1975 32°42′54″N 117°9′44″W / 32.71500°N 117.16222°W / 32.71500; -117.16222 [78][79]
42 The Rey 305 (93) 25 2016 [80]

Tallest under construction[]

This lists buildings that are under construction in San Diego and are planned to rise at least 300 feet (91 m). Under construction buildings that have already been topped out are also included.

Name Image Height
feet (m) 		Floors Year Coordinates Notes
11th and Broadway Tower 1 329 (100) 32 2021 [81]

Timeline of tallest buildings[]

This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in San Diego (at least 300 feet (91 m) tall) as well as the current tallest building, One America Plaza.

Name Image Height
ft (m) 		Floors Years as tallest Coordinates Reference
El Cortez Hotel El Cortez Apartment Hotel.jpg 310 (94) 16 1927–1963 32°43′12″N 117°9′29″W / 32.72000°N 117.15806°W / 32.72000; -117.15806 [76][77]
Executive Complex ExecutiveComplexSanDiegoApr09.jpg 350 (107) 25 1963–1969 32°42′57″N 117°9′47″W / 32.71583°N 117.16306°W / 32.71583; -117.16306 [65][66]
Union Bank of California Building UnionBankCASanDiegoApr09.jpg 388 (118) 27 1969–1989 32°43′2″N 117°9′35″W / 32.71722°N 117.15972°W / 32.71722; -117.15972 [42][43]
Symphony Towers SymphonyTowersSanDiegoDec06.jpg 499 (152) 34 1989–1991 32°43′6″N 117°9′28″W / 32.71833°N 117.15778°W / 32.71833; -117.15778 [8][9]
One America Plaza OneAmericaPlazaSDSept10.jpg 500 (152) 34 1991–present 32°42′57″N 117°10′7″W / 32.71583°N 117.16861°W / 32.71583; -117.16861 [3][7]

Notes[]

  1. ^ 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. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  • "San Diego". SkyscraperPage. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
Specific
  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Bergman, Heather (June 27, 2005). "San Diego's skyline grows up: residential towers filling some of the missing 'tools' as office projects are nearing completion". San Diego Business Journal. TheFreeLibrary.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for San Diego International Airport" (PDF). San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. October 4, 2004. pp. 51–52. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 30, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c "One America Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  4. ^ "Cities: High Rises". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  5. ^ "San Diego: Construction". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  6. ^ "San Diego: Proposed". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "One America Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Symphony Towers". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Symphony Towers". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  10. ^ "Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  11. ^ "Manchester Grand Hyatt". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  12. ^ "15th and Island Tower 1". skyscraperpage. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  13. ^ "World Building Map | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  14. ^ "Electra". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  15. ^ "Electra". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  16. ^ "Emerald Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  17. ^ "Emerald Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  18. ^ "The Pinnacle Marina Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  19. ^ "Pinnacle Marina Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  20. ^ "Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  21. ^ "Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  22. ^ "Diega South Tower, San Diego | 1244297 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  23. ^ "Diega South Tower - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
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  26. ^ "Harbor Club East". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  27. ^ "Harbor Club East". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  28. ^ "The Grande South at Santa Fe Place". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  29. ^ "The Grande South at Santa Fe Place". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  30. ^ "The Grande North at Santa Fe Place". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  31. ^ "The Grande North at Santa Fe Place". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  32. ^ "Vantage Pointe Condominium". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  33. ^ "Vantage Pointe Condominium". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  34. ^ "Bosa digging for 2nd tower". Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  35. ^ "Kettner & Ash, San Diego - SkyscraperPage.com". skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  36. ^ "Savina San Diego - Welcome".
  37. ^ "Advanced Equities Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  38. ^ "Broadway 655". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  39. ^ "Pacific Highway @ Ash Condominium". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  40. ^ "Bayside at the Embarcadero". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  41. ^ "San Diego Central Courthouse - The Skyscraper Center". skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  42. ^ Jump up to: a b "Union Bank of California Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  43. ^ Jump up to: a b "Union Bank of California Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  44. ^ "World Building Map | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  45. ^ "Hilton San Diego Bayfront". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  46. ^ "Hilton San Diego Convention Center Hotel". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  47. ^ "The Mark". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  48. ^ "The Mark". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  49. ^ "Sapphire Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  50. ^ "Sapphire Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  51. ^ "First National Bank Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  52. ^ "First National Bank Center". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  53. ^ "Omni San Diego Hotel Opens in San Diego's Newly Revitalized Gaslamp Quarter". Omni Hotels. Archived from the original on August 30, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  54. ^ "Omni San Diego Hotel and The Metropolitan". Emporis.com. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  55. ^ "Omni Hotel". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  56. ^ "Meridian Condominiums". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  57. ^ "Meridian Condominiums". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  58. ^ "Marriott Marina South Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  59. ^ "San Diego Marriott Hotel &Marina Tower 1". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  60. ^ "Marriott Marina North Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  61. ^ "San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina Tower 2". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  62. ^ "The Merian". Emporis.
  63. ^ "Imperial Bank Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  64. ^ "Imperial Bank Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  65. ^ Jump up to: a b "Executive Complex". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  66. ^ Jump up to: a b "Executive Complex". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  67. ^ "AT&T Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  68. ^ "101 West Broadway". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  69. ^ "Comerica Bank Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  70. ^ "Comerica Bank Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  71. ^ "U.S. Federal Courthouse". Emporis.com. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  72. ^ "U.S. Federal Courthouse". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  73. ^ "Wells Fargo Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  74. ^ "Wells Fargo Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  75. ^ "Sheraton Suites San Diego". Emporis.
  76. ^ Jump up to: a b "El Cortez Hotel". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  77. ^ Jump up to: a b "El Cortez". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  78. ^ "225 Broadway". Emporis.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  79. ^ "NBC Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  80. ^ "The Rey". Emporis.
  81. ^ "11th & Broadway Tower I".

External links[]

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