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Boston, the capital of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England, is home to 251 completed high-rises, 29 of which stand taller than 400 feet (122 m). The majority of the city's skyscrapers and high-rises are clustered in the Financial District and Back Bay neighborhoods. The tallest structure in Boston is the 60-story 200 Clarendon, better known to locals as the John Hancock Tower, which rises 790 feet (241 m) in the Back Bay district. It is also the tallest building in New England and the 50th-tallest building in the United States. The second-tallest building in Boston is the Prudential Tower, which rises 52 floors and 749 feet (228 m). At the time of the Prudential Tower's completion in 1964, it stood as the tallest building in North America outside of New York City.
Contents
- Tallest buildings
- Tallest buildings by pinnacle height
- Under construction
- Tallest approved or proposed
- Timeline of tallest buildings
- References
Boston's history of skyscrapers began with the completion in 1893 of the 13-story Ames Building, which is considered the city's first high-rise. Boston went through a major building boom in the 1960s and 1970s, resulting in the construction of over 20 skyscrapers, including 200 Claredon and the Prudential Tower. The city is the site of 18 skyscrapers that rise at least 492 feet (150 m) in height, more than any other city in New England. As of 2013, the skyline of Boston is ranked 11th in the United States and 40th in the world with 46 buildings rising at least 330 feet (100 m) in height.
As of February 2013, Boston has two major proposals to construct skyscrapers that would rank among the tallest in the city if completed. The largest proposal is the South Bay Tower, which, at 800 feet (244 m), would surpass 200 Clarendon to become the tallest building in the city. The second major proposal for the city is the South Station Tower, which would become the city's fourth tallest building, assuming that the South Bay Tower is constructed. Overall, there were 64 high-rise buildings under construction or proposed for construction in Boston.
Tallest buildings
This list ranks Boston skyscrapers that stand at least 400 feet (122 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. An equals sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. An asterisk (*) following a building's name indicates that the building has topped out but is not yet completed and occupied. The "Year" column indicates the year when a building was completed.
Tallest buildings by pinnacle height
This list ranks Boston skyscrapers based on their pinnacle height, which includes radio masts and antennas. As architectural features and spires can be regarded as subjective, some skyscraper enthusiasts prefer this method of measurement. Standard architectural height measurement, which excludes antennas in building height, is included for comparative purposes.
Under construction
This lists skyscrapers that are under construction in Boston and planned to be at least 400 feet (122 m) tall, but are not yet completed structures.
Tallest approved or proposed
This lists skyscrapers that are approved or proposed in Boston and planned to be at least 400 feet (122 m) tall, but are not yet completed structures.
* Table entries with dashes (—) indicate that information regarding building dates of completion has not yet been released.
Timeline of tallest buildings
For most of Boston's earlier years, the tallest buildings in the city were churches with their steeples. The first skyscraper in the city is generally considered the Ames Building, completed in 1893. However, since the 13-story building did not surpass the steeple of the Church of the Covenant, it never became a city record holder. The first skyscraper to have the distinction of being Boston's tallest building was the Custom House Tower, completed in 1915.