Atlanta, the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Georgia, is home to at least 39 skyscrapers over 400 feet (122 m) tall. Most of these are clustered around Peachtree Street in the Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead neighborhoods, with the suburban city of Sandy Springs also being the site of several skyscrapers. The tallest building in Atlanta is the 55-storyBank of America Plaza, which rises 1,023 feet (312 m) and was completed in 1992.[1] Upon its completion Bank of America Plaza was the tallest building in the United States outside New York City and Chicago, and the 8th-tallest building in the U.S. overall.[2] The second-tallest building in Atlanta is Truist Plaza, which rises 871 feet (265 m).
The history of skyscrapers in Atlanta began with the completion in 1892 of the Equitable Building.[3] The city later went through a major building boom, which began in the 1980s and continued until the mid-1990s; most of the city's skyscrapers, including its four tallest, have all been completed since 1985. Overall, as of February 2020[update], the entire city had 17 completed skyscrapers that rise at least 492 feet (150 m), more than any other city in the Southeastern United States except Miami, tenth total in the United States, and 61st in the world.[4][A] Of the 20 tallest buildings in Georgia, 18 are located in Atlanta;[7] the other two, Concourse Corporate Center V & VI are in the neighboring city of Sandy Springs.[8][9]
Panoramic view of the Atlanta skyline (Downtown and Midtown (left), Buckhead (far right))
The Equitable Building, completed in 1892, is generally regarded as the first high-rise in the city.[3] Atlanta went through a major building boom from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, during which the city saw the completion of 13 of its 40 tallest buildings, including the Bank of America Plaza, Truist Plaza, One Atlantic Center, and 191 Peachtree Tower. Atlanta entered another high-rise construction boom in the early 2000s. The city has since seen the completion of 17 buildings that rise over 400 feet (122 m) in height, including 3344 Peachtree, the tallest structure in Buckhead at 665 feet (203 m); it was topped out in October 2007 and completed in 2008.[10]
Several of the downtown buildings were damaged in a major tornado in March 2008, scattering glass from several hundred feet. It took workers several days to clean the buildings and remove all of the loose shards of glass from the skyscrapers. No structural damage was reported, and by late 2010 each skyscraper had all of its windows replaced. Window blinds and other office objects from the tall buildings were found as far away as Oakland Cemetery.[11][12]
This list ranks Atlanta 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 equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed.
23rd-tallest in the United States (8th at completion); tallest in Georgia; tallest in the Southern United States. Tallest building constructed in the United States in the 1990s. Tallest office building in Atlanta. Tallest building in any U.S. state capital.[1][13]
^The comparison uses the current standard criteria as a continuously habitable high-rise building that has over 40 floors, and is taller than approximately 492 feet (150 m).[5][6] See also Skyscraper for more details on how the definition has evolved over time.
^The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Skyscraper". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on January 7, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
^Ambrose, Gavin; Harris, Paul; Stone, Sally (2008). The Visual Dictionary of Architecture. Switzerland: AVA Publishing SA. p. 233. ISBN978-2-940373-54-3.
^"Tower Place 100". Skyscraper Source Media. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
^"Flatiron Building". Skyscraper Source Media. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
^ ab"J. Mack Robinson College of Business Administration". Skyscraper Source Media. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2020. Note that this reference states that the building was the tallest in the city through 1906; however sources for the Fourth National Bank building clearly show that the Bank building was at 16 stories, the tallest in the South in 1905.