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List of tallest buildings in Denver facts for kids

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The tallest building in Denver is the 56-story Republic Plaza, which rises 717 feet (219 m) and was completed in 1984. It stands as the 137th-tallest building in the United States, and the tallest building in the state of Colorado. The second-tallest skyscraper in the city and the state is 1801 California Street, which rises 709 feet (216 m). Twenty-nine of the thirty tallest buildings in Colorado are located in Denver.

Background

The history of skyscrapers in Denver began with the completion of the Equitable Building in 1892; this building, rising 143 feet (44 m) and nine floors, was the first high-rise in Denver. The title of the city's "first skyscraper" is usually given to the Daniels & Fisher Tower, which rises 371 feet (113 m) and was completed in 1910. The city went through a large building boom that lasted from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s. During this time, 21 of the city's 27 tallest buildings were constructed, including Republic Plaza, 1801 California Street, and the Wells Fargo Center. The city is the site of seven skyscrapers over 492 feet (150 m) in height, including two which rank among the tallest in the United States. Overall, the skyline of Denver is ranked (based upon existing and under construction buildings over 492 feet (150 m) tall) second in the Mountain States (after Las Vegas) and seventeenth in the United States. As of June 2008, there are 190 completed high-rises in the city.

The tallest building recently completed in Denver is the Four Seasons Hotel and Tower, which rises 45 stories and 641 feet (195 m). It now stands as the fourth-tallest building in Denver as well as the city's tallest residential tower. Currently under construction, the 1144 Fifteenth office tower will rise to just over 600 feet at over 40 stories making it the fifth-tallest building in Denver upon completion in late 2017 or early 2018. Denver is currently experiencing a mid-/high-rise residential building boom with several large projects under construction throughout the city with many more breaking ground in the near future.

Like with many large cities in the United States, Denver's CBD and the adjacent neighborhoods were blighted with the presence of many open parking lots in the 1970s and '80s. Recent focus to redevelop these open lots and increase density/activity in the city's core have been hugely successful as many of these lots are today being turned into large residential, retail and commercial developments. This is especially true around the newly redeveloped and highly popular Union Station area in Denver's LoDo (Lower Downtown) neighborhood. What used to be open land, parking lots, warehouses and rail yards as recently as the turn of the century is now several city blocks of new residential and commercial buildings as well as a new RTD underground bus terminal, rail platforms/pavilions and a park. There are also improved pedestrian friendly connections to the RiNo (River North), Five Points, Auraria and Highland neighborhoods from the new development. Historic Union Station itself has been fully renovated and turned back into a travel and activity hub. It now includes the Denver Amtrak station, a new boutique hotel and several restaurants, bars & shops all centered on the large Great Hall inside and a public plaza outside along Wynkoop Street. Starting in April 2016 the University of Colorado A-Line commuter train began service directly connecting Union Station and downtown Denver to Denver International Airport and the airport's new 500-plus-room Westin Hotel & conference center.

The skyline of downtown Denver with Speer Boulevard in the foreground, facing southeast

Tallest buildings

DenverColoradoSkylineViewFromtheSouth
Downtown Denver, Colorado
Republic Plaza south corner from Court Pl
Republic Plaza, the tallest building in Colorado
Transamerica, 1801 California Street, Denver, CO
1801 California Street, the second-tallest building in Denver
Wellsfargocenterdenver1
Wells Fargo Center, the third-tallest building in Denver
Four Seasons Denver
Four Seasons Hotel Denver, the fourth-tallest building in Denver
1144 Fifteenth, south corner looking up, 2017-11-24
1144 Fifteenth is the tallest office building built in Denver in more than 30 years at the time of completion.

This lists ranks Denver skyscrapers that stand at least 328 feet (100 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 Notes
1 Republic Plaza 717 / 219 56 1984 Has been the tallest building in Denver and Colorado since 1984. Tallest building in the Mountain States. Tallest building constructed in Denver in the 1980s.
2 1801 California 709 / 216 53 1983 The tallest building in Denver and Colorado when completed in 1983 until it was surpassed by the Republic Plaza building in 1984. The roof houses an antenna mast; with this structure included, the building reaches to a total height of 738 feet (225 m). When measuring by pinnacle height this building (arguably) remains the tallest building in Denver, Colorado. Exteriors of the building were used as the setting for Colbyco in the television series Dynasty
3 Wells Fargo Center 698 / 213 52 1983 Nicknamed "the Cash Register" because of its unique crown.
4 Four Seasons Hotel & Residences 641 / 195 45 2010 24 residential floors atop 21 hotel floors (239 rooms & suites). Topped off mid-September 2009. When measured to the roof of the structure, Four Seasons Tower rises to around 565 feet. When incorporating the 75-foot spire atop the roof, it rises to the officially recorded height of around 640 feet.
5 1144 Fifteenth 617 / 188 40 2018 Topped off July 2017 and completed March 2018. Located on the same block as the Four Seasons tower which by pinnacle height to the top of its spire is just 24 feet taller.
6 1999 Broadway 548 / 165 43 1985 Built around the historic Holy Ghost Church.
7 707 17th Street 522 / 159 42 1981 Formerly known as MCI Plaza.
8 555 17th Street 507 / 155 40 1978 Tallest building constructed in Denver in the 1970s.
9 Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center 489 / 149 38 2005 1,100 rooms (60 suites). Currently Denver's 2nd largest hotel by room/suite count.
10 Spire 478 / 145 41 2009 Topped off March 2009 and home to 496 residential units. Spire is currently Colorado's tallest all residential building.
11 1670 Broadway 448 / 137 34 1980
12 17th Street Plaza 438 / 134 33 1982
13 633 17th Street 434 / 132 32 1974 Formerly known as First Interstate Tower North. Exteriors of the building were used as the setting for Denver-Carrington in the television series Dynasty
14 Brooks Tower 420 / 128 42 1968 Tallest building constructed in Denver in the 1960s.
15 Denver Place South Tower 416 / 127 34 1981
16 One Tabor Center 408 / 124 30 1984
17 Johns Manville Plaza 404 / 123 29 1978
18 Granite Tower 398 / 121 31 1983
19 The Ritz-Carlton 390 / 119 38 1983
20 U.S. Bank Tower 389 / 119 26 1975
21= 621 17th Street 384 / 117 28 1957 Tallest building constructed in Denver in the 1950s.
21= 1600 Glenarm Place 384 / 117 32 1967 Also known as Glenarm Plaza. Originally known as the Security Life building.
21= Dominion Plaza 384 / 117 28 1982
24 One Lincoln Park 380 / 110 32 2008
25 The Confluence 375 / 114.3 34 2018 Topped off February 2017. Completed in early 2018. Located at the western edge of Denver's Lower Downtown (LoDo) neighborhood the 288-unit all residential tower is located adjacent to Confluence Park at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River.
26 Denver Financial Center 374 / 114 32 1981
27 Daniels & Fisher Tower 371 / 113 20 1910 Located in Denver's Skyline Park, D&F Tower was the tallest building located west of the Mississippi River from 1910 until 1914; Was the tallest building constructed in Denver in the 1910s; Was the tallest building in Denver from 1910 to 1957. Currently houses residential condos on all above-grade floors with a venue space in the basement, known as The Clocktower Cabaret, which hosts multiple comedy, music & burlesque events throughout the year.
28 Lincoln Center 366 / 112 30 1972
29 1125 17th Street 363 / 111 25 1980
30= United Western Financial Center 357 / 109 24 1961 Also known as Matrix Capital Bank Tower.
30= Denver Energy Center 357 / 109 29 1980 Consists of two separate towers of equal height located adjacent to each other. Formerly the World Trade Center of Denver which is actively moving to a new (currently under construction) mixed-use development located in the Five Points, Denver neighborhood.
32 The Quincy 355 / 108 29 2018 Opened Spring 2018. Home to 380 residential units in Denver's CBD.
33 1600 Broadway 352 / 107 26 1972 Also known as Colorado State Bank.
34 The Curtis 350 / 107 30 1974 Also known as Executive Tower.
35 1800 Larimer 344 / 104.7 22 2010
36 Elitch Gardens Observation Tower 330 / 100.6 - 1995 Located inside Denver's Elitch Gardens Theme Park near downtown.
37= Country Club Tower II 328 / 100 32 2017 Topped off Spring 2017 with completion in late 2017. Located in Denver's Speer neighborhood adjacent to the Denver Country Club. There are a total of around 550 residential units within towers II & III.
37= Country Club Tower III 328 / 100 32 2017 Topped off Spring 2017 with completion in late 2017. Located in Denver's Speer neighborhood adjacent to the Denver Country Club. There are a total of around 550 residential units within towers II & III.

* Table entry without text indicate that information regarding building height has not yet been released.

Under construction

This lists buildings that are under construction in Denver and are planned to rise at least 35 meters (115 ft).

Name Type Height*
ft / m
Floors Completion Year(est.) Notes
Block 162 Office 460 / 140 31 2021 The ~600,000-square-foot all-office building in Denver's CBD will be the city's 11th-tallest upon completion and will be open and completed for office space in early 2021. A future 450-room hotel tower on the same site—closely mirroring the height of the office tower—is actively going through design review and the hotel is anticipated to break ground sometime in 2021.
Block 176: South Tower Residential 414 / 127 40 2022 The 40-story all-residential tower located in Denver's CBD will be the city's 17th-tallest upon completion and will be home to around 275 residential units. South Tower is located on the same site as its shorter 34-story sister tower. Both are being constructed simultaneously and will ultimately be connected via shared parking & amenities spaces.
Block 176: North Tower Residential 349 / 107 34 2022 The 34-story all-residential tower located in Denver's CBD will be the city's 37th-tallest upon completion and home to around 200 residential units. North Tower is located on the same site as its taller 40-story sister tower. Both are being constructed simultaneously and will ultimately be connected via shared parking & amenities spaces.
Kenect Residential 250 / 76 24 2022 Will be home to around 435 residential units in Denver's Five Points neighborhood.
X Denver 3 Residential 250 / 76 22 2022 Will be home to around 410 residential units in Denver's Five Points neighborhood.
World Trade Center Denver Mixed-Use 200 / 61 17 2022 When ultimately completed, WTC-DEN—located in Denver's Five Points neighborhood—will provide over 250,000 square feet of office space, a conference center, a 260-room hotel, 30,000 square feet of retail and dining space, a public plaza and sculpture park. The site is located adjacent to the RTD A-Line directly connecting WTC-DEN via commuter rail to both downtown Denver and Denver International Airport.
Hyatt Centric Hotel 167 / 51 14 2021 Will provide around 265 guest rooms in Denver's CBD
McGregor Square Mixed-Use 165 / 50 13 2021 Formerly known as the "Colorado Rockies West Lot Development", this project is immediately to the southwest of Coors Field in LoDo, Denver. Plans call for a mix of hotel, office, residential, retail, and restaurant uses spread amongst three 13-story buildings which will all surround a large central public space activated through baseball-related entertainment and events. A revamped "Wynkoop Walkway" framing the developments northwest side will be a pedestrian friendly walkway further connecting Denver's Union Station to the baseball stadium. Plans also call for a new Colorado Rockies Hall of Fame to be incorporated into the development.
26th & Alcott Residential 160 / 48 14 2022 Will be home to around 642 residential units in Jefferson Park, Denver. Site prep was put on hold in 2019 and the project redesigned to include both rental and for-purchase units. Construction is expected to continue sometime in mid to late 2020. Anticipated completion is now slated for 2022.
35th & Walnut Residential 148 / 45 13 2021 Will be home to 382 residential units in Denver's Five Points neighborhood.
X Denver Residential 146 / 45 12 2020 Will be home to around 220 residential units in Denver's Union Station North neighborhood. A second 195-unit sister building (X Denver 2) began construction in late 2019 and is located immediately to the south of this site.
X Denver 2 Residential 141 / 44 12 2021 Will be home to around 195 residential units in Denver's Union Station North neighborhood. This project is located immediately to the south of the under-construction 220-unit X Denver, who's completion is planned for late 2020.
The Fitzgerald Residential 140 / 43 11 2021 Will be home to around 300 residential units in LoDo, Denver.
Market Station Residential/Office 130 / 39.6 10 2020 Located in LoDo, Denver, will be home to around 225 residential units, over 90,000 square feet of private office space, as well as several retail and restaurant spaces on the lower level including via an interior paseo. This site was formerly home to the RTD downtown bus terminal before it moved to nearby Denver Union Station in 2014. RTD's headquarters building remains on site and this project is being built around it.
Thompson Denver Hotel 130 / 39.6 11 2021 Located in LoDo, Denver and facing the 16th Street Mall adjacent to the Market Station project, will provide around 215 high-end hotel rooms & suites.
1480 Wewatta Hotel 122 / 37 12 2021 Located in LoDo, Denver, this "Aparthotel" will house around 90 extended stay units.

* Table entries with dashes (—) indicate that information regarding building heights or dates of completion has not yet been released.

Proposed or Under Design Review

This lists buildings that are either Proposed or actively Under Design Review (Concept or Site Development) with the City & County of Denver and that are planned to rise at least 35 meters (115 ft).

Name Type Height*
ft / m
Floors Anticipated Groundbreaking Notes
650 17th Residential/Hotel 525 / 160 35 2021 Proposed
Two Tabor Office 494 / 150 33 2020 Under Design Review
Block 162 Hotel Hotel 450 / 138 38 2020 Proposed
1900 Arapahoe Office 428 / 130 31 2021 Under Design Review
Bell Tower Residential 400 / 122 36 2020 Under Design Review
1055 19th Tower 1 Residential 400 / 122 36 2021 Under Design Review
1055 19th Tower 2 Office 400 / 122 29 2021 Under Design Review
2099 Lawrence Mixed-Use 387 / 118 36 2021 Under Design Review
601 16th Mixed-Use 375 / 115 25 2021 Proposed
eVolve – East Tower Residential 350 / 107 23 2020 Under Design Review
eVolve – West Tower Residential 350 / 107 23 2020 Under Design Review
Downtown Denver Marriott Hotel 340 / 104 27 2020 Under Design Review
Train Mixed-Use 200 / 45 16 2020 Under Design Review
The Foundry Residential 193 / 59 17 2020 Under Design Review
10th & Acoma Residential 187 / 57 17 2020 Under Design Review
990 Bannock Residential 170 / 52 15 2020 Under Design Review
2980 Huron Residential 149 / 46 12 2020 Under Design Review
600 Park Avenue Residential 148 / 45 14 2020 Under Design Review
575 East 20th Residential 140 / 43 12 2020 Under Design Review
TownePlace Suites & Fairfield Inn Hotel 140 / 43 12 2020 Under Design Review
2039 Chestnut Residential 140 / 43 12 2020 Under Design Review

* Table entries with dashes (—) indicate that information regarding building heights or dates of completion has not yet been released.

Timeline of tallest buildings

FarviewD&FTower
The Daniels & Fisher Tower stood as the tallest building in Denver from 1910 until 1957.

This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Denver.

Name Street address Years as tallest Height
ft / m
Floors Reference
Equitable Building 730 17th Street 1892–1910 148 / 45 9
Daniels & Fisher Tower 1601 Arapahoe Street 1910–1957 371 / 113 20
621 17th Street 621 17th Street 1957–1968 384 / 117 28
1600 Glenarm Place 1600 Glenarm Place 1967–1968 384 / 117 32
Brooks Tower 1020 15th Street 1968–1974 420 / 128 42
First Interstate Tower North 633 17th Street 1974–1978 434 / 132 32
555 17th Street 555 17th Street 1978–1981 509 / 155 40
MCI Plaza 707 17th Street 1981–1982 522 / 159 42
1801 California Street 1801 California Street 1982–1984 709 / 216 53
Republic Plaza 330 17th Street 1984–present 717 / 219 56
A. New York has 216 existing and under construction buildings at least 492 feet (150 m), Chicago has 114, Miami has 32, Houston has 31, Los Angeles has 26, San Francisco has 21, Dallas has 20, Atlanta has 19, Boston has 19, Seattle has 18, Las Vegas has 16, Philadelphia has 15, Minneapolis has 11, Pittsburgh has 10, Jersey City has 9, Detroit has 8, Denver has 8. Source of skyline ranking information: SkyscraperPage.com: New York, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Boston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Jersey City, Minneapolis, Detroit, Denver.

See also

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