Denver's skyline, as seen from downtown, in 2017Downtown Denver in 2015
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Denver is the capital and largest city of the U.S state of Colorado, with a metropolitan area population of 3 million as of 2024. Denver is home to more than 300 high-rise buildings,[2] 49 of which have a height greater than 300 feet (91 meters). Denver has one of the largest skylines in the Mountain states, with the second greatest number of skyscrapers taller than 492 ft (150 m) after Las Vegas, having eight such buildings. Since 1984, the tallest building in the city is Republic Plaza, a 714-foot (218 m) office skyscraper. It is the tallest building in Colorado. The second-tallest building, 1801 California Street, is 709 ft (216 m) tall, only five feet shorter than Republic Plaza.
The history of skyscrapers in Denver began with the completion of the Equitable Building in 1892; this building, rising 143 feet (44m) and nine floors, was the first high-rise in Denver.[3] The 20-story Daniels & Fisher Tower became the tallest building between the Mississippi River and the state of California when it was built in 1910. At 325 ft (99 m), it surpassed the tip of the Colorado State Capitol,[4] which was completed less than a decade ago in 1901.[5] A few more high-rises were built in Denver during the Roaring Twenties, including the AT&T Building in 1929, before the Great Depression put skyscraper development on hold until the 1950s. The city's skyline grew to greater heights during the 1960s and 1970s; oil and gas companies occupied office space in downtown skyscrapers due to proximity to the mountains and the energy fields contained within.
Denver's skyline would see its greatest period of growth in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as the 1970s energy crisis led to a surge in oil and gas prices.[6] From 1974 to 1984, the title of Denver's tallest building changed hands five times. All three of Denver's buildings taller than 650 ft (198 m) were completed between 1982 and 1984: Republic Plaza, 1801 California Street, and Wells Fargo Center, popularly called the "Cash Register Building" for the shape of its roof.[7] Energy prices declined in the 1980s oil glut, abruptly halting Denver's skyscraper boom as vacancy rates increased and the city's population declined.[8][9] High-rise construction resumed in the 2000s, with major projects such as Four Seasons Hotel Denver and 1144 Fifteenth, the city's fourth and fifth-tallest buildings, while the downtown skyline is expanding northwards towards the Ballpark and RiNo districts.
Most of the city's tallest buildings are located in Downtown Denver. Skyscrapers in downtown are mainly oriented in the area's diagonal grid–with the exception of buildings in North Capitol Hill–as opposed to the rest of the city. There is a smaller and much shorter concentration of residential towers in Cherry Creek, southeast of downtown, and even smaller clusters in Spree and east of Cheesman Park. The Denver Technological Center has several commercial high-rises that are shared between the city and Greenwood Village, a municipality in the metropolitan area. However, the tallest building in the Denver MSA outside of Denver itself is the Rocky Mountain Tower in Glendale, which is 325 ft (99 m) tall.[10]
History
Number of buildings by height in Denver by the end of each year, based on the information in this article. Click on the legend to toggle a specific height on or off. View chart definition.
Skyline of Denver in 2006 (Use cursor to identify buildings.)
The history of skyscrapers in Denver began with the completion of the Equitable Building in 1892; this building, rising 143 feet (44m) and nine floors, was the first high-rise in Denver.[3] The title of the city's "first skyscraper" is usually given to the Daniels & Fisher Tower, which rises 325 feet (99m) and was completed in 1910.[11][12] The city went through a large building boom that lasted from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s. During this time, 21of the city's 27tallest buildings were constructed, including Republic Plaza, 1801California Street, and the Wells Fargo Center. The city is the site of eight skyscrapers over 492 feet (150m) 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 (150m) tall) second in the Mountain States (after Las Vegas) and seventeenth in the United States.[A]
The tallest building recently completed in Denver is the Four Seasons Hotel and Tower, which rises 45stories and 641 feet (195m).[13] It now stands as the fourth-tallest building in Denver as well as the city's tallest residential tower. The 1144 Fifteenth office tower rises just over 600 feet at over 40 stories making it the fifth-tallest building in Denver upon completion early 2018. As of the mid-2020s, Denver has been experiencing a high rise residential building boom for shorter towers with several large projects having been built or under construction throughout the city, mainly concentrated in the Downtown Denver, Golden Triangle and River North (RiNo) neighborhoods.
In 2024, work was completed on One River North, a 16-story residential high-rise that prominently features a canyon-like crack that runs through its glass facade.[14]
Cityscape
Denver skyline from 41st and Fox station bridge, May 2019
Map of tallest buildings
The map below shows the location of buildings taller than 300 feet (91 m) in Downtown Denver. Each marker is numbered by the building's height rank, and colored by the decade of its completion. Of the buildings taller than 300 feet (91 m) in Denver, three are not visible on the map: the Country Club Twin Towers in Country Club, and The Pinnacle at City Park South Tower, immediately south of City Park.
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Buildings taller than 300 ft (91 m) in Downtown Denver. An asterisk (*) next to the building's name indicates it is located outside the map.
This lists ranks buildings in Denver that stand at least 300 feet (91m) tall as of 2025, 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. Buildings with the same height. If two or more buildings are tied in height, the earlier building is listed first.
Was the tallest building in Denver upon completion
Tallest building in Denver and Colorado upon 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 (225m). When measuring by pinnacle height this building (arguably) remains the tallest building in Denver, Colorado.[16][17][18] The exteriors of the building were used as the setting for Colbyco in the television seriesDynasty
Mixed-use residential and hotel building; there are 24 residential floors atop 21 hotel floors (239 rooms & suites). Topped off in September 2009. When measured to the roof of the structure, Four Seasons Tower rises to around 565 feet. The spire is 75 feet tall.[20]
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. 1144 Fifteenth is the tallest office building built in Denver in more than 30 years at the time of completion.[21]
Topped off in 2020. Contains 595,000 square feet of office space. Completed and opened in early 2021. Tallest building completed in Denver in the 2020s.[27]
Tallest building in Denver from 1974 to 1978. Formerly known as First Interstate Tower North.[30][31] Exteriors of the building were used as the setting for Denver-Carrington in the television seriesDynasty.
Contains over 700,000 square feet of usable office space. 1900 Lawrence is located on the north end of Denver's CBD and just a few blocks from Coors Field.[32][33]
Topped off February 2017. Located at the western edge of the 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.[46]
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.[62]
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.[62]
Located in Denver's Skyline Park, D&F Tower was the tallest building located west of the Mississippi River from 1910 until 1914, and was the tallest building in Denver from 1910 to 1957. Today the tower continues to house mostly office condominiums as well as an events venue on the upper floors and a cabaret in the basement. Standing near the center of the Sixteenth Street Mall, the Daniels & Fisher Tower remains a beloved Denver landmark.[63]
Also known as 18th & Glenarm. Will be home to around 275 residential units. South Tower is located on the same site as its shorter 32-story sister tower. Both are being constructed simultaneously and will ultimately be connected via shared parking & amenities spaces.[75][76]
Upton Residences North Tower
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Also known as 18th & Glenarm. North Tower is located on the same site as its taller 38-story sister tower. Both are being constructed simultaneously and will ultimately be connected via shared parking & amenities spaces.[75][76]
Proposed
This table lists buildings in Denver that are planned to rise at least 300 feet (91 m) that are either proposed, actively under design or site review (concept or site development), or approved and awaiting construction. The "year column" indicates the estimated year when construction will begin.
↑ "COTENotes". Newsletter of the Committee on the Environment (COTE). The American Institute of Architects. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
↑ "Daniels & Fisher Tower". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
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