Miami is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Florida, and its metropolitan area, with a population of 6.4 million, is the largest in the state. Miami has the third-largest skyline in the United States, after New York City and Chicago, and the fourth largest in North America.[4] It has over 400 high-rises, 77 of which are taller than 492 feet (150m), with six more that are topped out. The tallest building in the city is the 85-storyPanorama Tower, completed in 2017, which rises 868 feet (265m) in Miami's Brickell district. The top ten tallest buildings in Florida are located in Miami, and the top twenty are all in the city's metropolitan area.
The first significant tall building in Miami is considered to be the six-story Burdine's Department Store, built in 1912, while the 17-story, Mediterranean Revival Freedom Tower, completed in 1925, is the city's best-known early skyscraper. For much of the 20th century, Miami had a relatively modest skyline compared to other major American cities. Beginning in the mid-1990s, Miami underwent a large residential high-rise boom that transformed its skyline, and expanded it to the Brickell and Edgewater neighborhoods. Development accelerated in the mid-2000s, until the Great Recession brought an end to the boom. The skyscraper boom resumed in the mid-2010s, owing to the city's continued population growth and investment, and has continued into the 2020s, with Miami overtaking Houston as the city with the largest skyline in the southern United States.
The rate of construction in Miami has been cited as an example of Manhattanization.[5] Of the 73 completed and topped out skyscrapers taller than 492 ft (150 m) in Miami, only five—less than one twelfth—were built before 2000. Miami is among the fastest-growing skylines in the United States and in North America, with over ten such buildings under construction as of 2025. Due to the proximity and alignment of the runways of Miami International Airport, there is a height limit of 1,049 feet (320m) above sea level in the city. The under construction Waldorf Astoria Miami will meet this limit when it is completed in 2028. The 98-story hotel is one of several supertall skyscrapers, buildings taller than 984 ft (300 m), that are approved in Miami, which are all bounded by the limit.
Miami's main skyline runs north to south along the city's coast on Biscayne Bay, extending from Downtown Miami towards Brickell in the south, and northwards to Park West and up to Edgewater. It also includes the small triangular island of Brickell Key, just off the coast from Brickell. The skyline is mostly bound to the west by Interstate 95. Unlike many American cities, Miami's skyline is dominated by residential, hotel, and mixed-use towers. Another cluster of high-rises sits in Coconut Grove, southwest of downtown. Several high-rise clusters have risen throughout the metropolitan area, notably around Douglas Road station, and in Coral Gables, Dadeland, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Sunny Isles Beach, the latter of which has 14 skyscrapers taller than 492 ft (150 m).[6]
History
Miami skyline from William Powell Bridge in February 2018List of tallest buildings in Miami
20th century–2000s
Miami's skyscraper history began in 1912 with the six story Burdine's Department Store, becoming the first skyscraper in Miami. The McAllister Hotel later opened on December 31, 1919, becoming the largest building in Miami located at Flagler Street and Biscayne Blvd, holding the title of tallest building until 1925. The Freedom Tower, built in 1925, is Miami's best-known early skyscraper and remains an icon of the city. From the mid-1990s through the late 2000s, Miami went through the largest building boom in the city's history. In what was dubbed a "Manhattanization wave", there were nearly 60 structures proposed, approved or under construction in the city that were planned to rise over 492 feet (150m) in height. As a result of the construction boom, only two of the city's 25 tallest buildings were completed before the year 2000, and the city has the third-largest skyline in the United States, generally ranking only behind New York City and Chicago.[7]
The boom, however, ended abruptly around 2008 when the real estate market crashed and the late-2000s recession began. By 2011 the market began to return, with new office and condominium projects such as Brickell House announced for construction beginning in 2012.[8] This was followed by a second boom that is currently active as of January 2019. This second boom has more proposed towers for the region than were built in the first boom from 2003 to 2010.[9] Only 10 buildings out of 80 on the list were built before 2000, and only 18 were built before 2005.
2010s–present
The tallest completed structure is Panorama Tower in Brickell. It reached the height taller than any other building in Miami in August 2017. The auger cast pile deep foundation system for Panorama Tower was installed by HJ Foundation, a subsidiary of Keller Group.[10] The tallest active proposals include One Bayfront Plaza (OBP)[11] and One Brickell City Centre (OBCC),[12] both of which may rise over 1,000 feet (305m). One Bayfront Plaza is a mixed-use building proposed for 100 South Biscayne Boulevard, approved for construction since 2007, and scheduled to be completed as early as 2018. Since then, it has gone through several design changes and does not have a reliable construction date. By the end of 2016, there were about ten proposals for supertall buildings in downtown and Brickell. In addition to OBCC and OPB, these included The Towers by Foster + Partners, One MiamiCentral, Waldorf Astoria Miami, Capital at Brickell (CCCC Miami), World Trade Center of the Americas, Skyrise (tower), as well as the more speculative Sky Plaza and One Fifth.[13]
Tallest building
There have been several buildings in Miami that have served as the tallest building in the city. While the 5-story Burdine's Department Store was the first high-rise building in the city, the Freedom Tower is generally regarded as Miami's first skyscraper. From 2003 to 2008, and again in the late 2010s and early 2020s, the Manhattanization of the city led to a huge amount of new development. Several buildings were under construction, and many that were approved or proposed could have earned the title of tallest building in the city upon completion. However, other than the Four Seasons Hotel (2003), none of them made it before the market crashed in 2007. In 2017, Panorama Tower overtook the Four Seasons as the tallest in the city and the state. In a second building boom from 2014 to 2017, many more skyscrapers in excess of 800 feet (240m) were approved by the FAA, including several 1,000-foot (300m) supertalls. In 2022 the Waldorf Astoria Miami began construction as the city's first supertall building, exceeding 1000ft.
FAA height limits
Due to the proximity and alignment of the runways of Miami International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration imposes strict height limits in the downtown Miami area. One Bayfront Plaza[14] was for many years the tallest building ever to be approved for construction in the city, at the maximum FAA height limit of 1,049 feet (320m), though several other buildings were approved at similar heights since then. It was later reduced and is expected to rise 1,010 feet (308m), with 80 floors.[15] It also has the distinction of being the first skyscraper over 1,000feet (305m), known as a "supertall", to be approved in Miami. Several other buildings have been proposed to rise over 1,000 feet (305m), including One Brickell City Centre, but have been reduced by the FAA.
Approvals for comparably tall buildings in Miami are very rare due to the proximity of Miami International Airport (MIA). The main runways of MIA align planes taking off and landing directly over the greater downtown area, and for this reason the Federal Aviation Administration sets precise height limits for construction in Downtown Miami. The fate of high rise construction in Miami was greatly threatened by a "One Engine Inoperative" (OEI) policy proposed by the FAA in 2014. This proposal would drastically reduce the maximum permitted height of structures around 388 airports in the country, even causing existing structures to be modified.[16] In the end, the FAA did not go forward with the extreme limitations and even began giving quicker approvals to buildings with heights up to 1,049 feet (320m), leading to many proposed and approved supertall projects.[13]
Cityscape
Panorama of the Miami skyline at sunrise in 2025Brickell skyline as seen from the Rusty Pelican in 2014. Downtown and Brickell Key visible to the right.
Map of tallest buildings
This map shows the location of skyscrapers taller than 492 feet (150 m) in Miami. Each marker is colored by the decade of the skyscraper's completion.
This lists ranks the tallest buildings in Miami that stand at least 492 ft (150 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts.[A] Where applicable, floor counts are given by the observed measurements, as reported floor counts may include many skipped floors, not limited to floor 13. Due to strict zoning in the City of Miami and the FAA approval needed for each building, none of the tallest buildings in Miami have a defined spire.
Tallest building in Miami and Florida since 2017, approximately 70th-tallest in the United States. Tallest building in Miami and Florida completed in the 2010s. Mixed use residential, office, and hotel building.[17]
Topped out on December 2021, as the tallest residential building south of New York City. Tallest building in Miami and Florida completed in the 2020s.[18][19]
Had been the tallest building in Miami and Florida from 2003 until 2017. Tallest building completed in Miami and Florida in the 2000s. Mixed-use residential, office, and hotel building.[20][21]
Residential tower with 549 condominiums and 3,716 square meters of ground floor retail. Site is located on the corner of South Miami Avenue and Brickell Plaza. Typical of Miami residential construction, financing will use the Latin American finance method. Construction began in March 2016.[33][34]
Designed by I.M. Pei & Partners. Formerly known as CenTrust Tower and Bank of America Tower. The building contains the Knight CenterMetromover station. 216 ultra-modern LED fixtures placed on the setbacks and rooftops of neighboring blocks light the tower in multicolored displays.[54][55]
Part of Paraiso Bay complex. Approved in July 2013. This twin residential tower project is located on NE 31st Street on the Biscayne Bay waterfront.[60][61]
438-unit residential condominium tower. The tower is being built where the parking garage of the Brickell Bayview Center office building had been located. Construction began in July 2015.[80]
Also known as Brickell Heights North Tower. Formerly announced in 2006 as Premiere Towers. The project was cancelled by the Great Recession and re-announced in October 2013 as a twin 690 unit residential tower. Construction began in June 2014.[82]
352-unit residential condominium tower. The tower is to be built on the current parking garage of the 1010 Brickell office building. The tower began construction with the demolition of the existing parking garage in Spring 2014.[83]
Announced in early 2013. Part of the Paraiso Bay complex. Approved in July 2013. This twin residential tower project is located on NE 31st Street on the Biscayne Bay waterfront. Site work construction began June 2014.[85][61]
391-unit rental apartment tower. Contains restaurant space and 1,778-seat movie theatre. Also contain a Tequesta Indian display after artifacts and structures of the tribe were unearthed at the site. Construction began in July 2015.[93]
Also known as Brickell Heights South Tower. Formerly announced in 2006 as Premiere Towers. The project was cancelled by the Great Recession and re-announced in October 2013 as a twin 690 unit residential tower. Construction began in June 2014 and topped out fall 2016.[99]
Part of the Brickell City Centre project, which also includes construction of 520,000 square ft (48,310 square m) of retail, and two office towers with a height of 262 ft (80 m) each.[105][106]
Formerly known as Park Place at Brickell II. 1450 Brickell has been certified gold by The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.[120][121]
Tallest building built in Miami in the 1970s. Surpassed as tallest by Wachovia Financial Center (now Southeast Financial Center) in 1984.[127][128]
Tallest buildings by neighborhood
This lists the tallest building in each neighborhood, district, or sub-district of Miami. Note that all buildings over 400 feet (120m) are within the Greater Downtown area between the Julia Tuttle Causeway and Rickenbacker Causeway, east of Interstate 95. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed or topped-out for still under construction or stalled buildings. A dash "–" indicates a building's exact height is unknown.
This lists buildings that are currently under construction in Miami and are planned to rise at least 492 feet (150 m). Buildings that have already been topped out are moved to the main list. Table entries with dashes (—) indicate that information regarding expected building dates of completion has not yet been released. The year column indicates the estimated year of completion. Buildings on hold are not included.
Announced in 2015. It will be one of the tallest buildings in Miami, the State of Florida and the Southern United States. Construction had commenced after the groundbreaking ceremony in October 2022.[135]
Construction had started after the site's groundbreaking ceremony took place on February 6, 2024. On site of former Capital at Brickell or CCCC Miami site.
Will contain 149 condominiums and be one of Miami's tallest buildings when completed. Construction plans have resumed after being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[136]
1428 Brickell
Brickell
01.0 861 (262)
71
2027
189-unit luxury building will also be the world's the first residential high-rise in the world partially powered by the sun, the developer says, with 500 photovoltaic-integrated windows
Baccarat Residences
Brickell
835 (254.5)
75
2028
Archaeologists discovered human remains and artifacts at the site in 2021.[137] Construction on the site has been paused so archaeologists can conduct a dig. Construction had commenced on October 30, 2023, after a groundbreaking ceremony took place on the site.[138]
Mercedes-Benz Places
Brickell
773 (235.6)
67
2027
Large mixed-use project adjacent to Southside Park next to Brickell station. Formerly named 1 Southside Park.[139]
Groundbreaking took place on September 26, 2024.[147]
Proposed
This list contains buildings that are approved by the city for construction and are planned to rise at least 492 feet (150 m). Many of these buildings were approved during the 2000s Miami skyscraper boom, but were put on hold during the Great Recession and have been announced to start construction in 2013 and early 2014. Table entries with dashes (—) indicate that information is unknown or has not been released. The tallest proposals are limited in height to 1,049 feet (320 meters) above sea level due to FAA regulations, matching the under construction Waldorf Astoria Miami, which will be about 1,041 feet (318 meters) above ground level.
Proposed three tower project to replace the existing Hyatt Regency and James L. Knight Center. Will include 1,806 apartments, 615-room Hyatt Regency hotel and 190,000 square feet of Class A meeting space.[148]
The 61-story Brickell Gateway tower can rise to a height of 761 feet above ground, or 772 feet above sea level. At that height, it would be among Miami's tallest apartment buildings.[158]
The tower began vertical construction in the summer of 2023, but has been on hold since 2024.[160]
Miami Riverbridge Tower 2
Downtown
–
61
2028
Proposed three tower project to replace the existing Hyatt Regency and James L. Knight Center. Will include 1,806 apartments, 615-room Hyatt Regency hotel and 190,000 square feet of Class A meeting space.[148]
Miami Riverbridge Tower 3
Downtown
–
61
2028
Proposed three tower project to replace the existing Hyatt Regency and James L. Knight Center. Will include 1,806 apartments, 615-room Hyatt Regency hotel and 190,000 square feet of Class A meeting space.[148]
1,800 room Marriott Marquis hotel to be built at 700 North Miami Avenue as part of the Miami World Center development. Will include a convention center and a 1,500 theatre. Official height of building and floor count has not been publicized. Had planned to break ground in late 2014.[164][165]
Announced in Spring 2012. Phase I of BCC has broken ground and consists of a shopping center, 2 residential towers, smaller office and a wellness center. This property is part of an approved Phase II at the vacant site between SE 5th and 6th streets, and is not yet under construction.[168]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
