South America has historically seen a relatively modest demand for skyscrapers, with the majority of the continent's tallest buildings being residential. Office buildings have not historically been built taller than residential buildings in the region, though this scenario may well change in the next decades, as South America has been experiencing substantial economic growth.
Most of the continent's high-rises are in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela, with the tallest buildings being located in Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Balneário Camboriú, Santiago, Bogotá, Cartagena, and Caracas, all of which (except Balneário Camboriú) are one of the biggest financial centres of these countries.
The first skyscrapers of at least 100 metres (330 ft) height in South America were built in the 1920s, and included the Martinelli Building in São Paulo, Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires, and the Palacio Salvo in Montevideo. Martinelli was not only the first, but the tallest skyscraper of South America until being surpassed by the Altino Arantes Building, also in São Paulo, in 1947.
Many of the tallest buildings in South America are located in central business districts that emerged as early as the 19th century, or in office parks developed during the second half of the 20th century. Some of the most notable include Catalinas Norte and Puerto Madero (Buenos Aires); along the Centro Empresarial Nações Unidas and the Central Zone of São Paulo (São Paulo); Sanhattan (Santiago); and Parque Central Complex (Caracas).
The Parque Central Complex is a housing, commercial and cultural development, implemented by Centro Simón Bolívar and located in El Conde in the center of the city of Caracas, Venezuela adjacent to Paseo Vargas.
Edifício Itália is a 165 m (541 ft) tall 46-story skyscraper located in the República district, Central Zone of São Paulo, Brazil. Built from 1956 to 1965, it has a rooftop observation deck, open for tourists.
Gran Torre Costanera, previously known as Costanera Center Torre 2, and also known as El Costanera by the locals, and previously known as Torre Gran Costanera, is a 62-story skyscraper in Santiago, Chile. It is the tallest building in South America, the second tallest building in Latin America and the fifth tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. The tower was designed by Chilean architects Alemparte Barreda & Asociados, the Argentine architect César Pelli and the Canadian company Watt International. The building will be the tallest in South America until the completion of the newest Senna Tower in the city of Balneário Camboriú in Brazil with 509 m (1,670 ft) tall.
Torre de Cali is a 44-story skyscraper in the northern part of Cali, Colombia. It lies with the Versalles district on the left bank of the Cali River. With 183 m it is the tallest building in Cali and among the tallest in Colombia. Due to its dominance of the Cali skyline it has become a landmark building of the city.
Mirante do Vale Building, commonly called Mirante do Vale, is a 170-metre (558 ft) office skyscraper located in São Paulo, Brazil, in the area of Downtown São Paulo and Vale do Anhangabaú. Constructed from 1959 to 1966, it was the tallest building in São Paulo for 54 years until 2022 when it was surpassed by Platina 220. Mirante do Vale was also the tallest in Brazil until 2014 when it was surpassed by Millennium Palace in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina.
Intempo is a 47-floor, 202-metre-high skyscraper building in Benidorm, Spain. The design of the building was officially presented on 19 January 2006 and work began in 2007. Originally scheduled for completion in 2009, work was significantly hampered by the economic crisis of 2008 which seriously affected the real estate sector in Spain. Construction was almost completed in March 2014, but the sponsoring undertaking went into bankruptcy. In 2018, the building was acquired by SVP Global, and was fully finished by mid-2021.
Infinity Coast Tower is a residential condominium skyscraper in the coastal city of Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. At 234.7 metres and over 60 floors, it was the tallest building in Brazil until 2022, the year of completion of the One Tower, located in the same city. Construction of Infinity Coast started in 2013 and ended in 2019. The ones who conceived the project did not intend to build the country's tallest skyscraper.
Yachthouse Residence Club is a complex of twin skyscrapers in the coastal city of Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. In 2020, the towers reached the height of 281 metres and 81 floors, being the highest buildings in Brazil. In 2022, the two buildings were surpassed by the One Tower, being the second tallest in Brazil and the third-tallest in South America. However, construction continued until 2022. In 2024, with the construction of two pinnacles, the twin towers reached the height of 294 metres and became the tallest buildings in Brazil again. The building will be the tallest in Brazil until the completion of the newest Senna Tower in the same city.
The One Tower is a skyscraper located in the city of Balneário Camboriú in southern Brazil. Completed in December 2022, it became the tallest building in the country and the second tallest skyscraper in South America, at 290 meters tall. In 2024, this building was surpassed by the twin towers Yachthouse Residence Club, situated in the same city.
The Epic Tower is a residential skyscraper in Balneário Camboriú, Brazil. Built between 2014 and 2020, the tower stands at 191.1 m (627 ft) with 56 floors and is the current 5th tallest building in Brazil.
Villa Serena Home Club is a residential skyscraper building complex in the Barra Sul district of Balneário Camboriú, Brazil. Built between 2007 and 2013, the complex consists of two twin towers standing at 164 m (538 ft) tall with 46 floors each. They are the current 17th tallest buildings in Brazil.
The Mirador Playa Brava is a high-rise residential building complex in Iquique, Chile. Built between 2012 and 2017, the complex consists of two towers standing at 135.7 m (445 ft) tall with 36 floors respectively 124.7 m (409 ft) tall with 37 floors. The towers are the current 4th and 6th tallest building in Chile.
Torre Girasoles is a mixed-use high-rise residential building in the San Jorge district of La Paz, Bolivia. Built between 2010 and 2013, the tower stands at 138 m (453 ft) with 38 floors and is the current 3rd tallest building in Bolivia. It previously held the record of the tallest in the country between 2013 and 2018.
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