A list of the tallest structures with clocks on their exterior that can be seen from the ground. The list includes various structures with a working clock face or faces on their exteriors. The first type of structure are proper Clock towers which are structures that fulfil the definition of a tower with a clock face or faces on the exterior wall or walls. Possibly the most famous example is the colloquially termed Big Ben. Some structures of this type were originally built as bell towers and had the clocks added later, such as the Springfield Campanille. Some clock towers of this type are freestanding, such as the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, while others are attached to, or on top of, buildings such as the tower on the Philadelphia City Hall. The second set of structures are buildings (rather than towers) that had clock faces on the exterior as part of their original design such as the Wrigley Building. The third set of structures are buildings that have had a clock face or faces added after the original building was constructed such as the Palace of Culture and Science. This division of structures with clock faces follows the general terminology used in related articles and follows Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) criteria. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] For the purposes of comparison and clarity this list includes all structures with clocks and clock faces of the types previously described. The list includes all clock 'tower' structures with a height of at least 40 m (130 ft).
bold | Denotes structure is the tallest of its type (as described below) in the world |
Denotes freestanding clock tower fulfilling the strict definition | |
Denotes clock tower fulfilling the strict definition, either attached to or on top of another structure | |
Denotes structure that was designed as multi-functional structure; this included clock faces | |
Denotes structure where the clock faces were not in the original design but were added after the completion of the structure |
Building | A structure which is at least 50% 'occupiable' and fulfils the CTBUH definition [8] |
---|---|
Tower | A structure which is less than 50% occupiable and fulfils the CTBUH definition [8] |
Freestanding Tower | A tower that is not attached to or located on top of another building – a standalone structure. A category used by CTBUH [9] |
Tower Building | A tower that is located on top of or attached to another building. A category used by CTBUH [10] |
Rank | Name | Image | Height | Number of faces | Chiming | Year | Type of structure | Main function | Country | City | Remarks | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Abraj Al Bait Towers | 601 m (1,972 ft) | 4 | No | 2012 | Building [11] | Hotel | Saudi Arabia | Mecca | Tallest building with clock faces. The clock faces are the faces highest above the ground on any structure | ||
2 | NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building | 240 m (790 ft) | 4 | No | 2000 (building) 2002 (clocks added) | Building | Offices | Japan | Tokyo | Clock faces are 15 m (49 ft) | [12] | |
3 | Palace of Culture and Science | 230.7 m (757 ft) | 4 | No | 1955 (building) 2000 (clocks added) | Building | Offices (original) Multi-use (current) | Poland | Warsaw | Building constructed in 1955. Clock faces added in 2000. Clock faces are 6.3 m (21 ft) | [13] | |
4 | Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower | 213.4 m (700 ft) | 4 | No | 1912 | Building | Offices (original) Offices/Hotel (current) | USA | New York | Clock faces are 8 m (26 ft) | [14] | |
5 | Philadelphia City Hall | 167 m (548 ft) | 4 | No | 1901 | Tower Building | Offices | USA | Philadelphia | Clock faces are 7.9 m (26 ft) | [10] | |
6 | Mercantile National Bank Building | 159.4 m (523 ft) | 4 | No | 1943 | Building | Offices (original) Offices/Residential (current) | USA | Dallas | Building completed in 1942. Addition of clock tower 1943 | [15] [16] [17] | |
7 | Custom House Tower | 151 m (495 ft) | 1 | No | 1916 | Building | Offices (original) Hotel (current) | USA | Boston | Clock faces 6.7 m (22 ft) Due to the installation of an undersized motor, the clock failed to work properly through much of the 20th century | [18] | |
8 | Wrigley Building | 133.5 m (438 ft) | 1 | No | 1922 | Building | Offices | USA | Chicago | The clock faces are 5.97 m (19.6 ft) | [19] | |
9 | St. Michael's Church tower | 132 m (433 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1911 | Tower building | Religious | Germany | Hamburg | Largest clock faces in Germany at 8 m (26 ft) | [20] | |
9 | St. Peter's Church tower | 132 m (433 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1878 | Tower building | Religious | Germany | Hamburg | Previous 127.5 m (418 ft) m tall tower from 1516 to 1842 | [21] | |
11 | Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp) | 123 m (404 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1521 (clocks added in C18) | Tower Building | Religious | Belgium | Antwerp | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [22] [23] [24] | |
12 | Central do Brasil | 122 m (400 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1943 | Building | Railway Station | Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | Clock faces are 20 m (66 ft) tall | [25] | |
13 | Moscow State University | 118 m (387 ft) | 4 | No | 1953 | Building | Education | Russia | Moscow | University has one central tower (no clock face) and four ancillary towers upon which one clock face and a barometer and thermometer are located. The height given is for the ancillary towers. The main building is 239 m (784 ft). Clock faces are 9 m (30 ft) | [26] [27] | |
14 | Mortegliano bell tower | 113.2 m (371 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1959 | Tower Building | Religious | Italy | Mortegliano | Tallest bell tower in Italy | [28] [29] | |
15 | Torrazzo of Cremona | 112.5 m (369 ft) | 1 | Yes | 1309 | Tower building | Religious | Italy | Cremona | Clock face is 8.2 m (27 ft) | [30] [31] | |
16 | Hamburg City Hall | 112 m (367 ft) | 3 | No | 1897 | Building | Government | Germany | Hamburg | [32] | ||
17 | Milwaukee City Hall | 107.6 m (353 ft) | 1 | Yes | 1895 | Building | Government | USA | Milwaukee | Clock face is 5.5 m (18 ft) | [33] [34] | |
18 | Copenhagen City Hall | 105.6 m (346 ft) | 4 | No | 1905 | Tower Building | Government | Denmark | Copenhagen | Houses Jens Olsen's World Clock | [35] | |
19 | Minneapolis City Hall | 105 m (344 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1906 | Tower-Building | Clock Tower/Government | USA | Minneapolis | Largest four face chiming clock in the world. Clock faces are 7.2 m (24 ft). | [36] | |
20 | Lille City Hall Belfry | 104 m (341 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1932 | Tower Building | Government | France | Lille | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [37] | |
21 | Old City Hall | 103.6 m (340 ft) | 1 | No | 1899 | Tower Building | Clock Tower/Government | Canada | Toronto | Clock face is 6 m (20 ft) | [38] | |
22 | Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower | 100 m (330 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1908 | Freestanding Tower | Clock & bell tower | United Kingdom | Birmingham | Tallest freestanding clock tower in the world. Clock faces are 5.25 m (17.2 ft). | [9] | |
23 | Munich Frauenkirche | 98.5 m (323 ft) | 3 (each tower) | Yes | 1488 | Tower Building (Twin Towers) | Religious | Germany | Munich | Domes added in 1524 | [39] | |
24 | Royal Liver Building | 98.2 m (322 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1911 | Building | Offices | United Kingdom | Liverpool | Clocks faces on two towers 7.6 m (25 ft) diameter. Building part of the World Heritage Maritime Mercantile City | [40] | |
25 | Elizabeth Tower | 96 m (315 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1859 | Tower Building | Clock Tower/Government | United Kingdom | London | Clock faces are 7 m (23 ft). Commonly known as 'Big Ben', although this is the name of the largest chiming bell. Part of the Palace of Westminster UNESCO World Heritage site. | [41] | |
26 | Lecco bell tower | 96 m (315 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1904 | Tower Building | Religious | Italy | Lecco | [42] | ||
27 | The Tower of Palazzo Vecchio | 95 m (312 ft) | 1 | No | 14th C | Tower Building | Government | Italy | Florence | [43] | ||
28 | University of Texas Tower | 93.6 m (307 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1937 | Building | Education | USA | Austin, Texas | [44] | ||
29 | Sather Tower | 93.5 m (307 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1914 | Freestanding Tower | Bell Tower (original) Clock & Bell Tower (current) | USA | Berkeley | Clock was added in 1926. With the addition of the clock now the second tallest freestanding clock tower in the world | [45] | |
30 | Lendinara bell tower | 92.5 m (303 ft) | 1 | Yes | 1857 | Tower building | Religious | Italy | Lendinara | [46] | ||
31 | Peace Tower | 92.2 m (302 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1920 | Tower Building | Clock Tower/Government | Canada | Ottawa | Clock faces are 4.8 m (16 ft). Built to commemorate Canadians who lost their lives in World War I | [47] | |
32 | Brisbane City Hall | 92 m (302 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1930 | Tower Building | Government | Australia | Brisbane | Clock faces are 4.9 m (16 ft) | [48] | |
32 | Torre del Popolo | 92 m (302 ft) | 1 | Yes | 1838 | Tower building | Clock tower | Italy | Palazzolo sull'Oglio | [49] | ||
34 | Springfield Campanille | 91.44 m (300.0 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1913 | Freestanding Tower | Bell Tower (original) Clock & Bell Tower (current) | USA | Springfield, Massachusetts | Currently not open to the public. With the addition of the clock now the third tallest freestanding clock tower in the world | [50] | |
35 | Belfry of Ghent | 91 m (299 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1543 | Tower Building | Clock Tower/Belfry | Belgium | Ghent | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [51] [52] [53] | |
36 | St Lambert's Church, Münster | 90.5 m (297 ft) | 1 | Yes | 1890 | Tower Building | Religious | Germany | Münster | older clock tower with cupola from 1500 | ||
37 | Breganze bell tower | 90 m (300 ft) | 1 | Yes | 1893 | Tower building | Religious | Italy | Breganze | [54] | ||
38 | Misr Spinning and Weaving Company Clock Tower | 90 m (300 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1947 | Freestanding Tower | Clock & bell tower | Egypt | El Mahalla El Kubra | 4th tallest freestanding clock tower. Clock faces are 5.2 m (17 ft) | [55] | |
39 | Emerson Tower | 88.1 m (289 ft) | 4 | No | 1911 | Building | Offices | USA | Baltimore | Clock faces are 7.3 m (24 ft). The largest four dial gravity clock in the world | [56] | |
40 | Torre del Mangia | 87 m (285 ft) | 1 | Yes | 1349 | Tower building | Government | Italy | Siena | [57] | ||
41 | Belfry of Mons | 87 m (285 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1672 | Freestanding Tower | Clock & Belfry Tower | Belgium | Mons | 5th tallest freestanding clock tower. Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [58] | |
42 | Central Railway Station | 85.6 m (281 ft) | 4 | No | 1921 | Tower Building | Railway Station | Australia | Sydney | Clock faces are 4.77 m (15.6 ft) | [59] | |
43 | Rajabai Clock Tower | 85.3 m (280 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1878 | Freestanding Tower | Clock tower | India | Mumbai | 6th tallest freestanding clock tower in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage site | [60] | |
44 | Allen-Bradley Clock Tower | 85.3 m (280 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1963 | Tower Building | Clock Tower | USA | Milwaukee | Clock faces are 12.25 m (40.2 ft) | [61] | |
45 | Manchester Town Hall | 85.3 m (280 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1877 | Tower Building | Government | United Kingdom | Manchester | Tallest town hall clock tower in UK. The clock faces are 4.8 m (15.7 ft) | [62] [63] | |
46 | Belfry of Bruges | 83 m (272 ft) | 1 | Yes | 1822 | Tower Building | Government | Belgium | Bruges | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [64] | |
46 | Castellanza bell tower | 83 m (272 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1932 | Tower building | Religious | Italy | Castellanza | [65] [ circular reference ] | ||
48 | Vancouver Block | 80.7 m (265 ft) | 4 | No | 1912 | Building | Commercial | Canada | Vancouver | Clock faces 6.7 m (22 ft). Faces are illuminated at night | [66] [67] | |
49 | Helsinki Cathedral | 80 m (260 ft) | 1 | Yes | 1852 | Building | Religious | Finland | Helsinki | Clock added after building completion | [68] | |
50 | New Town Hall (Munich) | 79.25 m (260.0 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1908 | Tower Building | Government | Germany | Munich | Houses the Rathaus Glockenspiel which includes 43 bells and 32 animatronic figures | [60] | |
51 | St Pancras railway station | 76 m (249 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1868 | Tower Building | Railway Station | United Kingdom | London | [69] | ||
52 | Calais Town Hall | 75 m (246 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1925 | Tower Building | Government | France | Calais | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [70] | |
53 | Arras Town Hall | 75 m (246 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1554 | Tower Building | Government | France | Arras | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site.. Destroyed in WW1 and rebuilt 1924–1932 | [71] | |
54 | Siemensstadt | 75 m (246 ft) | 4 | No | 1909 | Tower Building | Commercial | Germany | Berlin | Clock faces are 7 m (23 ft) | [72] | |
55 | San Francisco Ferry Building | 74.7 m (245 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1898 | Building | Ferry Terminal | USA | San Francisco | Clock faces are 6.7 m (22 ft) Clock tower houses a private penthouse residence | [73] [74] | |
55 | Waterbury Union Station | 74.7 m (245 ft) | 4 | No | 1909 | Tower Building | Railway Station | USA | Waterbury | [75] | ||
57 | Central Library of Catholic University of Leuven | 73.5 m (241 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1928 | Tower Building | Education | Belgium | Leuven | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rebuilt after WW2 | [76] | |
58 | Salt Lake City and County Building | 73 m (240 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1894 | Tower Building | Government | USA | Salt Lake City | [77] [78] | ||
59 | Spasskaya Tower | 71 m (233 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1851 | Tower Building | Clock Tower | Russia | Moscow | The clock faces are 6.12 m (20.1 ft) | [79] | |
60 | Ypres Cloth Hall | 70 m (230 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1304 Rebuilt 1933–1967 | Tower Building | Commercial (original) | Belgium | Ypres | Belfry originally a watchtower. Clocks added later. Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [80] [81] | |
61 | Charleroi City Hall Belfry | 70 m (230 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1936 | Tower Building | Government | Belgium | Charleroi | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [82] | |
62 | Leeds Town Hall | 69 m (226 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1858 | Tower Building | Government | United Kingdom | Leeds | [83] | ||
63 | Husainabad Clock Tower | 67 m (220 ft) | 4 | No | 1881 | Free standing tower | Clock tower | India | Lucknow | 7th tallest freestanding clock tower. The clock faces are 3.95 m (13.0 ft) | [84] | |
64 | Gare de Lyon | 67 m (220 ft) | 4 | No | 1902 | Tower building | Railway Station | France | Paris | [85] | ||
65 | Limoges-Bénédictins railway station | 67 m (220 ft) | 4 | No | 1929 | Tower Building | Railway Station | France | Limoges | Clock face is 4 m (13 ft) | [86] [87] | |
66 | Oslo City Hall | 63 m (207 ft)[ citation needed ] | 1 | Yes | 1950 | Building | Government | Norway | Oslo | Tower with clock on it is known as Oslo Rådhus 2. Clock face is 8.6 m (28 ft). Building hosts the Nobel Peace Prize each year | [88] | |
67 | Palace of the Province | 62.5 m (205 ft) | 4 | No | 1935 | Tower Building | Government | Italy | Bari | [89] | ||
68 | Messina astronomical clock | 61 m (200 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1933 (clock) 1929 (tower) [90] | Tower Building | Clock Tower | Italy | Messina | The clock faces are 2.4 m (7.9 ft) | [91] [92] | |
69 | Bolton Town Hall | 60.35 m (198.0 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1873 | Tower Building | Government | United Kingdom | Bolton | The clock faces are 3.65 m (12.0 ft) | [93] | |
70 | Belfry of Thuin | 60 m (200 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1641 | Freestanding Tower | Belfry | Belgium | Thuin | 8th tallest freestanding clock tower. Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [94] | |
71 | Shell Mex House | 58 m (190 ft) | 1 | No | 1930 | Building | Offices | United Kingdom | London | Largest clock face in UK at 7.62 m (25.0 ft) | ||
72 | Parkinson Building | 57 m (187 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1951 | Tower Building | Education | United Kingdom | Leeds | [95] | ||
73 | Indianapolis Union Station | 56.4 m (185 ft) | 4 | No | 1888 | Tower Building | Railway Station | USA | Indianapolis | [96] | ||
74 | Old Arts Building Clock Tower | 54 m (177 ft) | 1 | No | 1926 | Tower Building | Education | New Zealand | Auckland | [97] | ||
75 | McGraw Tower | 52.7 m (173 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1891 | Building | Education | USA | Ithaca | Originally constructed as a library. Now houses a museum and the Cornell Chimes | [98] | |
76 | University of Santo Tomas Main Building | 51.5 m (169 ft) | 4 | No | 1927 | Tower Building | Education | Philippines | Manila | [99] | ||
77 | UC Riverside Bell Tower | 49.1 m (161 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1966 | Freestanding Tower | Education | USA | Riverside | 1 of 40 Grand Carillons in the United States. 9th tallest freestanding clock tower | [100] [101] | |
78 | Purdue Bell Tower | 48.8 m (160 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1995 | Freestanding Tower | Education | USA | West Lafayette, Indiana | 10th tallest freestanding clock tower | [102] | |
79 | Helsinki Central Station | 48.5 m (159 ft) | 4 | No | 1914 | Tower Building | Railway Station | Finland | Helsinki | [103] [104] | ||
80 | Montreal Clock Tower | 45 m (148 ft) | 4 | No | 1922 | Freestanding Tower | Clock Tower | Canada | Montreal | 11th tallest freestanding clock tower. Clock faces are 3.6 m (12 ft) | [105] | |
81 | Portland Union Station | 45 m (148 ft) | 4 | No | 1896 | Tower Building | Railway Station | USA | Portland | [106] | ||
82 | Aalst Belfry | 47 m (154 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1460 | Tower Building | Government | Belgium | Aalst | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [107] | |
83 | Clock Tower, Hong Kong | 44 m (144 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1915 | Freestanding Tower | Railway Station (former) | China | Hong Kong | 12th tallest freestanding clock tower. Clock tower formerly part of railway terminus now a freestanding tower | [108] [109] | |
84 | Albert Memorial Clock Tower | 43 m (141 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1869 | Freestanding Tower | Clock Tower | United Kingdom | Belfast | Height disputed in sources between 43 m (141 ft) and 34.5 m (113 ft) [110] If the greater height 13th tallest freestanding clock tower | [111] | |
85 | Chennai Central railway station | 41.5 m (136 ft) | 1 | No | 18?? | Tower Building | Railway station | India | Chennai | [112] | ||
86 | Sultan Abdul Samad Building | 41 m (135 ft) | 1 | No | 1897 | Tower Building | Offices | Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | [113] | ||
87 | Guildhall, Kingston upon Hull | 41 m (135 ft) | 1 | Yes | 1914 | Tower Building | Government | United Kingdom | Hull | |||
88 | City Hall and Belfry | 40.3 m (132 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1377 | Tower Building | Government | Belgium | Dendermonde | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [114] | |
89 | Belfry of Saint Éloi | 40 m (130 ft) | 4 | Yes | C15 | Freestanding Tower | Belfry | France | Dunkirk | Originally the western tower of the Church Saint Éloi separated by a street in 18th century. 14th tallest freestanding clock tower. Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [115] [116] | |
90 | Ripon Building | 40 m (130 ft) | 1 | No | 1913 | Tower Building | Government | India | Chennai | [117] | ||
91 | Mint Tower | 40 m (130 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1487 | Freestanding Tower | Clock & Bell Tower | Netherlands | Amsterdam | 15th tallest freestanding clock tower. Formerly part of the medieval city walls | [118] | |
92 | Metz-Ville station | 40 m (130 ft) | 4 | No | 1908 | Tower Building | Railway station | France | Metz | [119] | ||
93 | Stephen's Tower | 40 m (130 ft) | 4 | No | 1899 | Tower | Clock Tower | Romania | Baia Mare | [120] | ||
An inclined building is a building that was intentionally built at an incline. Buildings are built with an incline primarily for aesthetics, offering a unique feature to a city's skyline, as well as framing other buildings and structures between them when built in pairs.
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