Tallest buildings
Was South America's tallest building upon completion
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.
The Altino Arantes Building, also known as the Banespa Building and most popularly by Banespão, is an important Art Deco skyscraper located in São Paulo, Brazil.
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.
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.
Millennium Palace Camboriú is a residential condominium skyscraper in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil. It was the first building in 50 years to surpass Mirante do Vale as the tallest in Brazil, a position it held before being surpassed by Infinity Coast in 2019. Millennium Palace has 45 floors up to, and including, the first floor of the two-floor penthouse, plus the additional second floor of the penthouse, totaling 177.3 metres in height and 46 floors.
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 2020, the year of completion of the Yachthouse Residence Club twin towers, 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. At 281 metres and 81 floors, the two buildings are the second tallest in Brazil and the third-tallest in South America since they topped out in 2020, surpassing Infinity Coast, located in the same city. However, construction continued until 2023.
The One Tower is a skyscraper located in the city of Balneário Camboriú in southern Brazil. Completed in December 2022, it is the tallest building in the country and the second tallest skyscraper in South America, at 290 meters tall.
