# List of tallest buildings in San Diego

San Diego, a major coastal city in Southern California, has over 200 high-rises mainly in the central business district of downtown San Diego. In the city there are 42 buildings that stand taller than 300 feet (91 m). In the 1970s, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began restricting downtown building height to maximum of 500 feet (152 m) within a 2.3-mile (3.7 km) radius of San Diego International Airport's single runway. The tallest building in the city is the 34-story One America Plaza, completed in 1991, which stands 500 feet (152 m) tall.

## History

The history of skyscrapers in San Diego began with the completion of the U.S. Grant Hotel in 1910. The building, at a height of 211 feet (64 m), remained the tallest building in San Diego until 1927, when the El Cortez Hotel at 310 feet (94 m) took its place. The skyscraper's height was surpassed in 1967 by the 530 B Street, which stood as the tallest building for two decades with its height of 388 feet (118 m). In 1989, with a height of 499 feet (152 m), Symphony Towers gained the title, before being passed two years later by One America Plaza. During the 1990s, the city was compared to a "handful of tools in a scarcely stocked toolbox" and a "mouth with a lot of missing teeth". Development in the late 1990s and 2000s led to many new high-rises, mainly residential skyscrapers. Many of these new residential buildings are pairs of twin towers.
   I believe that our skyline is a collective composition of many buildings. We don't have to have one landmark like the Empire State Building or Petronas towers. I think the landmark is the entire Downtown.
As of October 2019, San Diego is ranked 98th in the world and 3rd in California with its 162 high-rises. However, due to the FAA height restriction, none of San Diego's buildings are within the top 100 tallest buildings in the United States. As of October 2019, there are around 20 buildings that have been proposed, approved, or are currently undergoing construction which will join the tallest buildings in San Diego (over 300 feet).

## Tallest buildings

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This list ranks San Diego skyscrapers that stand at least 300 feet (91 m) tall, 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.
Tallest buildings in San Diego :
| Rank | Name | Height ft (m) | Floors | Year | Coordinates | Notes |
| 1 | One America Plaza | 500 (152) | 34 | 1991 | 32°42′57″N 117°10′7″W﻿ / ﻿32.71583°N 117.16861°W﻿ / 32.71583; -117.16861 | Tallest building in the city; tallest building constructed in the 1990s; tallest building in California outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco |
| 2 | Symphony Towers | 499 (152) | 34 | 1989 | 32°43′6″N 117°9′28″W﻿ / ﻿32.71833°N 117.15778°W﻿ / 32.71833; -117.15778 | Tallest building constructed in the 1980s |
| 3 | Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego | 497 (151) | 40 | 1992 | 32°42′34″N 117°10′4″W﻿ / ﻿32.70944°N 117.16778°W﻿ / 32.70944; -117.16778 | Tallest building on the waterfront on the West Coast |
| 4 | Pinnacle on the Park I | 479 (146) | 45 | 2015 | 32°42′35″N 117°09′03″W﻿ / ﻿32.70972°N 117.15083°W﻿ / 32.70972; -117.15083 | Tallest residential tower in San Diego together with the Pinnacle II tower |
| 4 | Pinnacle on the Park II | 479 (146) | 45 | 2019 | 32°42′36.7″N 117°09′02.9″W﻿ / ﻿32.710194°N 117.150806°W﻿ / 32.710194; -117.150806 | Tallest residential tower in San Diego together with the Pinnacle I tower |
| 6 | Electra | 475 (145) | 43 | 2007 | 32°42′53″N 117°10′10″W﻿ / ﻿32.71472°N 117.16944°W﻿ / 32.71472; -117.16944 | |
| 7 | Pacific Gate | 450 (137) | 41 | 2017 | 32°42′54″N 117°10′14″W﻿ / ﻿32.71500°N 117.17056°W﻿ / 32.71500; -117.17056 | |
| 7 | Emerald Plaza | 450 (137) | 30 | 1990 | 32°42′58″N 117°10′1″W﻿ / ﻿32.71611°N 117.16694°W﻿ / 32.71611; -117.16694 | |
| 7 | Pinnacle Marina Tower | 450 (137) | 36 | 2005 | 32°42′39″N 117°9′54″W﻿ / ﻿32.71083°N 117.16500°W﻿ / 32.71083; -117.16500 | |
| 10 | Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport | 446 (136) | 34 | 2003 | 32°42′37″N 117°10′6″W﻿ / ﻿32.71028°N 117.16833°W﻿ / 32.71028; -117.16833 | |
| 11 | Diega South Tower | 440 (134) | 41 | 2021 | 32°42′57.2″N 117°09′28.5″W﻿ / ﻿32.715889°N 117.157917°W﻿ / 32.715889; -117.157917 | |
| 12 | Harbor Club West | 424 (129) | 41 | 1992 | 32°42′32″N 117°9′46″W﻿ / ﻿32.70889°N 117.16278°W﻿ / 32.70889; -117.16278 | |
| 12 | Harbor Club East | 424 (129) | 41 | 1992 | 32°42′31″N 117°9′44″W﻿ / ﻿32.70861°N 117.16222°W﻿ / 32.70861; -117.16222 | |
| 14 | The Grande South at Santa Fe Place | 420 (128) | 39 | 2004 | 32°43′2″N 117°10′13″W﻿ / ﻿32.71722°N 117.17028°W﻿ / 32.71722; -117.17028 | |
| 14 | The Grande North at Santa Fe Place | 420 (128) | 39 | 2005 | 32°43′5″N 117°10′13″W﻿ / ﻿32.71806°N 117.17028°W﻿ / 32.71806; -117.17028 | |
| 14 | Vantage Pointe Condominium | 420 (128) | 41 | 2009 | 32°43′6″N 117°9′21″W﻿ / ﻿32.71833°N 117.15583°W﻿ / 32.71833; -117.15583 | |
| 17 | Savina San Diego condominiums | 414 (126) | 36 | 2018 | 32°43′10″N 117°10′10″W﻿ / ﻿32.71944°N 117.16944°W﻿ / 32.71944; -117.16944 | |
| 18 | 655 West Broadway | 412 (126) | 23 | 2005 | 32°42′55″N 117°10′7″W﻿ / ﻿32.71528°N 117.16861°W﻿ / 32.71528; -117.16861 | |
| 19 | Simone Little Italy | 408 (123) | 36 | 2023 | | |
| 20 | Bayside at the Embarcadero | 395 (120) | 36 | 2009 | 32°43′9″N 117°10′14″W﻿ / ﻿32.71917°N 117.17056°W﻿ / 32.71917; -117.17056 | |
| 21 | San Diego Central Courthouse | 389 (119) | 23 | 2017 | 32°43′2″N 117°9′58″W﻿ / ﻿32.71722°N 117.16611°W﻿ / 32.71722; -117.16611 | |
| 22 | 530 B Street | 388 (118) | 27 | 1969 | 32°43′2″N 117°9′35″W﻿ / ﻿32.71722°N 117.15972°W﻿ / 32.71722; -117.15972 | Tallest building constructed in the 1960s |
| 23 | Park 12 | 386 (118) | 36 | 2018 | 32°42′23.3″N 117°9′18.4″W﻿ / ﻿32.706472°N 117.155111°W﻿ / 32.706472; -117.155111 | |
| 24 | Hilton San Diego Bayfront | 385 (117) | 32 | 2008 | 32°42′11″N 117°9′31″W﻿ / ﻿32.70306°N 117.15861°W﻿ / 32.70306; -117.15861 | |
| 25 | The Mark | 381 (116) | 33 | 2007 | 32°42′40″N 117°9′25″W﻿ / ﻿32.71111°N 117.15694°W﻿ / 32.71111; -117.15694 | |
| 26 | Sapphire Tower | 380 (116) | 32 | 2008 | 32°43′6″N 117°10′10″W﻿ / ﻿32.71833°N 117.16944°W﻿ / 32.71833; -117.16944 | |
| 27 | 1 Columbia Place | 379 (116) | 27 | 1982 | 32°43′5″N 117°10′1″W﻿ / ﻿32.71806°N 117.16694°W﻿ / 32.71806; -117.16694 | |
| 28 | Omni San Diego Hotel | 375 (114) | 34 | 2004 | 32°42′24″N 117°9′32″W﻿ / ﻿32.70667°N 117.15889°W﻿ / 32.70667; -117.15889 | |
| 29 | Meridian Condominiums | 371 (113) | 28 | 1985 | 32°42′47″N 117°9′54″W﻿ / ﻿32.71306°N 117.16500°W﻿ / 32.71306; -117.16500 | |
| 30 | Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Tower I | 361 (110) | 24 | 1987 | 32°42′28″N 117°9′54″W﻿ / ﻿32.70778°N 117.16500°W﻿ / 32.70778; -117.16500 | |
| 30 | Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Tower II | 361 (110) | 24 | 1987 | 32°42′30″N 117°9′57″W﻿ / ﻿32.70833°N 117.16583°W﻿ / 32.70833; -117.16583 | |
| 31 | The Merian | 360 (110) | 34 | 2020 | 32°42′43.7″N 117°9′15.9″W﻿ / ﻿32.712139°N 117.154417°W﻿ / 32.712139; -117.154417 | |
| 32 | Imperial Bank Tower | 355 (108) | 24 | 1982 | 32°43′2″N 117°9′28″W﻿ / ﻿32.71722°N 117.15778°W﻿ / 32.71722; -117.15778 | |
| 33 | Executive Complex | 350 (107) | 25 | 1963 | 32°42′57″N 117°9′47″W﻿ / ﻿32.71583°N 117.16306°W﻿ / 32.71583; -117.16306 | |
| 34 | 101 W Broadway | 348 (106) | 20 | 1982 | 32°42′54″N 117°9′51″W﻿ / ﻿32.71500°N 117.16417°W﻿ / 32.71500; -117.16417 | |
| 35 | San Diego Union Tribune Building | 339 (103) | 23 | 1974 | 32°43′5″N 117°9′31″W﻿ / ﻿32.71806°N 117.15861°W﻿ / 32.71806; -117.15861 | Tallest building constructed in the 1970s |
| 36 | James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse | 333 (101) | 16 | 2012 | 32°42′54″N 117°9′57″W﻿ / ﻿32.71500°N 117.16583°W﻿ / 32.71500; -117.16583 | |
| 37 | Wells Fargo Plaza | 331 (101) | 23 | 1984 | 32°43′2″N 117°9′38″W﻿ / ﻿32.71722°N 117.16056°W﻿ / 32.71722; -117.16056 | |
| 38 | Marriott Vacation Club Pulse | 326 (99) | 27 | 1990 | 32°43′07.2″N 117°9′28.6″W﻿ / ﻿32.718667°N 117.157944°W﻿ / 32.718667; -117.157944 | Formerly the Sheraton Suites |
| 40 | El Cortez | 310 (94) | 16 | 1927 | 32°43′12″N 117°9′29″W﻿ / ﻿32.72000°N 117.15806°W﻿ / 32.72000; -117.15806 | Tallest building in San Diego until 1963 |
| 41 | 225 Broadway | 306 (93) | 22 | 1975 | 32°42′54″N 117°9′44″W﻿ / ﻿32.71500°N 117.16222°W﻿ / 32.71500; -117.16222 | |
| 42 | The Rey | 305 (93) | 25 | 2016 | | |

## Tallest under construction

There is one building under construction in San Diego that is planned to rise at least 300 feet (91 m) (as of July 2023). Under construction buildings that have already been topped out are also included.
| Name | Height feet (ft) | Floors |
| 8th & B | 503 | 40 |
| 800 Broadway | 434 | 40 |
| Columbia & A | 448 | 39 |
| Front & A | 445 | 34 |
| The Lindley | 415 | 37 |
| RaDD - Block 2B I | 307 | 17 |
| West | 445 | 37 |

## Timeline of tallest buildings

There have been five buildings that have held the title of tallest building in San Diego including the current tallest building, the One America Plaza.
| Name | Height ft (m) | Floors | Years as tallest | Coordinates |
| El Cortez Hotel | 310 feet (94 m) | 16 | 36 years (1927–1963) | 32°43′12″N 117°9′29″W﻿ / ﻿32.72000°N 117.15806°W﻿ / 32.72000; -117.15806 |
| Executive Complex | 350 feet (110 m) | 25 | 6 years (1963–1969) | 32°42′57″N 117°9′47″W﻿ / ﻿32.71583°N 117.16306°W﻿ / 32.71583; -117.16306 |
| 530 B Street | 388 feet (118 m) | 27 | 20 years (1969–1989) | 32°43′2″N 117°9′35″W﻿ / ﻿32.71722°N 117.15972°W﻿ / 32.71722; -117.15972 |
| Symphony Towers | 499 feet (152 m) | 34 | 2 years (1989–1991) | 32°43′6″N 117°9′28″W﻿ / ﻿32.71833°N 117.15778°W﻿ / 32.71833; -117.15778 |
| One America Plaza | 500 feet (150 m) | 34 | 33 years (1991–present) | 32°42′57″N 117°10′7″W﻿ / ﻿32.71583°N 117.16861°W﻿ / 32.71583; -117.16861 |