List of tallest buildings in Detroit


This list of tallest buildings in Detroit ranks skyscrapers and high rises in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan by height. The tallest skyscraper in Detroit is the 73-story Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, which rises along Detroit's International Riverfront. It is the tallest building in the state of Michigan, the 97th-tallest building in the United States, and the second tallest hotel building in the Western Hemisphere. Another famous skyscraper is One Detroit Center, which stands as the 2nd-tallest building in the city and the state.
Detroit's history of skyscrapers began in 1889, with completion of the historic 10-story Hammond Building—considered the city's first steel-framed skyscraper. The Qube in the Detroit Financial District now stands on this site. Detroit witnessed a massive building boom during the Roaring Twenties, resulting in the construction of many of the city's ornate skyscrapers, including the Penobscot, Guardian, Fisher, Buhl, Stott, and Broderick. One Woodward Avenue, which rises, was the tallest building constructed in the city during the 1960s. Detroit is the site of eight skyscrapers at least in height and twenty-seven at least in height. Overall, the skyline of Detroit is ranked third in the Midwestern United States and fourteenth in the United States, after New York City, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Las Vegas, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis.
The most recently constructed skyscrapers in the city are One Detroit Center, completed in 1993, and the Greektown Casino Hotel, completed in 2009. The latter rises and contains 30 floors. The city has received many significant restoration projects, which include the 29 story Westin Book Cadillac Hotel; originally built in 1924 and restored in 2008, it rises. Detroit also has numerous prominent skyscrapers that were never built.

Tallest buildings

This list ranks Detroit skyscrapers that stand at least 300 feet tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. An equal sign following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. The "Year" column indicates the year a building was completed.
RankNameImageHeight
feet / m		FloorsYearNotes
01.01Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center727 / 222731977Tallest building in the city and the state since 1977, 101st-tallest building in the United States. Tallest hotel in the world upon completion; now stands as the second tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere. Major renovation completed in 2004. The entire complex is owned by General Motors.
02.02Ally Detroit Center619 / 189431993Tallest building completed in Detroit in the 1990s. Former headquarters of Comerica Bank, current headquarters of Ally Financial
03.03Penobscot Building565 / 172471928When completed in 1928, the Penobscot was the world's eighth tallest building. It was the city's tallest from 1928 to 1977. The Penobscot stands at the center of the Detroit Financial District.
04.04=RenCen Tower 100522 / 159391977
04.04=RenCen Tower 200522 / 159391977
04.04=RenCen Tower 300522 / 159391977
04.04=RenCen Tower 400522 / 159391977
08.08Guardian Building495 / 151401929
09.09Book Tower475 / 145381926In January 2010, developer Key Investment Group reported that it plans a major renovation of the Book Tower.
10.010150 West Jefferson456 / 139261989Tallest building completed in Detroit in the 1980s. Previously known as the Madden Building.
11.011Fisher Building444 / 135301928
12.012Cadillac Tower438 / 133401927
13.013David Stott Building437 / 133371929
14.014One Woodward Avenue430 / 131281963Tallest building completed in the city in the 1960s.
15.015Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building393 / 120271976
16.016DTE Energy Headquarters375 / 114251971
17.017David Broderick Tower369 / 113351928Fully renovated in 2012 as a mixed- use residential building. The project created residential units on floors 5-34, with the lower 4 floors dedicated to retail, entertainment, and office space. Originally known as the Eaton Tower.
18.018211 West Fort Street368 / 112271963
19.019Buhl Building366 / 112291925
20.020Westin Book Cadillac Hotel349 / 106291924Tallest hotel in the world upon completion in 1924 and restored in 2008.
2121Greektown Casino Hotel348 / 106302009Tallest building completed in Detroit in the 2000s.
22.022First National Building341 / 104261930Tallest building completed in Detroit in the 1930s.
23.023=RenCen Tower 500339 / 103211981
24.023=RenCen Tower 600339 / 103211981
25.0251001 Woodward338 / 103231965
26.026Renaissance City Apartments332 / 101331985
27.027AT&T Building Addition327 / 100171974
28.028Chrysler House324 / 99231912
29.029Jeffersonian Apartments322 / 98301965
30.030AT&T Building319 / 97191927
31.031=Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Building318 / 97221971
32.031=Coleman A. Young Municipal Center318 / 97201954Tallest building completed in the city in the 1950s.
33.033Penobscot Building Annex310 / 95231913
34.034=1300 Lafayette East Cooperative305 / 93291961
35.034=Riverfront Tower 300305 / 93291983
36.034=Riverfront Tower 200305 / 93291983

Tallest buildings by pinnacle height

This list ranks Detroit skyscrapers based on their pinnacle height, which includes radio masts and antennas. As architectural features and spires can be regarded as subjective, some skyscraper enthusiasts prefer this method of measurement. Standard architectural height measurement, which excludes antennas in building height, is included for comparative purposes.
RankNamePinnacle height
feet / m		Standard height
feet / m		Reference
1Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center755 / 230727 / 222
2Penobscot Building664 / 202565 / 172
3Guardian Building632 / 193495 / 151
4One Detroit Center619 / 189619 / 189
5Cadillac Tower578 / 176438 / 133
6=Renaissance Center Tower 100522 / 159522 / 159
6=Renaissance Center Tower 200522 / 159522 / 159
6=Renaissance Center Tower 300522 / 159522 / 159
6=Renaissance Center Tower 400522 / 159522 / 159
10Fisher Building489 / 135444 / 135

Tallest proposed or under construction

Tallest Under Construction

Tallest Proposed

Timeline of tallest buildings

This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Detroit. For most of Detroit's earlier years, the tallest buildings in the city were churches and government buildings with their steeples. The first skyscraper in the city is usually considered the Hammond Building, completed in 1889. However, since the 10-story building did not surpass the steeple of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church, it never became a city record holder. The first skyscraper to have the distinction of being Detroit's tallest building was the Ford Building, completed in 1909.
NameStreet addressYears as tallestHeight
feet / m		FloorsReference
First Michigan State CapitolCapitol Park1828-1866140 / 432
Most Holy Trinity Church1050 Porter Street1866-1871170 / 521
Former Detroit City HallCampus Martius Park1871-1877200 / 614
St. Joseph Church1828 Jay Street1873-1877200 / 611
Fort Street Presbyterian Church631 West Fort Street1877-1909265 / 811
Ford Building615 Griswold Street1909-1913275 / 8419
Penobscot Building Annex144 West Congress Street1913310 / 9523
Chrysler House719 Griswold Street1913-1924324 / 9923
Book Cadillac Hotel220 Michigan Avenue1924-1925349 / 10629
Buhl Building535 Griswold Street1925-1926366 / 11229
Book Tower1265 Washington Boulevard1926-1928475 / 14538
Penobscot Building633 Griswold Street1928-1977565 / 17247
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center1 Renaissance Center Drive1977-present727 / 22273

Tallest buildings in Detroit's suburban cities

This list ranks buildings in Detroit's suburban municipalities that stand at least 200 feet tall, based on standard height measurement. Existing structures are included for ranking purposes based on present height.
RankNameImageLocationHeight
feet / m		FloorsYearNotes
13000 Town CenterSouthfield402 / 122321975The 15th tallest skyscraper in Metro Detroit.
21000 Town CenterSouthfield395 / 120281989
32000 Town CenterSouthfield370 / 113281986
4Top of Troy BuildingTroy346 / 106251974
5American CenterSouthfield331 / 101261975
65000 Town CenterSouthfield328 / 100331983A residential skyscraper
74000 Town CenterSouthfield270 / 82201979
8Tower PlazaAnn Arbor267 / 82261969A residential high-rise, Tower Plaza is Ann Arbor's tallest building.
9Shore Club SkytowerSt. Clair Shores260 / 79261965
10Travelers Tower ISouthfield256 / 78181971
11One Towne SquareSouthfield253 / 77211992
12Chrysler HeadquartersAuburn Hills249 / 76151996
13St. Florian Catholic ChurchHamtramck247 / 7511928
14Mott Foundation BuildingFlint226 / 69191930Tallest building in Flint.
15Macomb County BuildingMount Clemens219 / 67131944Tallest building in Macomb County.
16=Park Lane Towers WestDearborn213 / 65151973
16=Park Lane Towers EastDearborn213 / 65151971
16=Adoba HotelDearborn213 / 65141976
19Burton Memorial TowerAnn Arbor212 / 65101936
20=SBC Publishing BuildingTroy207 / 63161983
20=100 North CenterTroy207 / 63151983
22University TowersAnn Arbor205 / 62191960
23Southfield CentreSouthfield201 / 61141976
24Southgate TowerSouthgate200 / 61131973Tallest building in Downriver and the tallest building between Detroit and Toledo, Ohio.