List of tallest buildings in San Diego


has over 150 high-rises, mainly in the downtown district. In the city, there are 37 buildings that stand taller than. In the 1970s, the Federal Aviation Administration began restricting downtown building height to maximum of within a 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 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, remained the tallest building in San Diego until 1927, when the El Cortez Hotel at 310 feet took its place. The skyscraper's height was surpassed in 1967 by the Union Bank of California Building, which stood as the tallest building for two decades with its height of 388 feet. In 1989, with a height of 499 feet, 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.
, San Diego is ranked 92nd 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., there are around 20 buildings that have been proposed, approved, or are currently undergoing construction which will join the tallest buildings in San Diego.

Tallest buildings

This list ranks San Diego 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 in which a building was completed.
RankNameImageHeight
ft 		FloorsYearCoordinatesNotes
1One America Plaza500 341991Tallest building in the city; tallest building constructed in the 1990s; tallest building in California outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco
2Symphony Towers499 341989Tallest building constructed in the 1980s
3Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel497 401992Tallest building on the waterfront on the West Coast
4=Pinnacle on the Park I479 452015Tallest residential tower in San Diego together with the Pinnacle II tower
4=Pinnacle on the Park II479 452019Tallest residential tower in San Diego together with the Pinnacle I tower
6Electra475 432007
7Pacific Gate450
41201732°47′54″N 117°9′44″WList of tallest buildings in San Diego#cite note-71|
8Emerald Plaza450 301990
9Pinnacle Marina Tower450 362005
10Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport446 342003
11Harbor Club West424 411992
12Harbor Club East424 411992
13The Grande South at Santa Fe Place420 392004
14The Grande North at Santa Fe Place420 392005
15Vantage Pointe Condominium420 412009
16Savina by Bosa414 362018
17First Allied Plaza412 232005
18San Diego Central Courthouse403
22201732°43′2″N 117°9′58″W
19Bayside at the Embarcadero395 362009
20Union Bank of California Building388 271969Tallest building constructed in the 1960s
21Park 12386 362018
22Hilton San Diego Bayfront385 322008
23The Mark381 332007
24Sapphire Tower380 322008
25One Columbia Place379 271982
26Omni San Diego Hotel375 342004
27Meridian Condominiums371 281985
28=Marriott Hotel and Marina Tower I361 241987
29=Marriott Hotel and Marina Tower II361 241987
30Imperial Bank Tower355 241982
31Executive Complex350 251963
32AT&T Building348 201982
33San Diego Union Tribune Building339 231974Tallest building constructed in the 1970s
34James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse333 162012
35Wells Fargo Plaza331 231984
36El Cortez310 161927Tallest building in San Diego until 1963
37225 Broadway306 221975

Tallest under construction

This lists buildings that are under construction in San Diego and are planned to rise at least 300 feet. Under construction buildings that have already been topped out are also included.
NameImageHeight
feet 		FloorsYearCoordinatesNotes
702 Broadway480412020
Manchester Pacific Gateway Tower 1400272018
Manchester Pacific Gateway Tower 2350292018
Manchester Pacific Gateway Tower 3350292018

Timeline of tallest buildings

This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in San Diego as well as the current tallest building, One America Plaza.
NameImageHeight
ft 		FloorsYears as tallestCoordinatesReference
El Cortez Hotel310 161927–1963
Executive Complex350 251963–1969
Union Bank of California Building388 271969–1989
Symphony Towers499 341989–1991
One America Plaza500 341991–present