List of tallest buildings in Washington, D.C.


This list of tallest buildings in Washington, D.C. ranks high-rises in the U.S. capital city of Washington, D.C. The tallest structure in the city, excluding radio towers, is the Washington Monument, which rises and was completed in 1884. The structure, however, is not generally considered a high-rise building as it does not have successive floors that can be occupied. The tallest habitable building in the city is the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which rises. The second-tallest building in Washington is the Old Post Office Building, which is high. The third-tallest building in the city is the Washington National Cathedral, which rises above grade. The cathedral is built on high ground known as Mount St. Alban, above sea level, which makes the central tower the "highest" point in the District. As of November 2011, there are 410 completed high-rises in the city.

History

Washington's history of high-rises began with the completion in 1894 of the Cairo Hotel, which is considered to be the city's first high-rise. The building rises and 14 floors. Washington went through an early high-rise construction boom from the late 1890s to the mid-1930s, during which time the Old Post Office Building and the Federal Triangle were built. The city then experienced a major building boom from the early 1940s to the late 1990s, during which the city saw the completion of 31 of its 48 tallest buildings, including One Franklin Square and 700 Eleventh Street. However, although the city is home to several high-rises, none are considered to be genuine "skyscrapers"; only two completed buildings surpass.
The height of buildings in Washington is limited by the Height of Buildings Act. The original Act was passed by Congress in 1899 in response to the 1894 construction of the Cairo Hotel, which is much taller than the majority of buildings in the city. The original act restricted the heights of any type of building in the city to be no higher than, for residential buildings. In 1910, the 61st United States Congress enacted a new law which raised the overall building height limit to, but restricted building heights to the width of the adjacent street or avenue plus ; thus, a building facing a -wide street could be only tall. However, building heights are measured from the sidewalk or curb to the edge of the roof. Architectural embellishments, mechanical rooms, and common rooftop structures may be exempted from the overall height limit, provided they are set back from the roof line. The heights of buildings listed here may therefore exceed the general height limit as measured for the purpose of the city's zoning laws.
In modern times the skyline remains low and sprawling, keeping with Thomas Jefferson's wishes to make Washington an "American Paris" with "low and convenient" buildings on "light and airy" streets. Washington's height restriction, however, has been assailed as one of the primary reasons why the city has inflated rents, limited affordable housing, and traffic problems as a result of urban sprawl. Much like La Defense near Paris, the region's tallest buildings near the central business district are located in Rosslyn, Virginia, directly across the Potomac River from Georgetown.
One of the most recently completed buildings in Washington, D.C. is Capitol View, which is high. As of July 2008, there is one high-rise under construction in the city that is expected to rise at least, with one more proposed and one approved for construction. Onyx on First was the first high-rise built in Washington; upon completion, it was the 14th-tallest building in the city. Two other large developments taking place are Square 54 Residential I, which is proposed for construction, and the PNC Bank Building, which is approved. The Square Residential I building at George Washington University is expected to rise to a height of and 14 stories, while the PNC Bank Building is expected to rise to a height of and 12 stories. As of July 2008, there is a total of four high-rise buildings under construction, approved for construction and proposed for construction in Washington.

Tallest buildings

This lists ranks Washington high-rises that stand at least, 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. Freestanding observation towers, while not habitable buildings, are included for comparison purposes; however, they are not ranked.
RankNameHeight
ft 		FloorsYearNotes
01.0Hughes Memorial Tower761 01989Tallest free-standing structure in the District of Columbia and the wider Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area. The radio tower's height allows for broadcasts to reach as far west as West Virginia.
01.0Washington Monument555 31884Tallest non-communication structure in the District. Was the tallest structure in the world from 1884 until 1889, and the tallest monument in the U.S. until the completion of the San Jacinto Monument in 1939.
02.01Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception329 11959Tallest building in Washington, D.C. since 1959. Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1950s.
03.02Trump International Hotel 315 121899Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1890s.
04.03Washington National Cathedral301 71910–1990Tallest building completed in the city in the 1990s.
05.04United States Capitol289 31863Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1860s.
06.05One Franklin Square210 121989Tallest commercial building in Washington, D.C. Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1980s. Home to the headquarters of The Washington Post since 2015.
07.06700 Eleventh Street200 131992
07.06Healy Hall200 4½1879
08.08Onyx on First197 142008Tallest residential building in Washington, D.C. Tallest building completed in the city in the 2000s.
9Thomas Jefferson Building195 71897Originally named the Library of Congress building
10Renaissance Washington DC Hotel187 151986
101090 Vermont Avenue187 121979Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1970s.
11.0121111 Pennsylvania Avenue180 141968Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1960s.
12.013The Tower Building177 141929Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1920s.
12.013Avalon at Foxhall177 141982Tallest residential building in the city from 1982 until 2008.
14.0151900 K Street171 131996
14.015Capitol View171 132007
16.017National Archives Building167 81935Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1930s.
17.018The Pennsylvania North164 141990
17.018The Cairo164 141894
20Capitol Place III164 121985
201101 New York Avenue164 122007
21.0221625 Eye Street161 122003
21.022World Bank Headquarters161 131997
23.0241001 Pennsylvania Avenue161 141987
23.0241201 Pennsylvania Avenue161 131981
23.024600 Thirteenth Street161 121997
26.027The Watergate Hotel and Office Building157 141967
26.027Republic Building157 131991
26.027Army and Navy Club Building157 121987
26.0271620 L Street157 121989
26.0271333 H Street157 121982
26.0271111 19th Street157 121979
26.0271010 Mass157 152007
34.0341099 14th Street 155.6 111992Tallest tower in the city when built in 1992.
34.035The Investment Building154 132001
34.035Capital Hilton154 131943Tallest building constructed in the city in the 1940s.
34.0351875 K Street154 122001
34.0351430 K Street154 122006
34.0351310 G Street154 121992
34.035Westin Washington, D.C. City Center154 141982
34.035Executive Tower154 122001
34.0351701 Pennsylvania Avenue154 131962
43.043Washington Gas Building151 151941
43.043The Watergate South151 141970
43.043World Bank Headquarters I151 122001
43.043World Bank Headquarters H151 121983
43.043William T. Golden Center for Science and Engineering151 121996
43.043Connecticut Connection151 121978
43.043455 Massachusetts Avenue151 122007

Tallest demolished

This lists buildings in Washington that have been demolished and at one time stood at least in height.
NameHeight
ft 		FloorsYear
completed		Year
demolished		Notes
Munsey Trust Building171 1319051982
1000 Connecticut Avenue156 1319562008Was replaced with another building carrying the same address.

Timeline of tallest buildings

This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Washington, D.C. This list excludes the Washington Monument, which has stood as the tallest non-building structure in the city since 1884.
NameStreet addressYears as tallestHeight
ft 		FloorsReference
United States CapitolPennsylvania Avenue, Capitol Hill1863–1899289 3
Old Post Office1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW1899–1959315 18
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception400 Michigan Avenue NE1959–present329 1