San Diego, a major coastal city in Southern California, has over 200 high-rises mainly in its central business district. The city has over 40 buildings that stand taller than 300 feet (91 m), the third-most in California after San Francisco and Los Angeles. In the 1970s, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began restricting downtown building height to a maximum of 500 feet (152 m) within a 2.3-mile (3.7 km) radius from San Diego International Airport. As a result, Downtown San Diego has no buildings beyond that height, and only three buildings are taller than 492 ft (150 m). The tallest building in the city is the 34-story One America Plaza, completed in 1991 which stands at 500 ft (152 m) tall.
| Skyline of San Diego | |
|---|---|
Downtown San Diego in 2019 | |
| Tallest building | One America Plaza (1991) |
| Tallest building height | 500 ft (152.4 m) |
| First 150 m+ building | Symphony Towers (1989) |
| Number of tall buildings (2025) | |
| Taller than 100 m (328 ft) | 41 |
| Taller than 150 m (492 ft) | 3 |
| Number of tall buildings (feet) | |
| Taller than 300 ft (91.4 m) | 48 |
The history of skyscrapers in San Diego began with the completion of the U.S. Grant Hotel in 1910. Standing at 211 ft (64 m), it was the tallest building in the city for 17 years, symbolizing early 20th century economic growth and urban development. In 1927, the El Cortez Hotel surpassed it with a height of 310 ft (94 m), becoming a prominent landmark and reflecting the city’s expanding ambitions during the Roaring Twenties. For much of the mid-20th century, high-rise development in San Diego remained modest compared to other major American cities, largely due to the city’s size and geographic constraints. A significant shift occurred in 1969 when 530 B Street was completed, reaching 388 ft (118 m) and holding the title of tallest building for two decades. This period marked the beginning of more modern office towers and a move toward vertical urbanization.
An uptick in construction took place from the 1980s to the early 1990s, which saw the emergence of major skyscrapers such as the Symphony Towers, completed in 1989 at 499 feet (152 m), and One America Plaza, which overtook it in 1991. All three buildings that surpassed 492 ft (150 m) in height were completed between 1989 and 1992. The late 1990s and 2000s onwards saw a surge in new high-rise construction, particularly residential skyscrapers, which introduced twin tower designs and modern architectural styles to the city. This era coincided with broader urban renewal efforts aimed at revitalizing downtown neighborhoods and accommodating a growing population seeking urban living. In contrast to Los Angeles and San Francisco, over half of the city's 300-foot buildings were completed after 2000.
The FAA's height restrictions created a skyline that is relatively uniform in height, compared to other American cities. As a result, San Diego’s skyline is often noted for its integration with the natural coastal environment, preserving sight lines to the bay and surrounding hills. While most tall buildings are located in the downtown area, there are also a number of residential high-rises in the University City neighborhood. South of the Mexico-United States border is the Mexican city of Tijuana, which has a significant skyline of its own. San Diego and Tijuana form the San Diego-Tijuana trans border agglomeration, which together has nearly 50 buildings taller than 100 m (328 ft).
History
Number of buildings by height in San Diego by the end of each year. Click on the legend to toggle a specific height on or off. View chart definition.
After the completion of Cortez Hotel in 1927, it remained the tallest building in San Diego for 36 years, until it was surpassed by the Executive Complex in 1963.
The FAA's height restrictions—introduced in the 1970s due to the proximity of San Diego International Airport—limited downtown building heights to a maximum of 500 feet (152 m). This restriction has significantly influenced the architectural character and scale of San Diego's skyline, resulting in a cluster of buildings that generally adhere to the 500-foot limit. This has created a relatively uniform skyline height compared to other major cities, with an emphasis on horizontal spread and mid-rise development in surrounding neighborhoods. The late 1990s and 2000s saw a surge in new high-rise construction, particularly residential skyscrapers, which introduced twin tower designs and modern architectural styles to the city. This era coincided with broader urban renewal efforts aimed at revitalizing downtown neighborhoods and accommodating a growing population seeking urban living.
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.
— Garry Papers, manager of architecture and planning for the Center City Development Corporation
As of October 2025[update], there are around 9 buildings that have been proposed, approved, undergoing review, or are currently undergoing construction which will join the tallest buildings in San Diego (over 300 feet).
Cityscape
Map of tallest buildings
The map below shows the location of buildings taller than 300 feet (61 m) in San Diego. Each marker is numbered by height and colored by the decade of the building's completion.
Buildings taller than 300 ft (91 m) in San Diego
- 1950s and below
- 1960s
- 1970s
- 1980s
- 1990s
- 2000s
- 2010s
- 2020s
1
One America Plaza2
Symphony Towers3
Manchester Grand Hyatt Tower I4
Pinnacle on the Park I5
Pinnacle on the Park II6
Electra7
Pacific Gate8
Pinnacle Marina Tower9
Emerald Plaza10
Manchester Grand Hyatt Tower II11
Diega South Tower12
800 Broadway13
West14
Harbor Club West15
Harbor Club East16
The Grande South at Santa Fe Place17
The Grande North at Santa Fe Place18
Vantage Pointe Condominium19
Savina San Diego Condominiums20
The Lindley21
655 West Broadway22
Simone Little Italy23
Park 1224
Bayside at the Embarcadero25
530 B Street26
San Diego Central Courthouse27
Hilton San Diego Bayfront28
The Mark29
1 Columbia Place30
Sapphire Tower31
Omni San Diego Hotel32
Meridian Condominiums33
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Tower I34
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Tower II35
The Merian36
Imperial Bank Tower37
Executive Complex38
101 W Broadway39
600 B Street40
James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse41
Wells Fargo Plaza42
11th and Broadway Tower 243
El Cortez44
11th and Broadway Tower 145
Rise46
225 Broadway47
The Rey48
Marriott Vacation Club PulseTallest buildings
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
Was the tallest building in San Diego upon completion
| Rank | Name | Image | Coordinates | Height ft (m) | Floors | Year | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One America Plaza | 32°42′57″N 117°10′7″W / 32.71583°N 117.16861°W | 500 (152.4) | 34 | 1991 | Office | Tallest building in the city; tallest since 1991; tallest building in California outside of Los Angeles and San Francisco. | |
| 2 | Symphony Towers | 32°43′6″N 117°9′28″W / 32.71833°N 117.15778°W | 499 (152) | 34 | 1989 | Mixed-use | Tallest building in San Diego from 1989 to 1991. Mixed-use office and hotel building. | |
| 3 | Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego | 32°42′34″N 117°10′4″W / 32.70944°N 117.16778°W | 497 (151.5) | 40 | 1992 | Hotel | Tallest building on the waterfront on the West Coast of the United States. Tallest hotel building in San Diego. | |
| 4 | Pinnacle on the Park I | 32°42′35″N 117°09′03″W / 32.70972°N 117.15083°W | 479 (146) | 45 | 2015 | Residential | Tallest residential tower in San Diego together with the Pinnacle II tower. | |
| 5 | Pinnacle on the Park II | 32°42′36.7″N 117°09′02.9″W / 32.710194°N 117.150806°W | 479 (146) | 45 | 2019 | Residential | Tallest residential tower in San Diego together with the Pinnacle I tower. Also known as Spire San Diego. | |
| 6 | Electra | 32°42′54.8″N 117°10′10.5″W / 32.715222°N 117.169583°W | 475 (144.8) | 43 | 2008 | Residential | ||
| 7 | Pacific Gate by Bosa | 32°42′54″N 117°10′14″W / 32.71500°N 117.17056°W | 458 (139.6) | 41 | 2017 | Residential | ||
| 8 | Pinnacle Marina Tower | 32°42′39″N 117°9′54″W / 32.71083°N 117.16500°W | 455 (138.7) | 36 | 2005 | Residential | ||
| 9 | Emerald Plaza | 32°42′58″N 117°10′1″W / 32.71611°N 117.16694°W | 450 (137.2) | 30 | 1990 | Mixed-use | Mixed-use office and hotel building with retail. | |
| 10 | Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport | 32°42′37″N 117°10′6″W / 32.71028°N 117.16833°W | 446 (135.9) | 34 | 2003 | Hotel | ||
| 11 | Diega South Tower | – | 32°42′57.2″N 117°09′28.5″W / 32.715889°N 117.157917°W | 440 (134.1) | 41 | 2020 | Residential | |
| 12 | 800 Broadway | – | 32°42′58″N 117°9′25″W / 32.71611°N 117.15694°W | 440 (134) | 40 | 2024 | Residential | Contains retail units. |
| 13 | West | – | 32°42′58.9″N 117°9′54.4″W / 32.716361°N 117.165111°W | 425 (129.4) | 37 | 2024 | Mixed-use | Mixed-use residential and office building with retail. The project also included $80 million tunnel. Also known as Courthouse Commons. |
| 14 | Harbor Club West | 32°42′32″N 117°9′46″W / 32.70889°N 117.16278°W | 424 (129.2) | 41 | 1992 | Residential | ||
| 15 | Harbor Club East | 32°42′31″N 117°9′44″W / 32.70861°N 117.16222°W | 424 (129.2) | 41 | 1992 | Residential | ||
| 16 | The Grande South at Santa Fe Place | 32°43′2″N 117°10′13″W / 32.71722°N 117.17028°W | 420 (128) | 39 | 2004 | Residential | ||
| 17 | The Grande North at Santa Fe Place | 32°43′5″N 117°10′13″W / 32.71806°N 117.17028°W | 420 (128) | 39 | 2005 | Residential | ||
| 18 | Vantage Pointe Condominium | 32°43′6″N 117°9′21″W / 32.71833°N 117.15583°W | 420 (128) | 41 | 2009 | Residential | ||
| 19 | Savina San Diego Condominiums | 32°43′10″N 117°10′10″W / 32.71944°N 117.16944°W | 415 (126.5) | 36 | 2018 | Residential | ||
| 20 | The Lindley | – | 32°43′9″N 117°10′2″W / 32.71917°N 117.16722°W | 415 (126.5) | 37 | 2024 | Residential | Contains retail units. |
| 21 | 655 West Broadway | 32°42′55″N 117°10′7″W / 32.71528°N 117.16861°W | 413 (126) | 23 | 2005 | Mixed-use | Formerly known as Advanced Equities Plaza from 2007 to 2012, and First Allied Plaza from 2012 to 2024. Mixed-use residential and office building with retail. | |
| 22 | Simone Little Italy | – | 32°43′12″N 117°09′55″W / 32.7201268°N 117.1652695°W | 409 (124.7) | 36 | 2023 | Residential | Also known as Union & Ash. |
| 23 | Park 12 | 32°42′23.3″N 117°9′18.4″W / 32.706472°N 117.155111°W | 402 (122.5) | 36 | 2018 | Residential | Also known as Ballpark Village. Contains retail units. | |
| 24 | Bayside at the Embarcadero | 32°43′9″N 117°10′14″W / 32.71917°N 117.17056°W | 395 (120.4) | 36 | 2009 | Residential | ||
| 25 | 530 B Street | 32°43′5.7″N 117°9′35.1″W / 32.718250°N 117.159750°W | 388 (118.3) | 27 | 1969 | Office | Tallest building in San Diego from 1969 to 1989. Formerly known as the Union Bank of California Building until 2022. | |
| 26 | San Diego Central Courthouse | 32°43′2″N 117°9′58″W / 32.71722°N 117.16611°W | 387 (118) | 22 | 2017 | Office | ||
| 27 | Hilton San Diego Bayfront | 32°42′11″N 117°9′31″W / 32.70306°N 117.15861°W | 385 (117.3) | 32 | 2008 | Hotel | ||
| 28 | The Mark | 32°42′40″N 117°9′25″W / 32.71111°N 117.15694°W | 381 (116.1) | 33 | 2007 | Residential | ||
| 29 | 1 Columbia Place | 32°43′5″N 117°10′1″W / 32.71806°N 117.16694°W | 381 (116) | 27 | 1982 | Office | Also known as First National Bank Center. | |
| 30 | Sapphire Tower | 32°43′6″N 117°10′10″W / 32.71833°N 117.16944°W | 380 (115.8) | 32 | 2008 | Residential | ||
| 31 | Omni San Diego Hotel | 32°42′25.6″N 117°9′32″W / 32.707111°N 117.15889°W | 375 (114.3) | 34 | 2004 | Hotel | ||
| 32 | Meridian Condominiums | 32°42′47″N 117°9′54″W / 32.71306°N 117.16500°W | 371 (113.1) | 28 | 1985 | Residential | ||
| 33 | Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Tower I | 32°42′28″N 117°9′54″W / 32.70778°N 117.16500°W | 361 (110) | 25 | 1984 | Hotel | Completed three years earlier than its twin counterpart. Operated as the Inter-Continental San Diego until 1987. | |
| 34 | Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina Tower II | 32°42′30″N 117°9′57″W / 32.70833°N 117.16583°W | 361 (110) | 25 | 1987 | Hotel | ||
| 35 | The Merian | – | 32°42′43.7″N 117°9′15.9″W / 32.712139°N 117.154417°W | 358 (109) | 34 | 2020 | Residential | |
| 36 | Imperial Bank Tower | 32°43′2″N 117°9′28″W / 32.71722°N 117.15778°W | 354 (108) | 24 | 1982 | Office | ||
| 37 | Executive Complex | 32°42′57″N 117°9′47″W / 32.71583°N 117.16306°W | 350 (106.7) | 25 | 1963 | Office | Tallest building in San Diego from 1963 to 1969. | |
| 38 | 101 W Broadway | 32°42′54″N 117°9′51″W / 32.71500°N 117.16417°W | 348 (106.1) | 20 | 1982 | Office | Formerly known as the AT&T Building. | |
| 39 | 600 B Street | 32°43′5″N 117°9′31″W / 32.71806°N 117.15861°W | 339 (103.3) | 23 | 1974 | Office | Formerly known as the San Diego Union Tribune Building until 2023. | |
| 40 | James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse | 32°42′54″N 117°9′57″W / 32.71500°N 117.16583°W | 333 (101.5) | 16 | 2012 | Office | ||
| 41 | Wells Fargo Plaza | 32°43′2″N 117°9′38″W / 32.71722°N 117.16056°W | 331 (100.9) | 23 | 1984 | Office | ||
| 42 | 11th and Broadway Tower 2 | – | 32°42′55″N 117°09′16″W / 32.715402°N 117.154426°W | 319 (97.2) | 32 | 2024 | Residential | Part of the Broadway Towers development. Contains retail units. |
| 43 | El Cortez | 32°43′13.4″N 117°9′28.6″W / 32.720389°N 117.157944°W | 310 (94.5) | 14 | 1927 | Residential | Tallest building in San Diego until from 1927 to 1963. | |
| 44 | 11th and Broadway Tower 1 | – | 32°42′54″N 117°09′15″W / 32.714937°N 117.154142°W | 310 (94.5) | 31 | 2024 | Residential | Part of the Broadway Towers development. Contains retail units. |
| 45 | Rise | – | 32°42′52″N 117°10′18″W / 32.71444°N 117.17167°W | 307 (94) | 15 | 2024 | Office | Part of the IQHQ's Research and Development District (RaDD) |
| 46 | 225 Broadway | 32°42′54″N 117°9′44″W / 32.71500°N 117.16222°W | 306 (93) | 22 | 1975 | Office | ||
| 47 | The Rey | – | 32°43′6″N 117°9′55″W / 32.71833°N 117.16528°W | 305 (93) | 25 | 2016 | Residential | |
| 48 | Marriott Vacation Club Pulse | 32°43′07″N 117°09′29″W / 32.7186761°N 117.157927°W | 300 (91.5) | 27 | 1990 | Hotel | Formerly the Sheraton Suites. Part of the Symphony Towers complex. |
Tallest under construction or proposed
Under construction
This lists buildings that are under construction in San Diego and are planned to rise at least 300 feet (91 meters). The "year" column indicates the estimated year of completion.
| Name | Coordinates | Height ft (m) | Floors | Year | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia & A | 32°43′7″N 117°10′4″W / 32.71861°N 117.16778°W | 448 (137) | 39 | 2026 | Mixed-use | Columbia & A will be a 39-story condo and hotel tower. |
| The Torrey | 32°43′6″N 117°9′55″W / 32.71833°N 117.16528°W | 445 (136) | 34 | 2026 | Residential | The Torrey will be a 34‑story residential tower featuring 450 apartments and a Whole Foods Market at its base. |
| Andia | 32°43′3″N 117°9′24″W / 32.71750°N 117.15667°W | 410 (125) | 40 | 2027 | Residential | Andia will be a 40-story luxury condominium tower with 393 units and ground-floor retail. |
Proposed
This lists ranks proposed buildings in San Diego that are planned to be taller than 300 ft (91 m). A dash “–“ indicates information about the building is unknown or has not been released.
| Name | Coordinates | Height ft (m) | Floors | Year | Purpose | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st and Island | 32°42′36″N 117°9′48″W / 32.71000°N 117.16333°W | 410 (125) | 35 | – | Residential | Under Review | Planned 35-story residential tower, replacing a parking lot in the Gaslamp Quarter. Will be situated next to the Harbor Club towers. |
| 4th and B | 32°43′3″N 117°9′42″W / 32.71750°N 117.16167°W | 400 (122) | 30 | – | Mixed-use | Under Review | A planned 30-story mixed-use tower that will replace an empty lot that was the former spot of the 4th and B venue. Will contain office and hotel space. |
| Pinnacle Pacific Heights | 32°43′6″N 117°9′16″W / 32.71833°N 117.15444°W | 325 (99) | 32 | – | Residential | Under Review | Planned mixed-use tower with 492 residential units and 2,250 sq. ft. of retail space. Currently a parking lot. |
| Kettner Crossing Phase 2 | 32°43′16″N 117°10′11″W / 32.72111°N 117.16972°W | – | 33 | – | Residential | Under Review | Phase 2 of Kettner Crossing is the next development stage of a mixed-use project in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood. This phase includes additional residential units and retail spaces. |
| 1950 India Street | 32°43′30″N 117°10′9″W / 32.72500°N 117.16917°W | – | 26 | – | Residential | Under Review | A planned mixed-use tower in Little Italy, expected to bring 444 units of residential space and 33,752 sq. ft. of retail space. The spot is currently a vacant building. |
| Après Little Italy | 32°43′27″N 117°10′8″W / 32.72417°N 117.16889°W | – | 25 | – | Residential | Under Review | Another planned mixed-use tower coming to the Little Italy area. It will feature over 150 apartments and 9,289 sq. ft. of retail space. |
Timeline of tallest buildings
These are the list of buildings that have held the title of tallest building in San Diego.
| Name | Image | Height ft (m) | Floors | Years as tallest | Coordinates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Grant Hotel | 211 (64) | 11 | 17 years (1910–1927) | 32°42′58″N 117°9′41″W / 32.71611°N 117.16139°W | ||
| El Cortez Hotel | 310 (94) | 16 | 36 years (1927–1963) | 32°43′12″N 117°9′29″W / 32.72000°N 117.15806°W | ||
| Executive Complex | 350 (110) | 25 | 6 years (1963–1969) | 32°42′57″N 117°9′47″W / 32.71583°N 117.16306°W | ||
| 530 B Street | 388 (118) | 27 | 20 years (1969–1989) | 32°43′2″N 117°9′35″W / 32.71722°N 117.15972°W | ||
| Symphony Towers | 499 (152) | 34 | 2 years (1989–1991) | 32°43′6″N 117°9′28″W / 32.71833°N 117.15778°W | ||
| One America Plaza | 500 (150) | 34 | 34 years (1991–present) | 32°42′57″N 117°10′7″W / 32.71583°N 117.16861°W |
Notes
- Information on the Federal Aviation Administration's reasoning behind building height limitations can be read in their Advisory Circular, AC 150/5190-4A - A Model Zoning Ordinance to Limit Height of Objects Around Airports
See also
- List of tallest buildings in the United States
- List of tallest buildings in California
- List of Gaslamp Quarter historic buildings
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