This list of tallest buildings in Memphis ranks completed buildings by height in the U.S. city of Memphis, Tennessee, the 28th largest city in the United States. The tallest building is the 100 North Main building at 430 ft (131m), built in 1965. The Sterick Building, 364 ft (111m) was the tallest building in the Southern United States when built in 1930, holding that title until 1932 when surpassed by the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge.[1] The first skyscraper built in Memphis was the Dr. D.T. Porter Building, 131 ft (40m), in 1895.[2] The tallest man-made structure in the city is the 1003 ft (305.7m) Edwin L. Nass Tower 1, a guyed steel TV transmitting tower located at 5317 Crestview Road in northeast Memphis.[3]
Unlike many other downtowns in the Sun Belt, Memphis did not experience the high-rise building booms of the late 1980s or early 2000s. Only four buildings over 100m have been built in downtown Memphis since World War II: 100 North Main, Raymond James Tower, One Commerce Square, and First Tennessee Bank Building.[2] This has resulted in a smaller, more historic skyline compared to other nearby cities of similar age and population (compare to Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas/Fort Worth, or St. Louis). Three of the tallest in the city are located in the upscale neighborhood of East Memphis: the Clark Tower, the Hilton Memphis, and the White Station Tower.
As of 2018 the long-delayed One Beale Street project getting a completely revised plan of 4 separate components: hotel, residential, office and garage. The hotel component will be built first, and received a ground-breaking date for January 2019. Also, a major renovation of the cities' tallest tower—100 North Main St—which currently sits vacant, was planned and the same owner/developer announced plans for a 26-story Loews brand highrise hotel. This will be built near city hall and the convention center downtown. In addition, there may be a 2nd tower built for either office or residential mixed-use.
With the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt to many projects worldwide in early 2020, some of Memphis' development projects were delayed and tabled, as-a-result. The Memphis Convention Center renovation, rebranded as Memphis Renasant Convention Center will open in early 2021, and the One Beale St project has been underway since late 2018 and progressing, after years of delays. The Pinch District has skyscraper proposals on the table, and the new development formerly known as "Union Row," has been renamed and rebranded as "The Walk on Union."
Tallest buildings
Rank | Name | Image | Height feet/meters |
Floors | Year | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 100 North Main | 430/130 | 37 | 1965 | Tallest building in Memphis since 1965. Tallest in Tennessee from 1965-1970. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently sits vacant, but major renovation underway. Will be gut renovated and completely repurposed for mainly hotel/residential/office usage. Completion estimated for 2024 roughly. | |
2 | Raymond James Tower | 403/123 | 21 | 1985 | Includes the spire atop the building | |
3 | Clark Tower | 400/120 | 34 | 1971 | Tallest building outside of downtown. | |
4 | One Commerce Square | 396/121 | 31 | 1973 | ||
5 | Sterick Building | 365/111 | 29 | 1930 | Tallest building in Tennessee and the Southern United States from 1930-1957. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
6 | First Horizon Bank Tower | 332/101 | 25 | 1964 | ||
7 | Hilton Memphis | 329/100 | 24 | 1975 | Tallest hotel in Memphis. | |
8 | Memphis Pyramid | 321/98 | 5 | 1991 | 7th-tallest pyramid and largest Bass Pro Shops in the world. Home to retail, restaurants, an observation deck, a hotel, a bowling alley, and the largest free-standing elevator in America. | |
9 | The Renaissance Apartments | 296/90 | 25 | 1968 | Tallest residential building in Memphis. | |
10 | Lincoln American Tower | 290/88 | 22 | 1924 | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
11 | White Station Tower | 280/85 | 22 | 1965 | ||
12 | Exchange Building | 264/80 | 20 | 1910 | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
13 | Le Bonheur Children's Hospital | 251/77 | 12 | 2010 | ||
14 | Sheraton Memphis | 233/71 | 19 | 1985 | ||
15 | Madison Hotel | 219/67 | 16 | 1907 | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
16 | Number 10 Main | 215/66 | 16 | 1910 | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
17 | The Tower at Peabody Place | 202/62 | 15 | 1997 | ||
18 | The Artesian | 201/61 | 16 | 2015 | ||
19 | Crosstown Concourse | 188/57 | 14 | 1927 | Former Sears retail store, offices, and catalog order processing warehouse. | |
20 | 88 Union Center | 177/54 | 14 | 1927 |
Tallest future buildings
Under Construction
Buildings that are currently construction in Memphis and expected to rise above 200 feet (60 m) include:
Name | Height feet |
Height meters |
Floors | Year | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Jude Outpatient Office Building | 265 | 81 | 15 | 2025 | 15 Story Outpatient Office Building |
St. Jude Clinical Office Building | 256 | 78 | 15 | 2025 | 15 Story Clinical Office Building |
One Beale Grand Hyatt Hotel | 225 | 69 | 20 | 2024 | 20 Story Grand Hyatt hotel being built on the One Beale St sight. Will be 3rd hotel on site, and will cater to higher end and business travelers. |
Approved
Buildings that are approved for construction in Memphis and expected to rise above 200 feet (60 m) include:
Name | Height feet |
Height meters |
Floors | Year | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 Main LLC Pinch District Office | 325 | 99 | 22 | 2023 | Proposed tower adjacent to downtown in the Pinch. Will be one of 5 or 6 towers. |
18 Main LLC Mixed use Tower: Residential or office or hotel, TBD. | 325 | 99 | 24 | 2023 | 5th highrise in Pinch Development. |
18 Main LLC Pinch District Hotel | 300 | 91 | 20 | 2024 | Major high rise brand hotel. |
18 Main LLC Pinch District Residential | 300 | 91 | 22 | 2023 | Second high rise residential tower in the Pinch District. |
18 Main LLC Pinch District Residential | 250 | 76 | 18 | 2024 | Apartment/Condo high rise in the Pinch District. |
The Walk on Union Hotel High Rise Phase I | 225 | 69 | 12 | 2024 | Starting phase I construction in Q4 2021. Phase II and III will be another 6 or 8 bldgs. |
The Walk on Union Hotel and Residential Component | 200 | 61 | 12 | 2024 | Starting phase I construction in Q2 2021. |
Sheraton Hotel Tower 2 Hotel High Rise Expansion | 200 | 61 | 14 | 2023 | 300 new hotel rooms announced by Sheraton Downtown Memphis Hotel. New tower to be adjacent to existing. |
Timeline of tallest buildings
This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Memphis.
Name | Street Address | Years as tallest | Height feet |
Height meters |
Floors |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number 10 Main | 10 South Main Street | 1904–1905 | 216 | 66 | 16 |
Madison Hotel | 79 Madison Avenue | 1905–1910 | 232 | 71 | 16 |
Exchange Building | 9 North Second Street | 1910–1924 | 264 | 80 | 19 |
Lincoln American Tower | 60 North Main Street | 1924-1930 | 290 | 88 | 22 |
Sterick Building | 8 North Third Street | 1930-1965 | 365 | 111 | 29 |
100 North Main | 100 North Main Street | 1965–present | 430 | 130 | 37 |
References
- ^ Finger, Michael (December 4, 1997). "Memphis landmarks that have stood vacant for years, waiting for someone to bring them back to life". Memphis Flyer. No. 459.
- ^ a b "D.T. Porter Building, Memphis - 125484 - EMPORIS". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "FCC Registered Cell Phone and Antenna Towers in Memphis, Tennessee". City-data.com. Retrieved June 22, 2019.