California's Tallest Buildings

California doesn't have the tallest buildings in the world--no way! It doesn't even have the tallest buildings in the U.S. But it does have the tallest buildings West of the Mississippi. Built in the earthquake zone, California's tall buildings have not trended toward taller, while other places around the globe--such as China and Dubai--have set new records! If you've ever been in a tall building in California during an earthquake, you may feel a rolling motion underneath you. Tall building designs use special construction and engineering methods to "roll with it," thus handling earthquakes better without toppling over. While California's tallest buildings were initially built for business enterprises as corporate headquarters, today's construction is geared toward mixed use that contains office space, residential, hotels and shopping all in one place.

In California it took more than 15 years for new buildings to knock others out of the Top 20 state list. Three tall buildings were launched in San Francisco and Los Angeles recently with their height up to 200 feet shorter than the tallest buildings. However, they have managed to squeeze in more floors--up to 18 more floors using less space! In the California Tall Buildings List, LA Live Hotels & Condominiums came in at #14 and was opened in 2010; Millennium Tower in San Francisco ranks #15 and was opened in 2009; and One Rincon Hill in San Francisco ranks #16 and was opened in 2008 as an all residential high-rise.

TALLEST BUILDINGS IN CALIFORNIA

1 U.S. Bank Tower 1,018 ft. 73 floor Built in 1989 Los Angeles
2 Aon Center 858 feet 62 floors Built in 1973 Los Angeles
3 Transamerica Pyramid 853 feet 48 floors Built in 1972 San Francisco
4 Bank of America Tower 779 feet 52 floors Built in 1969 San Francisco
5 Two California Plaza 750 feet 54 floors Built in 1992 Los Angeles

TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD

Burj Khalifa 2,722.57 feet 163 floors plus 46 maintenance levels in the spire and 2 parking levels in the basement Built in 2010 United Arab Emirates - Dubai Cost: $1.5 billion to build, used U.S. architectural firm.

TALLEST BUILDINGS IN CALIFORNIA

1 U.S. Bank Tower 1,018 ft. 73 floor Built in 1989 Los Angeles 54th-tallest building in the world, 10th-tallest building in the United States, tallest building on the West Coast of the United States, tallest building in California. Tallest building in the world with a helipad on its roof. At the time of its completion, the building was the tallest structure in a major active seismic region; Taipei 101 now holds this title. Tallest building constructed in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Formerly known as Library Tower.

2 Aon Center 858 feet 62 floors Built in 1973 Los Angeles 31st-tallest building in the United States. Tallest building constructed in Los Angeles in the 1970s.

3 Transamerica Pyramid 853 feet 48 floors Built in 1972 San Francisco Has been the tallest building in San Francisco since 1972; 3rd-tallest building in California, 32nd-tallest in the United States, and 100th-tallest in the world; tallest building on the West Coast from 1972 until 1974; tallest building constructed in San Francisco in the 1970s

4 555 California Street Bank of America Tower 779 feet 52 Built in 1969 San Francisco 51st-tallest building in the United States; tallest building on the West Coast from 1969 to 1972; formerly known as Bank of America Center; tallest building constructed in the city in the 1960s

5 Two California Plaza 750 feet 54 floors Built in 1992 Los Angeles 67th-tallest building in the United States. Tallest building constructed in Los Angeles in the 1990s.

In the world: Skyscraper Burj Khalifa United Arab Emirates Dubai 2,722.57 feet, 163 floors
plus 46 maintenance levels in the spire[5] and 2 parking levels in the basement Built in 2010. 490-acre flagship development called Downtown Dubai at the 'First Interchange' along Sheikh Zayed Road, near Dubai's main business district. The tower's architecture and engineering were performed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago, with Adrian Smith as chief architect, and Bill Baker as chief structural engineer. The primary contractor was Samsung C&T of South Korea. Cost to build $1.5 billion