The year 1987 in architecture involved some significant architectural events and new buildings.

Events

• August 13 – The first building in England of post-war design to be Listed is Bracken House in the City of London, designed by Sir Albert Richardson as the Financial Times headquarters (1955–59).^[1]
• Construction of Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea, designed by Baikdoosan Architects & Engineers, begins; it will not be completed for 30 years.

Buildings and structures

Buildings opened

• February – The CenTrust Tower in Miami.
• June – The Menil Collection, in Houston, Texas, United States, designed by Renzo Piano.^[2]
• August – National Library of New Zealand in Wellington.
• August 17 – One Liberty Place in Philadelphia, United States (Phase 1): the first tenant moves in.^[3]

Buildings completed

• The Riga Radio and TV Tower in Riga, Latvia.
• One Atlantic Center in Atlanta, Georgia, US.
• The Shaanxi Provincial TV Tower in Xi'an, China.
• Comerica Bank Tower in Dallas, Texas, US.
• Metropolitan Tower in Manhattan, New York City, US.^[4]
• The JPMorgan Chase Tower in Dallas, Texas, US.
• 1000 Second Avenue in Seattle, Washington, US, designed by Donald Winkelmann of NBBJ.
• KPMG Tower in Montreal, Canada
• The tower at Stade Olympique et La Tour de Montréal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada is completed, 11 years after the Olympics took place, after a number of strikes by workers.^[5]
• King Saud Mosque, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• Justice Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, designed by Rasem Badran.^[6]
• The original 7 World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York as the final building in the original World Trade Center complex.
• The Clore Gallery at Tate Britain in London, designed by James Stirling.^[7]
• Richmond Riverside, London, designed by Quinlan Terry.
• The Mound Stand at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, designed by Michael Hopkins & Partners.^[7]
• Paustian House, a furniture showroom in Copenhagen designed by Jørn Utzon.
• The Pan Pacific Singapore.
• "House on chicken legs" residential apartment building in Saint Petersburg.
• 50 Glebe Place in Chelsea, London.^[8]
• Southern Outfall Pumping Station, Cleethorpes, England, designed by Sam Scorer.

Awards

• Aga Khan Prize – Jean Nouvel for the Institute of the Arab World in Paris.
• Architecture Firm Award – Benjamin Thompson & Associates, Inc.
• Grand prix national de l'architecture – Jean Nouvel.
• Pritzker Prize – Kenzo Tange.
• Prix de l'Équerre d'Argent – Jean Nouvel and Architecture Studio for the Institute of the Arab World in Paris.
• RAIA Gold Medal – Daryl Jackson.
• RIBA Royal Gold Medal – Ralph Erskine.
• Twenty-five Year Award – Bavinger House.
• UIA Gold Medal – Reima Pietila.

Births

Deaths

• March 16 – Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, Danish architect (born 1929)^[9]
• April 22 – Erika Nõva, Estonian architect (born 1905)
• November 15 – Ernő Goldfinger, Hungarian-born architect and furniture designer (born 1902)