The skyline of a city seen at night from across a lake
Oakland's night skyline viewed from Lake Merritt

The U.S. city of Oakland, California is the site of more than 95 high-rises, the majority of which are located in its downtown district.[1] In the city, there are 30 buildings taller than 200 feet (61 m). The tallest building is the 28-story Ordway Building, which rises 404 feet (123 m).[2]

History

The history of high-rises in Oakland began with the completion of the nine-story Bank of America Building in 1907. A nine-story section was later added to the same building.[3] It remained the tallest building in the city until 1914, when the Oakland City Hall, at 320 feet (98 m), became the tallest.[4] At the time it was built, the City Hall was the first high-rise government building in the United States and the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.[5][6] The 390 feet (119 m) Kaiser Center surpassed the height of the City Hall in 1960, and was the tallest building for a decade.[7] In 1989, Ordway Building became the tallest building in the city.

As of April 2022, the tallest building currently under construction is the 36-story, 395 ft (120m) skyscraper at 1900 Broadway.[8]

Daytime skyline of a city behind a lake, showing several tall skyscrapers in the middle of the image, with several low-rises on the left and trees on the right.Kaiser CenterOrdway BuildingLake Merritt PlazaKaiser Engineering BuildingClorox BuildingTribune TowerLake MerrittRené C. Davidson CourthouseFile:Oakland Skyline and Lake Merritt.jpg
Panorama of Oakland's skyline (Some buildings are identifiable using the cursor)

Tallest buildings

This lists ranks Oakland buildings that stand at least 200 feet (61 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. Existing structures are included for ranking purposes based on present height. An equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. Table entries with dashes (—) indicate that information regarding building is not known. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed or opened.

Rank Name Image Height
ft (m) 		Floors Year Coordinates Notes
1 Ordway Building 404 (123) 28 1970 37°48′36″N 122°15′51″W / 37.81000°N 122.26417°W / 37.81000; -122.26417 Tallest building in both Oakland and in the Bay Area outside of San Francisco[2][9]
2 Atlas 400 (122) 40 2020 Tallest residential building constructed in the 2020s[10]
3 1900 Broadway 394 (120) 39 2023 Topping out ceremony held on March, 12th.[11]
4 Kaiser Center 390 (119) 28 1960 37°48′32″N 122°15′52″W / 37.80889°N 122.26444°W / 37.80889; -122.26444 Tallest building constructed in the 1960s[7][12]
5 17th and Broadway 380 (116) 34 2019 Tallest residential building constructed in the 2010s[13]
6 Lake Merritt Plaza 371 (113) 27 1985 37°48′27″N 122°15′54″W / 37.80750°N 122.26500°W / 37.80750; -122.26500 Tallest building constructed in the 1980s[14][15]
7 601 City Center 367 (112) 24 2019 Tallest office building constructed in the 2010s[16]
8 1111 Broadway 360 (110) 24 1990 37°48′10″N 122°16′22″W / 37.80278°N 122.27278°W / 37.80278; -122.27278 Tallest building constructed in the 1990s[17][18]
9 Kaiser Engineering Building 336 (102) 25 1984 37°48′21″N 122°15′54″W / 37.80583°N 122.26500°W / 37.80583; -122.26500 [19][20]
10 Clorox Building 330 (101) 24 1976 37°48′12″N 122°16′20″W / 37.80333°N 122.27222°W / 37.80333; -122.27222 [21][22]
11= EM Harris State Office Building 328 (100) 22 1998 37°48′23″N 122°16′24″W / 37.80639°N 122.27333°W / 37.80639; -122.27333 [23][24]
12= Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building South 328 (100) 18 1994 37°48′16″N 122°16′29″W / 37.80444°N 122.27472°W / 37.80444; -122.27472 [25][26]
13= Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building North 328 (100) 18 1994 37°48′18″N 122°16′28″W / 37.80500°N 122.27444°W / 37.80500; -122.27444 [26][27]
14 1200 Lakeshore 325 (99) 25 1964 [28]
15 Oakland City Hall 320 (98) 14 1914 37°48′19″N 122°16′21″W / 37.80528°N 122.27250°W / 37.80528; -122.27250 Tallest building constructed in the 1910s;[4][29] National Register of Historic Places[6]
16 Tribune Tower 310 (94) 22 1906 37°48′11″N 122°16′14″W / 37.80306°N 122.27056°W / 37.80306; -122.27056 Tallest building constructed in the 1920s[30][31]
17 1330 Broadway 297 (91) 18[32] 1958[32] 37°48′14″N 122°16′14″W / 37.80389°N 122.27056°W / 37.80389; -122.27056 [33][34]
18 Pacific Bell Building 296 (90) 20 1985 37°48′37″N 122°15′57″W / 37.81028°N 122.26583°W / 37.81028; -122.26583 [35][36]
19 555 City Center 279 (85) 20 2002 37°48′13″N 122°16′31″W / 37.80361°N 122.27528°W / 37.80361; -122.27528 Tallest building constructed in the 2000s.[37][38]
20 Oakland Marriott City Center 273 (83) 21 1983 [39]
21= Park Bellevue Tower 270 (82) 25 1969 37°48′28″N 122°15′20″W / 37.80778°N 122.25556°W / 37.80778; -122.25556 [40][41][42]
22= 1721 Webster 270 (82) 25 2020 [43]
23 St. Paul's Towers 267 (81) 22 1966 37°48′42″N 122°15′37″W / 37.81167°N 122.26028°W / 37.81167; -122.26028 [44][45]
24 1700 Webster 265 (81) 23 2019 [46]
25 The Grand Apartments 263 (80) 22 2008 37°48′41″N 122°15′53″W / 37.81139°N 122.26472°W / 37.81139; -122.26472 [47][48]
26 The Skylyne at Temescal 260 (79) 25 2020 [49]
27 Central Building 235 (72) 15 1926 37°48′15″N 122°16′14″W / 37.80417°N 122.27056°W / 37.80417; -122.27056 [50][51]
28 Bank of America Building 225 (69) 18 1907 37°48′10″N 122°16′17″W / 37.80278°N 122.27139°W / 37.80278; -122.27139 Tallest building constructed in the decade of 1900[3][52]
29 Financial Center Building 214 (65) 14 1929 37°48′13″N 122°16′13″W / 37.80361°N 122.27028°W / 37.80361; -122.27028 [53][54]
30 Pacific Renaissance Plaza 208 (63) 16 [55]
31 SBC Building 203 (62) 15 — 37°48′21″N 122°16′08″W / 37.80583°N 122.26889°W / 37.80583; -122.26889 [56]

Timeline of tallest buildings

Name Street address Years as tallest Height
ft (m) 		Floors Coordinates Notes
Bank of America Building 1200–1212 Broadway 1907–1914 225 (69) 18 37°48′10″N 122°16′17″W / 37.80278°N 122.27139°W / 37.80278; -122.27139 [3]
Oakland City Hall 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza 1914–1960 320 (98) 14 37°48′19″N 122°16′21″W / 37.80528°N 122.27250°W / 37.80528; -122.27250 [4]
Kaiser Center 300 Lakeside Drive 1960–1970 390 (119) 28 37°48′32″N 122°15′52″W / 37.80889°N 122.26444°W / 37.80889; -122.26444 [7]
Ordway Building 2150 Valdez Street 1970–present 404 (123) 28 37°48′36″N 122°15′51″W / 37.81000°N 122.26417°W / 37.81000; -122.26417 [2]

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ "Oakland". emporis.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Ordway Building". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2006. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c "Bank of America Building". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c "Oakland City Hall". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  5. ^ Fromm, Dorit (January 4, 1998). "Oakland and San Francisco's civic structures reinvent urban centers". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Burt, Cecily (October 15, 2009). "Oakland City Hall shines brighter after Loma Prieta earthquake". Oakland Tribune. Retrieved October 15, 2009.
  7. ^ a b c "Kaiser Center". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  8. ^ "1900 Broadway". Archived from the original on November 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "Ordway Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved October 13, 2007.
  10. ^ "1314 Franklin Street". emporis.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  11. ^ "YIMBY Visits Topping Out for 1900 Broadway, Downtown Oakland Tower". March 13, 2023.
  12. ^ "Kaiser Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  13. ^ "Slideshow: Oakland's tallest new residential tower nears finish line". bizjournals.com. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  14. ^ "Lake Merritt Plaza". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  15. ^ "Lake Merritt Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  16. ^ "Oakland City Center Project" (PDF). City of Oakland. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  17. ^ "1111 Broadway". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  18. ^ "1111 Broadway". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  19. ^ "Kaiser Engineering Building". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2006. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  20. ^ "Kaiser Engineering Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  21. ^ "Clorox Building". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  22. ^ "Clorox Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  23. ^ "EM Harris State Office Building". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  24. ^ "Elihu M Harris State Office Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  25. ^ "Oakland Federal Building South". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  26. ^ a b "Federal Tower Buildings". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  27. ^ "Oakland Federal Building North". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  28. ^ "1200 Lakeshore". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  29. ^ "City Hall". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  30. ^ "Tribune Tower". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  31. ^ "Tribune Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  32. ^ a b "1330 BROADWAY". 1330 BROADWAY.
  33. ^ "1330 Broadway". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  34. ^ "1330 Broadway". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  35. ^ "Pacific Bell Building". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  36. ^ "Pacific Bell Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  37. ^ "555 City Center". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  38. ^ "555 City Center". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  39. ^ "Oakland Marriott City Center". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  40. ^ "Park Bellevue Tower". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  41. ^ "Park Bellevue Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  42. ^ "Park Bellevue Tower". Caldecott Properties. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  43. ^ "1721 Webster Street". emporis.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  44. ^ "St. Paul's Towers". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  45. ^ "St. Paul's Towers". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  46. ^ "1700 Webster". Retrieved January 6, 2020.[dead link]
  47. ^ "100 Grand Avenue". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  48. ^ "100 Grand". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  49. ^ "The Skylyne at Temescal". Retrieved March 5, 2020.[dead link]
  50. ^ "Central Building". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  51. ^ "Central Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  52. ^ "Bank of America Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  53. ^ "Financial Center Building". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  54. ^ "Financial Center Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  55. ^ "Pacific Renaissance Plaza". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  56. ^ "SBC Building". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2007.

External links

Lists of tallest buildings in the United States
Oakland, California
Categories