South America has historically seen a relatively modest demand for skyscrapers, with the majority of the continent's tallest buildings being residential. Office buildings have not historically been built taller than residential buildings in the region, though this scenario may well change in the next decades, as South America has been experiencing substantial economic growth.

Most of the continent's high-rises are in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela, with the tallest buildings being located in Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Balneário Camboríu, Santiago, Bogotá, Cartagena, and Caracas, all of which (except Balneário Camboríu) are one of the biggest financial centres of these countries.

History

The first skyscrapers of at least 100 metres (330 ft) height in South America were built in the 1920s, and included the Martinelli Building in São Paulo, Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires, and the Palacio Salvo in Montevideo. Martinelli was not only the first, but the tallest skyscraper of South America until being surpassed by the Altino Arantes Building, also in São Paulo, in 1947.

Many of the tallest buildings in South America are located in central business districts that emerged as early as the 19th century, or in office parks developed during the second half of the 20th century. Some of the most notable include Catalinas Norte and Puerto Madero (Buenos Aires); along the Centro Empresarial Nações Unidas and the Central Zone of São Paulo (São Paulo); Sanhattan (Santiago); and Parque Central Complex (Caracas).

Tallest buildings

  Was South America's tallest building upon completion
Rank Name Image Location Country Height
m / (ft) 		Floors Year Notes
1 Gran Torre Santiago Santiago  Chile 300 m (984 ft) 62 2014 tallest building in Chile and South America; first supertall building to be constructed in South America; second tallest building in Latin America (behind Mexico's T.Op Torre 1); fifth tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere (behind Indonesia's Autograph Tower and Luminary Tower, and Australia's Q1 Tower and Australia 108).[1]
2 One Tower Balneário Camboriú  Brazil 290 m (951 ft) 84 2022 tallest building in Brazil.[2]
3= Yachthouse Residence Club (Tower 1) Balneário Camboriú  Brazil 281 m (922 ft) 81 2023 [3]
3= Yachthouse Residence Club (Tower 2) Balneário Camboriú  Brazil 281 m (922 ft) 81 2023 [3]
5 Alvear Tower Buenos Aires  Argentina 239 m (784 ft) 54 2017 tallest building in Argentina.[4]
6 Infinity Coast Balneário Camboriú  Brazil 235 m (771 ft) 66 2019
7 Parque Central Complex (West Tower) Caracas  Venezuela 225 m (738 ft) 56 1979 tallest building in Venezuela; tallest building in South America from 1979 until 2014.
8 BD Bacatá (South Tower) Bogotá  Colombia 216 m (709 ft) 67 2015 tallest building in Colombia.[5]
9 Epic Tower Balneário Camboriú  Brazil 209 m (686 ft) 55 2020
10 Estelar Hotel Cartagena de Indias  Colombia 202 m (663 ft) 52 2017
11 Torres Atrio (South Tower) Bogotá  Colombia 200 m (656 ft) 44 2019
12 Torre Colpatria Bogotá  Colombia 196 m (643 ft) 50 1978 tallest building in South America from 1978 until 1979.
13 Titanium La Portada Santiago  Chile 194 m (636 ft) 55 2010 [6]
14 Centro de Comercio Internacional Bogotá  Colombia 192 m (630 ft) 50 1977 tallest building in South America from 1977 until 1978.
15 Orion Complex Goiânia  Brazil 191 m (627 ft) 50 2018 [7]
16 Centro Financiero Confinanzas Caracas  Venezuela 190 m (623 ft) 45 1994 [8]
17 Museo Parque Central Bogotá  Colombia 185 m (607 ft) 45 2017
18 Torre E Bogotá  Colombia 184 m (604 ft) 46 2017
19= Tour Geneve João Pessoa  Brasil 183 m (600 ft) 51 2018
19= Cali Tower Cali  Colombia 183 m (600 ft) 46 1984
21 Mercantil Tower Caracas  Venezuela 179 m (587 ft) 40 1984 [9]
22 Millennium Palace Camboriú Balneário Camboriú  Brazil 177 m (581 ft) 46 2014 [10]
23= Kingdom Park Vaca Brava Goiânia  Brazil 175 m (574 ft) 52 2019
23= Coltejer Building Medellín  Colombia 175 m (574 ft) 37 1972
25= E Tower North Point Bogotá  Colombia 172 m (564 ft) 46 2018
25= Torre Cavia Buenos Aires  Argentina 172 m (564 ft) 45 2009 [11]
25= Concordia Corporate Nova Lima  Brazil 172 m (564 ft) 44 2018
25= Platina 220 São Paulo  Brazil 172 m (564 ft) 40 2022
29 Ciudadela San Martín Torre Norte Bogotá  Colombia 171 m (561 ft) 47 1983
29 Mirante do Vale São Paulo  Brazil 170 m (558 ft) 51 1960 tallest building in South America from 1960 until 1977.
30 Grand Bay Club Cartagena de Indias  Colombia 170 m (558 ft) 43 2009
31 Figueira Altos do Tatuapé São Paulo  Brazil 168 m (551 ft) 52 2021
32 Edifício Itália São Paulo  Brazil 165 m (541 ft) 45 1965
33 Rio Sul Center Rio de Janeiro  Brazil 164 m (538 ft) 40 1982
34 Green Tower La Paz  Bolivia 163.4 m (536 ft) 40 2022 tallest building in Bolivia.[12]
34 Majestic Building Bucaramanga  Colombia 163 m (535 ft) 42 2015
35 Mirage 57 Barranquilla  Colombia 162 m (531 ft) 43 2016
36 Altino Arantes Building São Paulo  Brazil 161 m (528 ft) 36 1947 tallest building in South America from 1947 until 1960.
37 Avianca Building Bogotá  Colombia 161 m (528 ft) 41 1969
38 Mulieris Towers Buenos Aires  Argentina 161 m (528 ft) 44 2008
39 El Faro Towers Buenos Aires  Argentina 160 m (525 ft) 46 2005
40 Torre del Café Medellín  Colombia 160 m (525 ft) 36 1975
41 Palmetto Cartagena de Indias  Colombia 160 m (525 ft) 42 2009
42 Repsol-YPF Tower Buenos Aires  Argentina 160 m (525 ft) 36 2008 [13]
43 Provincial Tower Caracas  Venezuela 159 m (522 ft) 40 1984 [14]
40 Villa Serena Balneário Camboriú  Brazil 159 m (522 ft) 46 2013
41 Le Parc Tower Buenos Aires  Argentina 158 m (518 ft) 51 1995
42 Torre Norte São Paulo  Brazil 158 m (518 ft) 38 1999
43 Parque Cidade Jardim São Paulo  Brazil 158 m (518 ft) 41 2010
44 Brookfield Towers (Tower A) São Paulo  Brazil 158 m (518 ft) 47 2013
45 Telecommunications Tower Montevideo  Uruguay 157 m (515 ft) 35 2002 tallest building in Uruguay.[15]
46 Palmetto Eliptic Cartagena de Indias  Colombia 156 m (512 ft) 41 2011
47 Château Puerto Madero Buenos Aires  Argentina 155 m (509 ft) 50 2010
48 Torre BBVA Banco Francés Buenos Aires  Argentina 155 m (509 ft) 33 2015
49 Mansão Margarida Costa Pinto Salvador  Brazil 154 m (505 ft) 43 2008
50 Grattacielo Building Barranquilla  Colombia 153 m (502 ft) 39 2014
51 Centro Financiero Latino Caracas  Venezuela 153 m (502 ft) 32 1978
52 Universe Life Square Curitiba  Brazil 152 m (499 ft) 45 2014
53 Go Green Building Bucaramanga  Colombia 150 m (492 ft) 38 2015
54 CAF Tower Caracas  Venezuela 150 m (492 ft) 40 2014
55 Intercontinental Hotel (Isla Multiespacio Complex) Valencia  Venezuela 150 m (492 ft) 40 2014
56 Girasoles Tower La Paz  Bolivia 150 m (492 ft) 40 2013 [16]
57 Birmann 21 São Paulo  Brazil 149 m (489 ft) 24 1996
58 Premier Vision Goiânia  Brazil 148 m (486 ft) 47 2005
59 E-Tower São Paulo  Brazil 148 m (486 ft) 37 2005
60 Infinitum Cartagena Residential Tower in Cartagena, Colombia Cartagena  Colombia 145 m (476 ft) 39 2018
61 Sede do BankBoston São Paulo  Brazil 145 m (476 ft) 35 2002
62 Building of the Comptroller General of Colombia Bogotá  Colombia 145 m (476 ft) 32 1974
63 Galicia Central Tower Buenos Aires  Argentina 145 m (476 ft) 33 2007
64 Le Parc Puerto Madero Buenos Aires  Argentina 145 m (476 ft) 37 2007
65 Iluminata Tower Barranquilla  Colombia 145 m (476 ft) 36 2016
66 Torre Telefónica Chile Santiago  Chile 143 m (469 ft) 33 1996 [17]
67 Banco do Brasil Building São Paulo  Brazil 143 m (469 ft) 24 1955
68 105 Lélio Gama St. Rio de Janeiro  Brazil 143 m (469 ft) 40 1980
69 Solara Towers Barranquilla  Colombia 142 m (466 ft) 36 2015
70 Alas Building Buenos Aires  Argentina 141 m (463 ft) 41 1957
71 Eldorado Business Tower São Paulo  Brazil 141 m (463 ft) 36 2007
72 Torre Banco de la Nación Lima  Peru 140 m (459 ft)[18] 30 2015 tallest building in Peru.
73 Yacht Towers Buenos Aires  Argentina 140 m (459 ft) 44 2010
74 Torres Maui Rosario  Argentina 140 m (459 ft) 44 2014
75 World Trade Center Montevideo (Tower 4) Montevideo  Uruguay 140 m (459 ft) 40 2013
76 Torre Allianz Bogotá  Colombia 140 m (459 ft) 36 1996
77 Edificio Horizontes Cartagena  Colombia 140 m (459 ft) 37 2007
78 Fonade Tower Bogotá  Colombia 140 m (459 ft) 37 1974
79 Edificio de la Contraloría Bogotá  Colombia 140 m (459 ft) 36 1974
80 BankBoston Tower Buenos Aires  Argentina 140 m (459 ft) 33 2001
81 Libertador 4444 Buenos Aires  Argentina 140 m (459 ft) 46 1995
82 Evolution Corporate São Paulo  Brazil 140 m (459 ft) 35 2014
83 Plaza Centenário São Paulo  Brazil 139 m (456 ft) 32 1995
84 Mirante João Olímpio Filho Natal  Brazil 138 m (453 ft) 43 2009
85 Edificio Banco Continental Lima  Peru 137 m (449 ft) 20 1978
86 Mandarim Building São Paulo  Brazil 137 m (449 ft) 42 2006
87 Bellini Esmeralda Plaza San Martín Buenos Aires  Argentina 137 m (449 ft) 45 2015
88 The Point Tower Guayaquil  Ecuador 136 m (446 ft) 36 2013 tallest building in Ecuador.
89 Icono Tower Asuncion  Paraguay 136 m (446 ft) 37 2011 tallest building in Paraguay.
90 Torre Renoir I Buenos Aires  Argentina 136 m (446 ft) 41 2008 [19][20]
91 Dolfines Guaraní Rosario  Argentina 136 m (446 ft) 45 2009
92 Mundo Plaza Salvador  Brazil 135 m (443 ft) 41 2010
93 Edificio La Previsora Guayaquil  Ecuador 135 m (443 ft) 35 1991
94 Metrópolis Balneário Camboriú  Brazil 134 m (440 ft) 40 2010
95 Edificio Corficolombiana Cali  Colombia 133 m (436 ft) 32 1974
96 Barão de Iguape Building São Paulo  Brazil 133 m (436 ft) 37 1959
97 Château Libertador Residence Buenos Aires  Argentina 133 m (436 ft) 40 2008
98 Madero Office Tower Buenos Aires  Argentina 131 m (430 ft) 27 2011
99 City U Bogotá  Colombia 131 m (430 ft) 32 2016
100 Píer Maurício de Nassau Recife  Brazil 131 m (430 ft) 42 2009
100 Hotel Marriott Santiago Santiago  Chile 130 m (427 ft) 42 1999 [21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "A Visit to Gran Torre Santiago: South America's Tallest Building". Worldwide Walkers. 16 June 2020. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  2. ^ Emporis GmbH. "One Tower, Balneário Camboriú, Brasil". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Construção chega ao topo e Balneário Camboriú agora tem o maior prédio da América Latina" (in Portuguese). Gaúcha ZH. 16 October 2019. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  4. ^ Marcuzzi, Josefina (17 August 2015). "Puerto Madero: crece la torre más alta de la ciudad". La Nacion (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Edificio BD Bacatá es oficialmente el más alto de Colombia y será entregado en agosto". El Espectador (in Spanish). 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Ficha Técninca" (in Spanish). Titanium La Portada. 2008. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  7. ^ "Conheça o novo prédio mais alto do Brasil". Archived from the original on 2 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  8. ^ Emporis GmbH. "Centro Financiero Confinanzas, Caracas, Venezuela". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2007.
  9. ^ Emporis GmbH. "Banco Mercantil, Caracas, Venezuela". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  10. ^ Emporis GmbH. "Millennium Palace, Balneário Camboriú, Brasil". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  11. ^ "Torre Cavia". The Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  12. ^ "¿Cómo es el Green Tower, el edificio más alto de Bolivia?" [How is the Green Tower like, the tallest building in Bolivia?]. ANF (in Spanish). 25 March 2022. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  13. ^ "YPF Tower". The Skyscraper Center. CTBUH. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  14. ^ Emporis GmbH. "Centro Financiero Provincial, Caracas, Venezuela". Emporis.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  15. ^ "Torre Antel". The Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  16. ^ Tapia, Guadalupe (25 June 2012). "En el edificio más alto del país el m2 vale entre $us 700 y $us 1.000". La Razón (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Torre Telefónica Chile". The Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  18. ^ CosapiOficial (5 October 2015). "El edificio más alto del Perú". Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2017 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "Renoir I". The Skyscraper Center. CTBUH. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Renoir I". Skyscraperpage. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Boulevard Kennedy & Santiago Marriott". The Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.

External links

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