For over 40 years, the Empire State Building, standing at 1,454 feet, was the tallest building in the world. Completed in 1931, it held this title until 1972. Today, it doesn’t even rank in the top 40 tallest buildings globally or in the top five in New York State.
Missouri’s Tallest Building
Missouri’s tallest building is One Kansas City Place in Kansas City. This office building stands 623 feet tall and has 42 floors, completed in 1988. Unlike in some states where the tallest buildings include hotels, casinos, or government buildings, Missouri’s tallest structure is purely an office building.
Tall Buildings Across the U.S.
Typically, the tallest buildings in each state are located in their largest cities and serve as office spaces. Here’s a snapshot of the tallest buildings in a few other states:
- Alabama: RSA Battle House Tower, Mobile – 745 feet, 35 floors
- California: Wilshire Grand Center, Los Angeles – 1,100 feet, 73 floors
- Illinois: Willis Tower, Chicago – 1,451 feet, 108 floors
- New York: One World Trade Center, New York City – 1,776 feet, 94 floors
- Texas: JPMorganChase Tower, Houston – 1,002 feet, 75 floors
The Global Skyscraper Landscape
While the U.S. once led the world in skyscraper construction, many of the tallest buildings are now in Asia and the Middle East. As of 2021, here are some of the tallest buildings globally:
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai: 2,717 feet
- Shanghai Tower, Shanghai: 2,073 feet
- Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower, Mecca: 1,971 feet
- Ping An Finance Centre, Shenzhen: 1,965 feet
- Lotte World Tower, Seoul: 1,819 feet
Conclusion
One Kansas City Place is the tallest building in Missouri, a notable landmark in Kansas City’s skyline. While it may not be among the tallest globally or even nationally, it stands as a testament to the city’s architectural achievements. As skyscraper construction evolves, it will be fascinating to see how these rankings change over time.