High-rise buildings, also known as skyscrapers, are developed to satisfy large space requirements within locations with limited amounts of land. There are many additional reasons for the construction of skyscrapers, but the main purpose for many is to provide a variety of spaces for people to work and sleep. A building that is classified as a high-rise building is a building that has over 40 floors and is typically around 500 feet tall. However, the tallest buildings in the world are all over twice this value.
One World Trade Center – Manhattan, New York
The One World Trade Center began development in 2006, reached ground level in 2008, and was completed in 2014. The center began construction following the devastating destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The One World Trade Center currently tops out at 1,776 feet and has a total amount of 104 floors. While it is not the tallest building in the world, the One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the United States.
Willis Tower – Chicago, Illinois
The Willis Tower is the third tallest building in the United States, reaching a height of 1,451 feet through the combination of 110 floors. The Willis Tower was initially known as the Sears Tower but was renamed in 2009 after Willis Group Holdings, a London-based insurance firm, obtained naming rights to the building from a leasing agreement. Fully constructed in 1973 by Roebuck and Company, the Willis Tower is a very important part of the heritage in Chicago, Illinois.
Wilshire Grand Center – Los Angeles, California
In 2017, upon its completion, the Wilshire Grand Center became the tallest building in California. While the Wilshire Grand Center only has 73 floors, in comparison to other buildings with over 100 floors, the center is almost 1,100 feet tall. The building is home to a variety of businesses, including a hotel. The center sits in the middle of Downtown, Los Angeles, and is accessible through the many different roads that travel through the city. There is an observation deck that overlooks the city and is open for visitors to view from. AC Martin Partners designed the building.