The New New York Skyline

Manhattan is in the midst of an unprecedented boom in tall buildings. Before 2004, Manhattan was home to 28 skyscrapers 700 feet and taller. Since then, an additional 13 have been built, 15 are under construction, and 19 are proposed—47 more in all. These additions are rapidly—and radically—changing the skyline.

Manhattan is in the midst of an unprecedented boom in tall buildings.

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World Trade Center Complex

Architect Daniel Libeskind won a 2003 competition to develop a master plan for the 16-acre site, which he envisioned as a spiral of four skyscrapers around a memorial to those who perished in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Since then, the look of each of the four World Trade Center towers has evolved significantly to reflect the vision of the individual architects as well as the developers and tenants. All buildings at the site, including a performing arts center and a church, are scheduled to be completed by 2020.

Unidentified highlighted buildings are not part of World Trade Center Complex

Hudson Yards

This 17-million-square-foot complex, the largest private development project in the United States, will include five office towers, 5,000 residences, a public school for 750 students, and 14 acres of public open space—at a cost of $20 billion. Considered the most challenging engineering project in the city, it will be constructed on top of two steel-and-concrete platforms over one of the world’s busiest rail yards. All utilities will be located 40 feet above sea level, making it a likely refuge during natural disasters.

Unidentified highlighted buildings are not part of Hudson Yards

57th Street Corridor, or “Billionaires’ Row”

Residential luxury skyscrapers are springing up along 57th Street and nearby, an area that’s come to be called Billionaires’ Row. With views of Central Park and downtown Manhattan, the upper-floor apartments are ultraexpensive: A penthouse in One57 sold for $100.4 million in 2015, the most ever paid for a single residence in the city. With still more tall buildings planned, urban-planning groups complain that they cast long shadows on Central Park, depriving other city dwellers of that most basic of commodities: sunlight.

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Fifteen new buildings 700 feet and taller will continue to change the Lower Manhattan skyline.

Buildings completed 2004‑2015
Under construction
Proposed

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See a 3-D view of the new World Trade Center Complex.

700 ft

35-block gap between the Lower and Midtown Manhattan skylines

Thirty-two new buildings 700 feet and taller will continue to change the Midtown Manhattan skyline.

Buildings completed 2004‑2015
Under construction
Proposed

See a 3-D view of Hudson Yards, a city within a city.

See a 3-D view of the 57th Street Corridor, or “Billionaires’ Row.”

700 ft

Planned buildings as of August 4, 2015; building statuses projected to December 2015. Building height includes spire. NA = Not Available

Graphic editors: John Tomanio and Daniela Santamarina, NG Staff. Art and animation: Haisam Hussein and John Grimwade. Reporting: Farhana Hossain. Source: Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Design and Development: Kevin DiCesare, Joel Fiser, Jaime Hritsik, and Brian Jacobs, NG Staff. Producer: Kate Andries, NG Staff