Portal:Philadelphia/Selected article/October 2007

Philadelphia skyline.

The list of tallest buildings in Philadelphia include the city's tallest building, the 57-story Comcast Center, which rises 975 feet (297 m). Comcast Center is currently the 13th tallest building in the United States. Philadelphia's history of tall buildings is generally thought to begin with the 1744 completion of Christ Church, which served as one of America's first high-rise structures. In the early 20th century, a 'gentlemen's agreement' existed that prevented buildings from rising higher than the 548 foot (167 m) Philadelphia City Hall. Despite this agreement, Philadelphia amassed a large collection of highrise buildings. The completion of One Liberty Place in 1987 broke the gentleman's agreement, and since then Philadelphia has seen the construction of seven skyscrapers that eclipse the City Hall in height. Philadelphia has twice held the tallest habitable building in the United States, first with the Christ Church and then with the City Hall. The Philadelphia City Hall served as the world's tallest building from 1901 to 1908, Like other large American cities, Philadelphia went through a massive building boom in the 1970s and 1980s, resulting in the completion of over 20 highrise buildings. The city boasts 10 skyscrapers that stand at least 500 feet (152 m) tall.