List of tallest buildings in Memphis

This list of tallest buildings in Memphis ranks completed buildings by height in the U.S. city of Memphis, Tennessee, the 28th largest city in the United States. The tallest building is the 100 North Main building at 430 ft (131m), built in 1965. The Sterick Building, 364 ft (111m) was the tallest building in the Southern United States when built in 1930, holding that title until 1932 when surpassed by the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge.[1] The first skyscraper built in Memphis was the Dr. D.T. Porter Building, 131 ft (40m), in 1895.[2] The tallest man-made structure in the city is the 1003 ft (305.7m) Edwin L. Nass Tower 1, a guyed steel TV transmitting tower located at 5317 Crestview Road in northeast Memphis.[3]

Unlike many other downtowns in the Sun Belt, Memphis did not experience the high-rise building booms of the late 1980s or early 2000s. Only four buildings over 100m have been built in downtown Memphis since World War II: 100 North Main, Raymond James Tower, One Commerce Square, and First Tennessee Bank Building.[2] This has resulted in a smaller, more historic skyline compared to other nearby cities of similar age and population (compare to Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas/Fort Worth, or St. Louis). Three of the tallest in the city are located in the upscale neighborhood of East Memphis: the Clark Tower, the Hilton Memphis, and the White Station Tower.

As of 2018 the long-delayed One Beale Street project getting a completely revised plan of 4 separate components: hotel, residential, office and garage. The hotel component will be built first, and received a ground-breaking date for January 2019. Also, a major renovation of the cities' tallest tower—100 North Main St—which currently sits vacant, was planned and the same owner/developer announced plans for a 26-story Loews brand highrise hotel. This will be built near city hall and the convention center downtown. In addition, there may be a 2nd tower built for either office or residential mixed-use.

With the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt to many projects worldwide in early 2020, some of Memphis' development projects were delayed and tabled, as-a-result. The Memphis Convention Center renovation, rebranded as Memphis Renasant Convention Center will open in early 2021, and the One Beale St project has been underway since late 2018 and progressing, after years of delays. The Pinch District has skyscraper proposals on the table, and the new development formerly known as "Union Row," has been renamed and rebranded as "The Walk on Union."

Tallest buildings

RankNameImageHeight
feet/meters
FloorsYearNotes
1100 North Main 430/130371965Tallest building in Memphis since 1965. Tallest in Tennessee from 1965-1970. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently sits vacant, but major renovation underway. Will be gut renovated and completely repurposed for mainly hotel/residential/office usage. Completion estimated for 2024 roughly.
2Raymond James Tower 403/123211985Includes the spire atop the building
3Clark Tower 400/120341971Tallest building outside of downtown.
4One Commerce Square 396/121311973
5Sterick Building 365/111291930Tallest building in Tennessee and the Southern United States from 1930-1957. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
6First Horizon Bank Tower 332/101251964
7Hilton Memphis 329/100241975Tallest hotel in Memphis.
8Memphis Pyramid 321/98519917th-tallest pyramid and largest Bass Pro Shops in the world. Home to retail, restaurants, an observation deck, a hotel, a bowling alley, and the largest free-standing elevator in America.
9The Renaissance Apartments 296/90251968Tallest residential building in Memphis.
10Lincoln American Tower 290/88221924Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
11White Station Tower 280/85221965
12Exchange Building 264/80201910Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
13Le Bonheur Children's Hospital 251/77122010
14Sheraton Memphis 233/71191985
15Madison Hotel 219/67161907Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
16Number 10 Main215/66161910Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
17The Tower at Peabody Place202/62151997
18The Artesian201/61162015
19Crosstown Concourse 188/57141927Former Sears retail store, offices, and catalog order processing warehouse.
2088 Union Center 177/54141927

Tallest future buildings

Under Construction

Buildings that are currently construction in Memphis and expected to rise above 200 feet (60 m) include:

NameHeight
feet
Height
meters
FloorsYearNotes
St. Jude Outpatient Office Building2658115202515 Story Outpatient Office Building
St. Jude Clinical Office Building2567815202515 Story Clinical Office Building
One Beale Grand Hyatt Hotel2256920202420 Story Grand Hyatt hotel being built on the One Beale St sight. Will be 3rd hotel on site, and will cater to higher end and business travelers.

Approved

Buildings that are approved for construction in Memphis and expected to rise above 200 feet (60 m) include:

NameHeight
feet
Height
meters
FloorsYearNotes
18 Main LLC Pinch District Office32599222023Proposed tower adjacent to downtown in the Pinch. Will be one of 5 or 6 towers.
18 Main LLC Mixed use Tower: Residential or office or hotel, TBD.325992420235th highrise in Pinch Development.
18 Main LLC Pinch District Hotel30091202024Major high rise brand hotel.
18 Main LLC Pinch District Residential30091222023Second high rise residential tower in the Pinch District.
18 Main LLC Pinch District Residential25076182024Apartment/Condo high rise in the Pinch District.
The Walk on Union Hotel High Rise Phase I22569122024Starting phase I construction in Q4 2021. Phase II and III will be another 6 or 8 bldgs.
The Walk on Union Hotel and Residential Component20061122024Starting phase I construction in Q2 2021.
Sheraton Hotel Tower 2 Hotel High Rise Expansion20061142023300 new hotel rooms announced by Sheraton Downtown Memphis Hotel. New tower to be adjacent to existing.

Timeline of tallest buildings

This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Memphis.

NameStreet AddressYears as tallestHeight
feet
Height
meters
Floors
Number 10 Main10 South Main Street1904–19052166616
Madison Hotel79 Madison Avenue1905–19102327116
Exchange Building9 North Second Street1910–19242648019
Lincoln American Tower60 North Main Street1924-19302908822
Sterick Building8 North Third Street1930-196536511129
100 North Main100 North Main Street1965–present43013037

References