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List of tallest buildings in Buffalo facts for kids

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20150827 61 NFTA Light Rail at Fountain Plaza (21990211710)
Downtown Buffalo looking down Main Street

This list of the tallest buildings in Buffalo ranks skyscrapers in Buffalo, New York by height. The tallest building in Buffalo is currently the One Seneca Center, which stands 529 feet (161 m) tall. As of 2017, Buffalo has 17 structures taller than 250 ft (76 m).

Buffalo has a rich tradition for architecture. Among the first true skyscrapers built in the city were the Prudential (Guaranty) Building and the Ellicott Square Building, both being built in the 1890s. A number of the tallest municipal buildings in the country were also built in the city, such as Buffalo City Hall, which continues to dominate the skyline. The city is also home to a large collection of large grain elevators, many of which rise above 150 ft (46 m). Construction of high rise buildings has increased in recent years after decades of relative dormancy, in addition to the retro-fitting of many old structures.

Tallest buildings

This lists ranks Buffalo buildings that stand at least 128 feet (39 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. Existing structures are included for ranking purposes based on present height.

Aerial photo of Buffalo, NY Skyline
Skyline of Buffalo from the Niagara River, 2015
Rank Name Image Height
feet / m
Floors Year Notes
1 Seneca One Tower One HSBC Buffalo.jpg 529 / 161 40 1972 Tallest building in the city. Tallest building constructed in the 1970s. Previously known as One Seneca Tower (2013-2017), One HSBC Center (1999-2013), Marine Midland Center (1972-1999).
2 Buffalo City Hall Buffalo City Hall - 001.jpg 398 / 121 32 1931 Tallest building constructed in the 1930s.
3 Rand Building Rand - 20190825.jpg 391 / 119 29 1929 Tallest building constructed in the 1920s.
4 Main Place Tower Main Place Tower 350 / 107 26 1969 Tallest building constructed in the 1960s.
5 Liberty Building Liberty Building.jpg 345 / 105 23 1925
6 One M&T Plaza One M&T Plaza, Buffalo, New York.jpg 317 / 97 21 1966
7 Electric Tower General Electric Tower.JPG 294 / 90 14 1912 Also known as the Niagara Mohawk Building. Tallest building constructed in the 1910s.
8 Saint Paul's Episcopal Cathedral StPaulsCathedralBuffalo2.jpg 275 / 84 1851 Tallest building constructed in the 1850s
9 50 Fountain Plaza Key Center North Tower.jpg 275 / 84 17 1990 Tallest building constructed in the 1990s. Formerly known as Key Center North Tower
10 Buffalo Central Terminal Buffalo Central Terminal 3.jpg 271 / 83 20 1929 Also known as the New York Central Terminal Complex.
11 Erie County Hall Erie County Hall 2012.jpg 270 / 82 1876 Tallest building constructed in the 1870s.
12 Statler Hotel Buffalo Statler Towers.jpg 265 / 81 19 1923 Also known as the Statler Towers.
13 10 Lafayette Square 20190609 - 20 - Tishman Building.jpg 263 / 80 23 1959 Tallest building constructed in the 1950s.
14 Verizon/AT&T Building Verizonat&t building.jpg 258 / 79 16 1913
15 Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse Robert H. Jackson CH.jpg 255 / 78 10 2011 Tallest building constructed in the 2010s.
16 John R. Oishei Children's Hospital OisheiChildrens.jpg 252 / 77 (est) 12 2017
17 The Marin Marin building 2020.jpg 250 / 76 17 1913 Formerly known as the Marine Trust Company Building; Main Seneca Building.
18 Genesee Building/Hyatt Regency Hotel Hyatt Regency Hotel.jpg 249 / 76 16 1923
19 Saint Louis Roman Catholic Church Saint louis catholic church.jpg 246 / 75 1889 Tallest building constructed in the 1880s
20 Old Post Office Old Post Office - Buffalo.JPG 244 / 74 1901 Now Erie Community College City Campus
21 LECOM Harborcenter HarborCenter Dec2015.JPG 240 / 73 (est) 20 2015 Connected to KeyBank Center
22 Saint Mary of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church Stmaryofsorrows.jpg 241 / 72 1891 Now King Urban Life Center
23 The Avant Avant Buffalo.JPG 225 / 69 15 1973 / 2009 Former Thaddeus J. Dulski Federal Building
24 40 Fountain Plaza Key Center South Tower.jpg 225 / 69 13 1990 Formerly known as Key Center South Tower
25 Edward A. Rath County Office Building Edward A. Rath County Office Building.JPG 223 / 68 16 1969
26 Church of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr St stanislaus outside.jpg 217 / 66 1886
27 Buffalo General Hospital Building A Buffalo General Hospital 2012.JPG 213 / 65 16 1986 Tallest building constructed in the 1980s.
28 Wheeler Elevator Wheeler Elevator.jpg 207 / 63 13 Also known as Buffalo RiverWorks; Agway/GLF East Work House
29 Concrete-Central Elevator Concrete-Central Elevator, 175 Buffalo River, Buffalo (Erie County, New York).jpg 207 / 63 7 1915
30 Erie County Medical Center ECMCBuffaloNY.JPG 195 / 59 13 1978
31 Delaware North Building 250 Delaware ave.JPG 12 2015 *Height: 174/53 to roof level, 194/59 to top of mechanicals (Source: Developer)
32 Standard Elevator Pillsbury standard elevator.JPG 194 / 59 1928 Also known as Pillsbury Elevator.
33 Kaleida Health Gates Vascular Institute Gates Vascular Institute.JPG 190 / 58 10 2011
34 Marine A Elevator Marine A grain elevator.jpg 190 / 58 11 1925
35 Superior Elevator Cargill S Superior elevator.jpg 189 / 58 1925 Also known as Cargill "S" or Cargill Superior Elevator.
36 Main Court Building Main Court Building, Buffalo.JPG 188 / 57 13 1963
37 Great Northern Elevator Great Northern Elevator.jpg 188 / 57 1897
38 Asbury Delaware Avenue United Methodist Church Asbury Delaware Avenue United Methodist Church.JPG 184 / 56 1876
39 Westminster Presbyterian Church Westminster Presbyterian Church.jpg 184 / 56 1859
40 Scott Bieler Clinical Sciences Center Scott Bieler Clinical Sciences Center No. 2 - 20200507.jpg 182 / 56 11 2015 Part of Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
41 Church of the Transfiguration TransfigurationBuffalo 180 / 55 1896
42 City Centre Condominiums City Centre Condominiums.jpg 180 / 55 14 1993
43 Buffalo VA Medical Center Buffalo VA Medical Center - 20191002.jpg 177 / 54 14 1950
44 Kreiner Malting Grain Elevator Kreiner Malting Grain Elevator.jpg 177 / 54 1925 Also known as the Buffalo Malting Elevator.
45 Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church Corpus Christi RC church.JPG 175 / 53 1907
46 Connecting Terminal Connecting terminal.jpg 174 / 53 1915
47 Cargill Pool Elevator Cargill Pool Grain Elevator, Buffalo, NY 2011.jpg 174 / 53 1925 Also known as the Saskatchewan Cooperative Elevator.
48 The Pasquale The Pasquale - 20191007.jpg 173 / 53 (est.) 13 2009 Tallest building constructed in the 2000s. Luxury condos.
49 10 Hertel Avenue Marina Vista - 10 Hertel Ave - 20200129.jpg 173 / 53 (est.) 13 1972 Part of the Marina Vista Apartments complex. Formerly known as Watergate II Apartments 1. Public housing.
50 12 Hertel Avenue Marina Vista - 12 Hertel Ave - 20200129.jpg 173 / 53 (est.) 13 1972 Part of the Marina Vista Apartments complex. Formerly known as Watergate II Apartments 2. Public housing.
51 Assumption Roman Catholic Church Church of the Assumption, Buffalo.jpg 170 / 52 1915
52 Prudential/Guaranty Building Prudential buffalo louis sullivan.jpg 167 / 51 13 1896
53 AM&A Building J.N. Adam-AM&A Historic District Jun 09.jpg 166 / 51 12 1948 Tallest building constructed in the 1940s.
54 Ellicott Square Building 20080228 Ellicott Square Building (2).JPG 164 / 50 10 1896
55 First Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, New York, April 26th, 2009.jpg 164 / 50 1897
56 Olympic Towers Young Men's Christian Association Central Building.JPG 161 / 49 11 1903 Also known as the Young Men's Christian Association Central Building.
57 Richardson Olmsted Complex Buffalo Psy Admin Building.JPG 161 / 49 4 1871
58 General Mills Plant General Mills Plant.JPG 161 / 49 12 Also known as the Frontier Elevator.
59 800 West Ferry Street 800 West Ferry - 20190819.jpg 161 / 49 (est.) 12 1929 High-rise condominium tower.
60 The Admiral Marine Drive Apartments - The Admiral - 20200130.jpg 160 / 49 (est.) 12 1952 Part of the Marine Drive Apartments complex. Public housing.
61 The Bayshore Marine Drive Apartments - The Bayshore - 20200130.jpg 160 / 49 (est.) 12 1952 Part of the Marine Drive Apartments complex. Public housing.
62 The Coastline Marine Drive Apartments - The Coastline - 20200130.jpg 160 / 49 (est.) 12 1952 Part of the Marine Drive Apartments complex. Public housing.
63 The Driftwood Marine Drive Apartments - The Driftwood - 20200130.jpg 160 / 49 (est.) 12 1952 Part of the Marine Drive Apartments complex. Public housing.
64 The Ebbtide Marine Drive Apartments - The Ebbtide - 20200130.jpg 160 / 49 (est.) 12 1952 Part of the Marine Drive Apartments complex. Public housing.
65 Elmwood Square Apartments Elmwood Square Apartments - 20200127.jpg 160 / 49 (est.) 12 1973 Section 8 public housing for senior citizens.
66 The Flagstaff Marine Drive Apartments - The Flagstaff - 20200130.jpg 160 / 49 (est.) 12 1952 Part of the Marine Drive Apartments complex. Public housing.
67 The Gulfstream Marine Drive Apartments - The Gulfstream - 20200130.jpg 160 / 49 (est.) 12 1952 Part of the Marine Drive Apartments complex. Public housing.
68 M&T Center (Buffalo Savings Bank extension) M&T Center main st side.JPG 160 / 49 (est.) 1985 The building is a north side addition to the Buffalo Savings Bank
69 Marguerite Hall Marguerite Hall.JPG 160 / 49 (est.) 12 1966 D'Youville College dormitory
70 Riverview Manor Riverview Manor - 20200129.jpg 160 / 49 (est) 12 1977 Also known as Riverview Apartments. Apartment building for senior citizens.
71 Buffalo City Court Building Buffalo City Court Building.JPG 154 / 47 (est.) 10 1974
72 St. Mary's Cement Storage Tanks Spencer Kellogg Elevator.jpg 154 / 47 1910 Also known as the Spencer Kellogg Elevator
73 American Grain Complex American Grain Complex Apr 12.JPG 151 / 46 10 1933 Also known as the Perot Malting Elevator; Genesee Brewing Elevator.
74 500 Pearl Street 500PearlBuffalo - 20190727.jpg 151 / 46 12 2019
75 Lake & Rail Grain Elevator Lake & Rail Grain Elevator.JPG 151 / 46 9 1927
76 Saint Adalbert's Basilica Saint Adalbert's Basilica 2.JPG 151 / 46 1886
77 Swan Tower Swan tower.JPG 148 / 45 10 1902 Also known as the Fidelity Trust Building.
78 Admiral's Walk Condominiums Admiral's Walk - 20191009.jpg 147 / 45 (est.) 11 1990 Luxury condos.
79 Churchill Academic Tower Churchill Academic Tower - 20191002.jpg 147 / 45 (est.) 11 1971 Houses Canisius College classrooms and lecture halls.
80 PSG Residences PSG Residences - 20191010.jpg 147 / 45 (est.) 11 1978 Also known as Piotr Stadnitski Gardens. Apartment building for senior citizens.
81 Santa Maria Towers Santa Maria Towers - 20191007.jpg 147 / 45 (est.) 11 1984 Apartment building for senior citizens.
82 Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo WCHBuffalo.jpg 145 / 44 (est.) 11 1956
83 The Delaware Tower 20190611 - 17 - Delaware Tower.jpg 142 / 43 (est.) 17 1962
84 Buffalo Athletic Club Buffalo Athletic Club.jpg 141 / 43 (est.) 12 1922
85 Cathedral Place Cathedral Place - 20191007.jpg 140 / 43 (est.) 10 1906 Also known as the White Building.
86 St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church St. Francis de Sales RC Church.jpg 140 / 43 (est.) 1928
87 42 Delaware Avenue 42 Delaware - 20191007.jpg 136 / 41 (est.) 11 1929
88 12 Fountain Plaza Norstar Bldg cropped.jpg 133 / 41 (est.) 10 1983 Also known as the Norstar Building.
89 Lyndon B. Johnson Apartments LBJ Apartments - 20191002.jpg 133 / 41 (est.) 10 1973 Apartment building for senior citizens.
90 Mary Agnes Manor Mary Agnes Manor - 20190922.jpg 133 / 41 (est.) 10 1965 Apartment building for senior citizens.
91 Roswell Park Cancer Institute RPCI - 20191009.jpg 133 / 41 (est.) 10 1998
92 Baptist Manor Apartments Baptist Manor Apartments.JPG 133 / 41 (est.) 16 1976
93 Goodyear Hall Goodyear Hall - 20190905.jpg 133 / 41 11 1960 Residence hall at the University at Buffalo's South Campus.
94 Kimball Tower Kimball Tower - 20190930.jpg 133 / 41 11 1957 Houses the University at Buffalo's School of Public Health and Health Professions and site of WBFO's radio transmitter tower.
95 Dun Building Dun building.jpg 130 / 40 10 1895
96 Erie County Court Building Erie County Court - 20190925.jpg 130 / 40 (est) 8 1965
97 Larkin @ Exchange FNFG HQ.jpg 130 / 40 (est) 8 1912 Also known as the Larkin Building, Graphic Controls Corporation Building, Larkin Terminal Warehouse.
98 One Canalside One Canalside.JPG 129 / 39 8 1962 / 2013 Formerly General William J. Donovan State Office Building.
99 Buffalo General Hospital Building D Buffalo General Hospital Building D - 20200205.jpg 128 / 39 8 1901 Also known as Buffalo General Hospital Administration Building; Buffalo General Hospital East Wing.
100 Convention Tower Convention Tower Buffalo.JPG 128 / 39 (est.) 12 1924 Also known as the Walbridge Building.

Tallest proposed or under construction

This lists buildings (greater than 12 floors) that have been proposed in Buffalo.

Name Height
feet / m
Floors Year Proposed Status Notes
Unity Tower at Cobblestone Place +656/+200m 55 2020 proposed

Tallest cancelled and stale proposals

This section denotes proposals that are now cancelled or the proposal has sat longer than 2 years.

Name Height
feet / m
Floors Year Proposed Status Notes
Buffalo City Tower 600 / 183 40 2006 cancelled This project was cancelled due to the financial woes of the developer, BSC Group
Apartments at Queen City Landing 20 2016 suspended Proposed as a 324-foot (99 m), 23-story glass-walled residential tower, later reduced to 20 stories. Project was repeatedly stymied by litigation due to environmental concerns and finally "suspended indefinitely" in 2020 due to the developer's inability to secure financing from the city.
33 Gates Circle 297 / 85 23 2006 cancelled Project "fell through when the economy tanked in 2008", according to the Buffalo News. As of 2018, the developer proposes a series of three-story, 12-unit townhouses for the site.
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino Hotel Tower 220 / 67 22 2010 cancelled The Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino was completed in 2013 without the hotel tower
Adelphia Tower 220 / 67 15 2004 cancelled The project size and scope was altered several times (40 floors, 38 floors, 22 floors and finally 15 floors) before being cancelled
The Carlo 186 / 57 (est) 14 2012 Stale Proposal

Tallest destroyed buildings

This lists buildings in the city of Buffalo that once existed and rose at least 150 ft (46 m) but have since been destroyed.

Name Image Height
feet / m
Floors Year built Year destroyed Notes
Electric Tower (Pan-American Exposition) Pan-American Exposition - The Electric Tower.jpg 389 / 119 1901 1902 Intended to be temporary and to be destroyed after conclusion of Pan-American Exposition. Not to be confused with the present-day Electric Tower at Washington and East Huron Streets. Tallest building ever destroyed in Upstate New York.
St. Joseph's New Cathedral St. Joseph's New Cathedral (demolished).jpg 240 / 73 1913 1976
D. S. Morgan Building D.S. Morgan Building.jpg 221 / 67 12 1895 1965 The Edward A. Rath County Office Building now occupies the site.
A. Victor & Company Department Store 186 / 57 11 1928 1981
50 High Street Buffalo Implode2 cropped levelled.jpg 173 / 53 13 1965 2007 Also known as the General Towers Medical Building or Erie Medical Center. Oishei Children's Hospital now occupies the site.
Iroquois Hotel Hotel Iroquois, Buffalo.tif 166 / 51 11 1890 1940 Also known as the Gerrans building. One M&T Plaza now occupies the site.
Chamber of Commerce Building Chamber of Commerce Building & Bank of Buffalo - Buffalo NY - 1905.jpg 161 / 49 13 1905 1986
Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital Millard Fillmore Gates Circle - March 2011.jpg 160 / 49 12 1941 2015
Ford Hotel 151 / 46 13 1922 2000 Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel now occupies the site.
Hotel Buffalo Original Hotel Statler.jpg 150 / 46 12 1908 1967 Sahlen Field now occupies the site.

Timeline of tallest buildings

This section lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Buffalo. Saint Paul's Episcopal Cathedral held the title twice, both before the construction and after the demolition of the original Electric Tower, which was designed as a temporary building that would only last the length of the Pan-American Exposition.

Years as
tallest
Name Image Height
feet / m
Floors Notes
1827-1851 First Presbyterian Church Close-up Brick Church in 1875.jpg unknown N/A Demolished in 1890. Not to be confused with the current First Presbyterian Church building on Symphony Circle, erected in 1897 to a height of 164 feet (50 m). Main Place Tower occupies the site today.
1851-1901 Saint Paul's Episcopal Cathedral StPaulsCathedralBuffalo2.jpg 275 / 84 N/A Tallest building in Upstate New York during this time.
1901-1902 Electric Tower (Pan-American Exposition) Pan-American Exposition - The Electric Tower.jpg 389 / 119 N/A Demolished shortly after the close of the Pan-American Exposition. Not to be confused with the present-day Electric Tower at Washington and East Huron Streets, listed below. Tallest building in Upstate New York and also second-tallest building in New York State at the time of its construction, only two feet (61 cm) shorter than the Park Row Building in New York City.
1902-1912 Saint Paul's Episcopal Cathedral StPaulsCathedralBuffalo2.jpg 275 / 84 N/A Tallest building in Upstate New York during this time.
1912-1925 Electric Tower General Electric Tower.JPG 294 / 90 14 Tallest building in Upstate New York 1912-1914.
1925-1929 Liberty Building Liberty Building.jpg 345 / 105 23 Tallest building in Upstate New York 1925-1928.
1929-1931 Rand Building Rand - 20190825.jpg 391 / 119 29 First building to exceed the height of the original Electric Tower, demolished 27 years earlier. Was the tallest building in Upstate New York during this time.
1931-1972 Buffalo City Hall Buffalo City Hall - 001.jpg 398 / 121 32 Tallest building in Upstate New York 1931-1966.
1972- Seneca One Tower One HSBC Buffalo.jpg 529 / 161 40

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Edificios más altos de Búfalo para niños

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