List of tallest buildings in New Orleans

New Orleans, the largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, is the site of 120 high-rises,^[1] 57 of which are taller than 200 feet (61 m) as of 2026. 26 such buildings reach a height of over 300 ft (91 m), while four skyscrapers stand taller than 492 ft (150 m), making its skyline the largest in the West South Central states outside of Texas. The tallest building in New Orleans and in Louisiana is Hancock Whitney Center (known as One Shell Square until 2018), which rises 697 feet (212 m) and was completed in 1972.^[2] Most of the city's tallest buildings are located in the city's Central Business District, which is bounded to the east by the Mississippi River. In the New Orleans metropolitan area, the unincorporated community of Metairie is home to five additional high-rises taller than 200 ft (61 m).

Tallest buildingHancock Whitney Center (1972)

Tallest building height697 ft (212 m)

First 150 m+ buildingPlaza Tower (1969)

Taller than 100 m (328 ft)23

Quick facts Skyline of New Orleans, Tallest building ...

Skyline of New Orleans
Central Business District of New Orleans
Tallest building	Hancock Whitney Center (1972)
Tallest building height	697 ft (212 m)
First 150 m+ building	Plaza Tower (1969)
Number of tall buildings (2026)
Taller than 100 m (328 ft)	23
Taller than 150 m (492 ft)	4
Taller than 200 m (656 ft)	1
Number of tall buildings — feet
Taller than 200 ft (61.0 m)	57
Taller than 300 ft (91.4 m)	26

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The history of skyscrapers in New Orleans began with the construction of the Hennan Building in 1895. Rising 158 feet (48 m),^[3] it is often regarded as the first skyscraper in New Orleans.^[4] During the first half of the 20th century, the skyline of New Orleans mostly consisted of low and mid-rise structures. The soft soils of New Orleans are susceptible to subsidence, and there was doubt about the feasibility of constructing large high-rises in such an environment.^[5] The 20-story Hibernia Bank Building, constructed in 1921 at a height of 211 feet (64 m), held the title of the tallest in New Orleans for 44 years.^[6] One building that came close was the National American Bank Building, which rose to a height of 330 ft (101 m).

The 1960s saw the skyline reach greater heights, as the title of the city's tallest building was taken by 225 Baronne Street in 1965, then the World Trade Center in 1967.^[7] The Plaza Tower, completed in 1969, was the first building to exceed 500 feet (152 m).^[8] Shortly after, Hancock Whitney Center became the city's tallest building in 1972.^[2] The oil boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s led to a surge in high-rise construction in New Orleans,^[9] with the number of buildings taller than 300 ft (91 m) increasing from 9 to 22 between 1975 and 1985. Many of these high-rises were built along Poydras Street, which has emerged as the city's principal high-rise corridor in addition to Canal Street. Following the end of the oil boom, high-rise development has declined.

Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans in 2005, caused many high-rises in the city to suffer damage, including flooding and blown out windows. As New Orleans recovered from the hurricane, various high-rise projects have been proposed, but have been stymied by material and labor costs, leading to the elimination of most.^[10][11] The tallest tower approved for construction in New Orleans was Trump International Hotel & Tower, which would have become the tallest building in the city at a height of 842 ft (257 m), but was cancelled in 2011.^[12] Instead, the tallest building constructed in the 21st century is The Odeon at South Market, a 29-story residential tower built in 2020.^[13] Due to the city's strong tourism industry, a significant number of older high-rises have undergone renovations to apartment and hotel towers since 2010.