The Top 10 Tallest Buildings in Tennessee

Source：AZ Animals Time：January 21, 2024

People usually recognize the beautiful state of Tennessee for its stunning natural landscapes and vibrant music culture. But today we look at ‘the volunteer state’ from another angle, from a top skyscrapers! This list will be going over the 10 tallest buildings in the state. If you ask most people from outside the state to name a Tennessee city, they’ll say Nashville. And just as much of a cultural hub that the city is, it too is the center of the state’s tall buildings!

In 1970 it stole away the tallest building in the state from the city of Memphis. And today, Nashville boasts nine out of the top 10 tallest buildings in Tennessee! To clarify, this list does not include structures such as cell towers. While measuring the height of each building, spires and other original design elements are considered, but additional antennas are not included. A summary of the buildings is available below!

10. Life and Casualty Tower

The Top 10 Tallest Buildings in Tennessee — The Life and Casualty Tower is a looming monument in Nashville!
©Eagledj / CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 - License

409 Feet (125 Meters) with 30 Floors

Built in 1957, this marvelously tall building is also known as the L&C Tower for brevity! With an exterior of limestone, granite and green glass, the building gives off slightly brutalist vibes! The design is meant to focus attention to the building’s entrance!

Nashville, 401 Church St

9. Pinnacle at Symphony Place

417 Feet (127 Meters) with 29 Floors

Built in 2010 as a mix of emerging modern skyscraper design themes and classic skyscraper design. The building is filled with a combination of office and retail space and boasts some incredible and unique features. With more than 500,000 sq ft of office space and more than 20,000 sq ft of retail space, the building is truly gargantuan! The building overlooks the Cumberland river and offers incredible views of the corresponding waterfront, as well as the rest of the city.

Nashville, 50 3rd Ave S

8. 100 North Main

430 Feet (131 Meters) with 37 Floors

Built in 1965 as the tallest building in the state, until being usurped by the National Health Center (Tennessee Building). This is the only building of Tennessee’s top ten buildings that isn’t located in Nashville. Instead being located in Memphis, this building was only the tallest in the state for a short five years. At the moment, the building is totally vacant and closed off to public entry. There have been repeated efforts to convert the historical building into apartments or hotels, but all have failed. The Shelby County (within which Memphis is located) Environmental Court condemned the building in late 2015. It has stood boarded up and fenced off since May 2016.

Memphis, 100 North Main Street

7. The Place at Fifth Broadway

433 Feet (132 Meters) with 34 Floors

Built in 2019 as the state’s tallest for-rent residential building, this sprawling new-age complex offers it all. Offering 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments in addition to penthouses, this luxury building offers an elegant comfortable home within the booming city. The building is situated perfectly so those taking in the luxury comforts are only a few steps away from the city’s best shopping, dining and entertainment. A truly ideal place to move into, or even to retire!

Nashville, 600 Broadway

6. Fifth Third Center

435 Feet (133 Meters) with 31 Floors

When built in 1986, the measurements including antenna’s surpassed the Tennessee Tower. But considering this list’s criteria it remains just below it. Originally called the Third National Financial Center, it was then called the Suntrust Center until 2004. The site the building stands on now was once home to First Masonic Hall, built in 1818! Unfortunately, the historic building burnt down in 1856. It was then rebuilt (still as a Masonic Hall) and used in the civil war as a hospital supply store by the Union.

Nashville, 424 Church St

5. William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower

452 Feet (138 Meters) with 31 Floors

Built in 1970 and originally known as the National Health Center, the building now houses many of the Tennessee State Government departments. The National Life and Accident Insurance Company used it as the company’s headquarters until the state of Tennessee purchased it on January 3rd, 1994. Then renamed after William R. Snodgrass, a ‘Tennessee legend.’ When built in 1970, the building was the tallest in the state and it ushered in the era of Nashville supremacy. Since then, the tallest Tennessee buildings have all been located in Nashville.

Nashville, 312 Rosa L Parks Ave

4. Bridgestone Tower

460 Feet (140 Meters) with 30 Floors

Built in 2017 as the headquarters of Bridgestone Americas as they consolidated much of their business. It was built by the architects to look like sheets of music as an ode to the state capital’s rich musical history. Consolidating tons of their units into a single building, the Bridgestone Tower houses nearly 2000 employees. Nestled between the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the Country Music Hall of Fame, nearby is also the Bridgestone Arena! Bridgestone definitely has a large presence in Nashville!

Nashville, 200 4th Ave S

3. 505 Building

522 Feet (159 Meters) with 45 Floors

Previously known as the 505 CST building and the Paramount building, the 505 was built in 2018. Standing on the site of the canceled ‘Signature Tower’ the 505 is a shining example of modern skyscraper architecture. With 500 apartment units ranging from 400 sq ft to more than ten times larger, the building can serve a wide variety of needs. The 505 can boast being the tallest building in the state based on the highest residential floors.

Nashville, 505 Church St

2. Four Seasons Hotel and Residences

542 Feet (165 Meters) with 40 Floors

The Canadian luxury hospitality brand constructed the building as Tennessee’s flagship hotel in 2021, and it features a completely glass-faced design. With a shining and striking appearance, its evident the building is a recent construction. With 40 floors of hotel rooms and longer-term lodging available, the towering building is a monolith of luxury accommodation.

Nashville, 160 2nd Ave S

1. AT&T Building

617 Feet (188 Meters) with 33 Floors

Built in 1994 and previously named the Bellsouth Building as well as the South Central Bell Building. Considering the company known as South Central Bell reorganized into AT&T, the building has had the same flagship tenant since opening! Capable of housing 2000 employees, the building takes up 1.66 city blocks. It has a very distinct appearance, being dubbed the ‘Batman Tower’. This is due to the striking resemblance the top of the building shares with the comic book hero.

Nashville, 333 Commerce Street.

#	Building Name	Height	Year Built	Location
1	AT&T Building	617 Feet (188 Meters)	1994	Nashville, 333 Commerce Street
2	Four Seasons Hotel and Residences	542 Feet (165 Meters)	2021	Nashville, 160 2nd Ave S
3	505 Building	22 Feet (159 Meters)	2018	Nashville, 505 Church St
4	Bridgestone Tower	460 Feet (140 Meters)	2017	Nashville, 200 4th Ave S
5	William R Snodgrass Tennessee Tower	452 Feet (138 Meters)	1970	Nashville, 312 Rosa L Parks Ave
6	Fifth Third Center	435 Feet (133 Meters)	1986	Nashville, 424 Church St
7	The Place at Fifth Broadway	433 Feet (132 Meters)	2019	Nashville, 600 Broadway
8	100 North Main Building	430 Feet (131 Meters)	1965	Memphis, 100 North Main Street
9	Pinnacle at Symphony Place	417 Feet (127 Meters)	2010	Nashville, 50 3rd Ave S
10	Life and Casualty Tower	409 Feet (125 Meters)	1957	Nashville, 401 Church St