Phoenix's always-changing skyline
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The Phoenix skyline, seen here in 2023, is always evolving. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Phoenix's skyline is a work in progress — a reflection of our wild population growth and the city's relatively young age.
Why it matters: Skylines can and do become the iconic image of a city — think New York City or Chicago.
The big picture: We were intrigued by a recent Reddit post that mapped the oldest skylines nationwide showing Phoenix with one of the newest.
- We decided to dig deeper into how our downtown and midtown makeup has evolved over decades.
Zoom in: Per Axios Phoenix research, our oldest high-rise buildings — defined as those that stand among today's 50 tallest — include:
- Guaranty Bank Building (1960): Now called Grand Central Tower, at 20 stories it was the tallest office building in Phoenix until the 26-story Phoenix Corporate Tower opened in 1965.
- 3800 North Central Avenue (1962): Now part of midtown's City Square Phoenix, it's 17 stories.
- Executive Towers Condominiums (1963): This is the oldest high-rise residential building still operating.
- Arizona Title Building (1964): Now called The Monroe, the 18-story tower is still a functioning office building.
Flashback: Phoenix saw its first surge of tall buildings in the 1960s and '70s, and construction took off in the '80s when about 10 of today's tallest buildings were constructed.
- High-rise development slowed a bit after that, but it's come roaring back in the past decade.
Stunning stat: At least eight of the 50 tallest buildings in Phoenix have opened since 2020 and several more are under construction, including:
- Central Station: Slated to open early next year, this project will include a 32-story mixed-use tower and 21-story student housing building.
- SOL Modern: A 29-story residential building across the street from ASU's downtown campus that's expected to open next year.
- Saiya: Near Roosevelt Row, this 23-story apartment tower is nearing completion.
Between the lines: Offices once made up the majority of new high-rises — now they're almost all residential.
The intrigue: The Westward Ho, arguably downtown Phoenix's most recognizable building (for its massive rooftop antenna) is no longer among our top 50 tallest buildings but remains a prominent feature in most photographs of the skyline.
What we're watching: Since 1972, the building formerly known as Chase Tower has been the tallest in Arizona, at 483 feet and 40 stories.
- Phoenix has given initial approval for a 44-floor, 541-foot tower by Scottsdale-based Aspirant Development on Second Avenue between Van Buren and Fillmore streets
- Technically speaking, a building is considered a skyscraper only if it's more than 492 feet, so this would be our first.
The bottom line: Keep your eyes on downtown's changing landscape or you might not recognize it soon.