Observation deck

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For other uses, see Deck.
Main article: Deck (building)
View of Shanghai World Financial Center as viewed from the Shanghai Tower, at the 118th floor observatory 548m above ground
Visitors on the observation deck of the Skylon Tower overlooking Niagara Falls
Midtown Manhattan in the distance. Photo taken at Two World Trade Center's observation deck, in the 1980s
Glass balconies St Eusebius Church, Arnhem, The Netherlands.jpg

An observation deck, observation platform or viewing platform is an elevated sightseeing platform usually situated upon a tall architectural structure such as a skyscraper or observation tower. Observation decks are sometimes enclosed from weather, and a few may include coin-operated telescopes for viewing distant features.

List of public observation decks[edit]

Further information: List of tallest buildings in the world and List of tallest towers in the world

Notable public observation decks located on human made structures include the following:

List of public observation decks
Rank Name Completion Date Type Location Deck height (m) Total height (m) Notes
1 Shanghai Tower 2015 Skyscraper China Shanghai 583 632 126th floor, decks also on levels 118, 119 and 125
2 Burj Khalifa 2010 Skyscraper United Arab Emirates Dubai 555[1] 829.8 148th floor (opened October 2014[2]) decks are also on 124th floor
3 Canton Tower 2010 Steel Tower China Guangzhou 488 604
4 Lotte World Tower 2017 Skyscraper South Korea Seoul 486 555
5 Shanghai World Financial Center 2008 Skyscraper China Shanghai 474[3] 492.3 100th floor, decks also on levels 94 & 97
6 Tokyo Skytree 2012 Steel Tower Japan Tokyo 451.2 634 Three additional observation decks at 340 m, 345 m, and 350 m
7 CN Tower 1976 Concrete tower Canada Toronto 446.7 553.3 Two additional observation decks at 342 m (outdoor) & 346 m (indoor).
8 Willis Tower 1974 Skyscraper United States Chicago 412.7 527.3 103rd floor, it is the highest observation deck in the United States
9 Sky100, International Commerce Centre 2011 Skyscraper China Hong Kong 393 484 100th floor 360 degree indoor observatory, it is the highest observation deck in Hong Kong.
10 Taipei 101 2004 Skyscraper Taiwan Taipei 391.6 509.2 91st floor's outdoor observatory, it's the previous record of highest outdoor observatory in the world. The 89th floor indoor observatory is 383.2 metres (1,257 ft).
11 One World Trade Center 2014 Skyscraper United States New York City 386.6 541.3 Observatory on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors
12 Petronas Towers 1998 Skyscraper Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 370 452.9 Observatory on 86th floor of tower 2, in addition there is the skybridge between the two towers on 41st and 42nd floors at 170 meters.
13 Empire State Building 1931 Skyscraper United States New York City 369[4] 448.7 102nd floor, additional 86th floor deck (320 m)
14 Oriental Pearl Tower 1994 Concrete tower China Shanghai 350 467.9 15 observation levels, the highest one being outdoors
15 Tuntex Sky Tower 1997 Skyscraper Taiwan Kaohsiung 341 347.5 74th floor
16 Jin Mao Tower 1998 Skyscraper China Shanghai 340.1 420.5 88th floor
17 Ostankino Tower 1967 Concrete tower Russia Moscow 340 540.1 Indoor deck is at 337 m
18 John Hancock Center 1969 Skyscraper United States Chicago 313.8 343.5 Observation deck (360 CHICAGO Observation Deck) on the 94th floor. TILT, a moving platform that leans to a 30-degree angle over the side of the building, is on the same floor.[5][6] Also an open air screened-in area and a full bar on same floor. 45 second elevator ride.
19 Milad Tower 2007 Concrete tower Iran Tehran 312 435 Top level
20 China World Trade Center Tower III 2010 Skyscraper China Beijing 311.8 330 81st floor
21 Shun Hing Square 1996 Skyscraper China Shenzhen 298.1 384
22 US Bank Tower 1989 Skyscraper United States Los Angeles 297 310 70th floor
23 Zhongyuan Tower 2011 Steel tower China Zhengzhou 292 388
24 Abeno Harukas(Abenobashi Terminal Building) 2014 Skyscraper Japan Osaka 288 300 58th-60th floor (top floor)
25 Zifeng Tower 2010 Skyscraper China Nanjing 287 450
26 Eureka Tower 2007 Skyscraper Australia Melbourne 285 297.3 Skydeck 88 is at a height of 285 m
27 OUB Centre 2010 Skyscraper Singapore Singapore 280 280 Rooftop gallery opened in 2010 as a part of 1-Altitude establishment
28 Eiffel Tower 1889 Wrought iron lattice tower France Paris 276.1 324 3rd floor
29 Menara Kuala Lumpur 1996 Concrete tower Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 276 421
30 Columbia Center 1985 Skyscraper United States Seattle 275 284 73rd floor
31 Yokohama Landmark 1993 Skyscraper Japan Yokohama 273 296 69th floor
32 Bank of America Plaza (Dallas) 1985 Skyscraper United States Dallas 268.4 281 71st floor, additional 70th floor 264.6 metres (868 ft).
33 JPMorgan Chase Tower 1982 Skyscraper United States Houston 268.2 305.4 60th floor
34 Sydney Tower 1981 Steel Tower Australia Sydney 268 309
35 Stratosphere Tower 1996 Concrete tower United States Las Vegas 266 350.2 108th Floor (Indoor)
36 Gran Torre Santiago 2013 Skyscraper Chile Santiago 261 300 62nd floor outdoor deck.
37 GE Building 1933 Skyscraper United States New York City 259.1 259.1 70th floor ("Top of the Rock")
38 Tianjin Tower 1991 Concrete tower China Tianjin 257 415.2 "observation pod"
=39 Devon Energy Center 2012 Skyscraper United States Oklahoma City 257 259 50th floor
=39 40 Wall Street 1929 Skyscraper United States New York City 255 283 Once was second tallest observation deck in the world after the Eiffel Tower
40 Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building 1995 Skyscraper Japan Osaka 252 256
41 American International Building 1932 Skyscraper United States New York City 250.2 290 Open only on few select days of the year since 9/11 attacks
42 63 Building 1985 Skyscraper South Korea Seoul 249 250 60th floor; North Korea can be seen on clear days
43 Midland Square 2007 Skyscraper Japan Nagoya 247 247 47th floor
44 The Shard 2013 Skyscraper United Kingdom London 244.8 306 72nd floor Observatory Deck
45 Central Radio & TV Tower 1992 Concrete tower China Beijing 238 405
46 Sunshine 60 1978 Skyscraper Japan Tokyo 237.6 239.8
47 Istanbul Sapphire 2011 Skyscraper Turkey Istanbul 236 261 56th Floor open roof
48 Federation Tower (Tower West) 2008 Skyscraper Russia Moscow 235[7] 252 62nd Floor
=49 Q1 2005 Skyscraper Australia Gold Coast 230 323 77th floor (SkyPoint), with the function hall on the 78th[specify]
=49 West Pearl Tower 2006 Concrete tower China Chengdu 230 339
50 Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 2003 Skyscraper Japan Tokyo 229.3 238 52nd floor (indoor) & 54th floor (roof-deck)
51 Olympic Park Observation Tower 2014 Steel tower China Beijing 228 258 Several observation levels
52 Europaturm 1979 Concrete tower Germany Frankfurt 227 337.5 Since 1999, the Europaturm has been closed to the public-->
53 Tokyo Tower 1958 Steel truss tower Japan Tokyo 223.5 332.6 6th floor
=54 Carlton Centre 1973 Building South Africa Johannesburg 223 223 50th floor
=54 Macau Tower 2001 Concrete tower China Macau 223 338
=55 Westin Peachtree 1973 Skyscraper United States Atlanta 220 220 73rd floor
=55 Sky Tower 1997 Concrete tower New Zealand Auckland 220 328
56 Long Ta 2000 Steel lattice tower China Harbin 216.1 335.9
57 Terminal Tower 1930 Skyscraper United States Cleveland 216 235
58 Prudential Tower 1964 Skyscraper United States Boston 213[8] 228 50th floor ("Prudential Skywalk")
59 Detroit Marriott 1977 Skyscraper United States Detroit 212.3 221.5 70th floor
60 Act Tower 1994 Skyscraper Japan Hamamatsu 211 213
61 Tortoise Mountain TV Tower 1986 Tower China Wuhan 210 311.4
62 Tour Montparnasse 1972 Skyscraper France Paris 209 209
63 Fernsehturm Berlin 1969 Concrete tower Germany Berlin 207 368
64 Liaoning Broadcast and TV Tower 1989 Tower China Shenyang 205.6 305.5
65 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building 1990 Skyscraper Japan Tokyo 202 243.4
66 Sky Tower 2012 Skyscraper Poland Wrocław 201 212 Highest in Poland
=67 Main Tower 1999 Skyscraper Germany Frankfurt 200 240
=67 Marina Bay Sands 2010 Skyscraper Singapore Singapore 200 200
68 Fernmeldeturm Nürnberg 1980 Concrete Tower Germany Nuremberg 194 292 VIP access only; public expansion planned
69 Olympiaturm 1968 Concrete tower Germany Munich 192 291
70 Vysotsky 2011 Skyscraper Russia Yekaterinburg 186 188.3 Observation deck was opened on 3 May 2012[9]
71 Gateway Arch 1965 steel/concrete United States St. Louis 185 192 [citation needed]
72 Bitexco Financial Tower 2010 Skyscraper Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City 181 262.5 47th floor
73 Colonius 1968 Concrete tower Germany Cologne 177 266
74 Tower of the Americas 1968 Concrete tower United States San Antonio 176 229
75 Olympic Stadium 1987 Concrete tower Canada Montreal 175 175
76 Rheinturm 1982 Concrete tower Germany Düsseldorf 174.5 240.5
77 Carew Tower 1931 Skyscraper United States Cincinnati 171.3 175 roof observation deck
78 Reunion Tower 1978 Concrete tower United States Dallas 170.7 170.7 Closed for renovations since November 16, 2007
=79 Shennong Tower 1999 Concrete tower China Zhuzhou 170 293
=79 Umeda Sky Building 1993 Skyscraper Japan Osaka 170 173
=79 Tallinn TV Tower 1980 Tower Estonia Tallinn 170 314
80 Donauturm 1964 Concrete tower Austria Vienna 169.4 252
81 N Seoul Tower 1975 Steel tower South Korea Seoul 168.3 236.7 Tower sits atop Namsan Mountain
82 Harbour Centre 1977 Skyscraper Canada Vancouver 168 147 Observation deck sits about the top of the main building
83 Vilnius TV Tower 1980 Tower Lithuania Vilnius 165 326.5
84 Space Needle 1962 Steel tower United States Seattle 158.5 184.4
85 Calgary Tower 1968 Concrete tower Canada Calgary 157.5 190.8
86 Fernsehturm Stuttgart 1956 Concrete tower Germany Stuttgart 153 216.6 The Alps and the Black Forest can be seen on clear days
=87 Washington Monument 1885 Masonry tower United States Washington D.C. 152 169
=87 Philadelphia City Hall 1901 Masonry tower United States Philadelphia 152 167
88 Nina Tower 2006 Skyscraper China Hong Kong 151.7 320 41st floor
89 Fernsehturm Dresden-Wachwitz 1969 Concrete tower Germany Dresden 145 252
90 Kaikyō Yume Tower 1996 Tower Japan Shimonoseki 143 153
91 Las Vegas Eiffel Tower 1999 Steel tower United States Paradise 140.2 164.6 ½ scale (originally to be full-sized)[citation needed]
92 Foshay Tower 1929 Skyscraper United States Minneapolis 136.2 185 30th floor
93 Custom House Tower 1915 Skyscraper United States Boston 136 151 26th floor
=94 Qingdao TV Tower 1994 Tower China Qingdao 135 232
=94 Kansas City City Hall 1937 Skyscraper United States Kansas City 135 151 30th floor
=94 Avala Tower 2009 Concrete tower Serbia Belgrade 135 204.5
95 Gold Tower 1988 Tower Japan Utazu 127 158
96 Edifice Marie-Guyart 1972 Skyscraper Canada Quebec City 126.5 126.5 31st floor
97 Niigata Bandaijima Building(Toki Messe) 2003 Skyscraper Japan Niigata 125 143
98 Fukuoka Tower 1989 Tower Japan Fukuoka 123 234
99 Smith Tower 1914 Skyscraper United States Seattle 122 141 35th floor
100 Kuwait viewing sphere 1979 Concrete tower Kuwait Kuwait City 120 187 (1990 Liberation Tower of ~300 m is not open to public)
101 National Monument (Indonesia) 1975 Obelisk Monument Indonesia Jakarta 115 132
102 Chiba Port Tower 1986 Tower Japan Chiba 113 125.1
=103 Busan Tower 1973 Tower South Korea Busan 110 120
=103 Spinnaker Tower 2005 Tower United Kingdom Portsmouth 110 170
104 Seto-Ohashi Tower 1988 Tower Japan Sakaide 108 132
105 KölnTriangle 2006 Skyscraper Germany Cologne 103.2 103.2 29th floor[10]
=106 Kyoto Tower 1964 Tower Japan Kyoto 100 131
=106 Nagoya TV Tower 1954 Tower Japan Nagoya 100 180
=106 Higashiyama Sky Tower 1989 Tower Japan Nagoya 100 134
=106 Twin Arch 138 1995 Tower Japan Ichinomiya 100 138
=106 SELION 1994 Tower Japan Akita 100 143
=106 Kobe City Hall 1989 Skyscraper Japan Kobe 100 132
107 Tashkent Tower 1984 Tower Uzbekistan Tashkent 97 375
108 Yokohama Marine Tower 1961 Tower Japan Yokohama 94 106
109 Kobe Port Tower 1963 Tower Japan Kobe 90.8 108
110 Goryokaku Tower 1964 Tower Japan Hakodate 90 107
111 Sapporo TV Tower 1957 Tower Japan Sapporo 90 147.2
112 Tsūtenkaku 1956 Tower Japan Osaka 87.5 108
113 Faro de Moncloa 1992 Concrete Tower Spain Madrid 90 110
114 Alor Setar Tower 1998 Tower Malaysia Alor Setar 88 165.5
115 Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument 1888 Obelisk Monument United States Indianapolis 84[11] 87
116 George Washington Masonic National Memorial 1932 Stone building United States Alexandria 82 101 Offers views of Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia; open on national holidays
117 Statue of Liberty 1886 Statue United States Liberty Island 80 93[12] crown level (~90 m torch level closed to public in 1916)[1]
118 Antey-1 2004 Skyscraper Russia Yekaterinburg 76 76
119 Hakata Port Tower 1964 Tower Japan Fukuoka 70 100
=120 Liberty Memorial 1926 Concrete tower United States Kansas City 66 66
=120 Mt. Washington towers[original research?] 2000 Steel Structure United States Pittsburgh 66 66 towers overlook Downtown Pittsburgh
121 Coit Tower 1933 Concrete tower United States San Francisco 64 64
122 St Eusebius' Church, Arnhem 2018 Church Netherlands Arnhem 62 93
123 John Hancock Tower 1976 Skyscraper United States Boston 60 241 Closed to the public since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.[13]

List of highest observation decks by type[edit]

Type Name and Location Constructed Height Notes
Enclosed Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China 2015 583 m (1,913 ft)
Outdoor Canton Tower, Guangzhou, China 2011 488 m (1,601 ft)
On Skyscraper Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China 2015 583 m (1,913 ft)
On Tower Canton Tower, Guangzhou, China 2011 488 m (1,601 ft)
Bridge Royal Gorge Bridge 1929 291 m (955 ft) Above water level.
Dam Grande Dixence Dam 1964 285 m (935 ft)

Timeline of world's highest observation decks[edit]

This is a timeline of the development of world's highest observation decks since the inauguration of the Washington Monument in 1885.

Held record Name and Location Constructed Height of highest observation deck Notes
From To
1885 1889 Washington Monument, Washington D.C., United States 1889 152.3 m (500 ft) Was the world's tallest structure when completed.
1889 1931 Eiffel Tower, Paris, France 1889 275 m (902 ft) Two further observation decks 57 & 115 m.
1931 1973 Empire State Building, New York City, United States 1931 369 m (1,211 ft)[4] A second observation deck is located on the 86th floor at 320 metres above ground.
1973 1974 World Trade Center, New York City, United States (article) 1973 399.4 m (1,310 ft) Measured from sea level, street level was 10 feet above sea level. Indoor observatory on the 107th floor of South Tower opened on April 4, 1973. Destroyed during the September 11 attacks.
1974 1975 Sears Tower (since renamed Willis Tower), Chicago, United States 1974 412.4 m (1,353 ft) Measured from the Franklin Street entrance, 103rd floor observation deck opened on June 22, 1974
1975 1976 World Trade Center, New York City, United States (article) 1973 419.7 m (1,377 ft) Measured from sea level, street level was 10 feet above sea level. Outdoor observatory on rooftop of the South Tower opened on December 15, 1975. Destroyed during the September 11 attacks.
1976 2008 CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1976 446.5 m (1,465 ft) Two further observation decks 342 and 346 metres above ground.
2008 2011 Shanghai World Financial Centre, Shanghai, People's Republic of China 2008 474 m (1,555 ft) Other observation decks are at 423 m (1,388 ft) and 439 m (1,440 ft).
2011 2014 Canton Tower, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China 2011 488 m (1,601 ft) The outdoor rooftop observation deck opened in December 2011. There are also several other indoor observation decks in the tower, the highest at 433.2 m (1,421 ft).
2014 2016 Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE 2010 555 m (1,821 ft) Opened on October 15, 2014 on the 148th floor. There is another observation deck at 452.1 m (1,483 ft) on the 124th floor, which has been open since the building was opened to the public.
2016 present Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China 2015 583 m (1,913 ft) Opened on July 1, 2016. there are also 2 more observation decks on the 118th and 119th floor, at 546 and 552 meters respectively.

Under construction[edit]


See also List of tallest buildings and structures in the world#World's highest observation deck

Observation deck gallery[edit]

The Height Race[edit]

There is a constant race among mankind to build the tallest tower. The tallest tower is a symbol of superiority and triumph. The race continues.


See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "At the Top, Burj Khalifa Experience". burjkhalifa.ae. Burj Khalifa. Retrieved 6 December 2014. 
  2. ^ Willett, Megan (17 October 2014). "Dubai's Burj Khalifa Now Has The Highest Observation Deck In The World At 1,821 Feet, decks are also on 124th floor And It Looks Incredible". businessinsider.com. Business Insider. Retrieved 6 December 2014. 
  3. ^ "Skyscraper Page". Retrieved 2010-03-27.  Atlanta, Cincinnati, CN, Detroit, Eiffel, GE, Las Vegas, Sears, Seattle, Shanghai, Tianjin
  4. ^ a b "The Empire State Building". Wired New York. Retrieved 2007-12-23. 
  5. ^ "Lean Out: 360 Chicago Unveils 'Tilt' At John Hancock Center". Retrieved 2017-03-14. 
  6. ^ Donahue, Wendy. "Willis or Hancock, it's high time to visit". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2017-03-14. 
  7. ^ "Смотровая площадка Башня Федерация". 
  8. ^ "Prudential Skywalk Observation Deck & Exhibit". World Travel Guide. Archived from the original on 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2008-02-21. 
  9. ^ "Открытие смотровой площадки в БЦ "Высоцкий"". 
  10. ^ Fact and Figures koelntrianglepanorama.de
  11. ^ "Soldiers and Sailors Monument and Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum website". Indiana War Memorials Commission. Retrieved 2014-05-28. 
  12. ^ "Statue of Liberty Facts". Archived from the original on 2006-03-13. Retrieved 2010-03-27. 
  13. ^ "Boston.com / US under attack". The Boston Globe. 

The Height Race[edit]

There is a constant race among mankind to build the tallest tower. The tallest tower is a symbol of superiority and triumph. The race continues.

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