List of tallest buildings in Rhode Island explained

The U.S. state of Rhode Island is home to 27 buildings over 175feet in height. Five of these buildings are taller than 300feet, all of which are located in the state's capital and largest city, Providence.

The tallest skyscraper in the city and state is the Industrial National Bank Building at 111 Westminster Street in Downtown Providence, which rises 26 floors and 428feet.^[1] The Industrial National Bank Building, nicknamed the "Superman Building" due to its resemblance to the fictional Daily Planet building from the 1950s TV series, Adventures of Superman, is also the sixth-tallest building in New England outside of Boston.^[2] The second-tallest building in Providence is One Financial Plaza, which rises 30 floors and 410feet and was completed in 1973.

As one of the early manufacturing centers in the United States, many of Providence's tallest buildings were constructed prior to 1930; among these are the Industrial National Bank Building, Turk's Head Building, and Bannigan Building. The city went through a second building boom in the 1970s, during which One Financial Plaza and Textron Tower, the city's second and fifth-tallest buildings, were completed. In the 1990s and 2000s, the city again experienced a construction boom. Dubbed the Providence "Renaissance,"^[3] this period saw the construction of four of the cities ten tallest buildings.

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Tallest buildings

This lists ranks Rhode Island structures based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. An equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. The "Year" column indicates the year in which the building was completed.

Rank	Name	Image	Height	Floors	Year	Location	Use	Notes
01.01	Industrial National Bank Building		4280NaN0	26	1928	Providence41.8245°N -71.4111°W	Vacant	The Industrial National Bank Building has been the tallest building in the city and the state since its completion in 1928 The structure has been vacant since 2013^[4] Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 1920s
02.02	One Financial Plaza		4100NaN0	30	1973	Providence41.8253°N -71.41°W	Office	Built as the Hospital Trust Tower Also known as Sovereign Bank Tower^[5] ^[6] Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 1970s
03.03	The Residences Providence		3800NaN0	31	2007	Providence41.8251°N -71.4152°W	Residential	Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 2000s^[7] ^[8] ^[9]
04.04	Omni Providence Hotel		3290NaN0	25	1993	Providence41.8253°N -71.4163°W	Hotel	Formerly the Westin Providence Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 1990s Became the tallest hotel in Providence upon its completion, surpassing the Providence Biltmore^[10] ^[11]

|-|align="center"| N/A| Manchester Street Generating Station|| align="center" | 3210NaN0|| align="center"| 1996| align="center"| Providence41.8158°N -71.4043°W|Power station|

• The smokestacks of the Manchester Street Generating Station rise to a height of 321 feet^[12]

|-|align="center"|

05.05| Textron Tower| | align="center" | 3110NaN0|align="center"| 23|align="center"| 1971-72|align="center"| Providence41.8249°N -71.4092°W|Office|

• Built as Old Stone Tower^{[13] [14]}

|-|align="center"|

06.06| 50 Kennedy Plaza|| align="center" | 2850NaN0|align="center"| 20|align="center"| 1985|align="center"| Providence41.8249°N -71.4106°W|Office|align="center"| Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 1980s^{[15] [16]} |-|align="center"| 07.07| Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island Headquarters| |align="center"| 2360NaN0|align="center"| 14|align="center"| 2009|align="center"| Providence41.8279°N -71.4134°W|Office|align="center"| ^{[17] [18]} |-|align="center"| 08.08| Waterplace 1| |align="center"| 2360NaN0|align="center"| 19|align="center"| 2008|align="center"|Providence

41.8273°N -71.4125°W|Residential|

• ^[19]

|-|align="center"|

09.09| Rhode Island State House| |align="center"| 2230NaN0|align="center"| 4|align="center"| 1904|align="center"| Providence41.8309°N -71.415°W|Governmental|align="center"|

• Was the tallest building in Providence before being surpassed by the Industrial National Bank Building.^{[20] [21]}
• Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 1900s

|-|align="center"| 10=| Biltmore Hotel| |align="center"| 2200NaN0|align="center"| 18|align="center"| 1922|align="center"| Providence41.8244°N -71.4134°W|Hotel|

• Tallest hotel in the city from 1922 until the completion of the Westin Providence in 1993^[22]

|-|align="center"| 10=| The Tower at Carnegie Abbey||align="center"| 2200NaN0|align="center"| 17|align="center"| 2009|align="center"| Portsmouth41.6162°N -71.2697°W|Residential|align="center"|

• Tallest building in Newport County and outside of Providence^[23]

|-|align="center"| 12| Providence County Courthouse| |align="center"| 2170NaN0|align="center"| 7|align="center"| 1930|align="center"| Providence41.8255°N -71.4069°W|Governmental|align="center"| Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 1930s^{[22] [24]} |-|align="center"| 13| Turk's Head Building| |align="center"| 2170NaN0|align="center"| 16|align="center"| 1913|align="center"| Providence41.8246°N -71.4099°W|Office|align="center"| Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 1910s^{[22] [25]} |-|align="center"| 14| Waterplace 2| |align="center"| 2100NaN0|align="center"| 17|align="center"| 2008|align="center"| Providence41.8273°N -71.4133°W|Residential|align="center"| ^[26] |-|align="center"| 15| Pawtucket City Hall||align="center"| 2090NaN0|align="center"| 3|align="center"| 1933|align="center"| Pawtucket41.8789°N -71.3822°W|Governmental|align="center"|

• Tallest building in Pawtucket^[27]

|-| align="center" |16|Grace Church|| align="center" |~2060NaN0| align="center" |1| align="center" |1860|align="center"| Providence41.8218°N -71.4135°W|Church|Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 19th century|-| align="center" |17=|Carrol Tower|| align="center" |1990NaN0| align="center" | 16| align="center" |1973| align="center" |Providence41.8273°N -71.4133°W|Residential|

• Twin tower of Parenti Villa^[28]

|-| align="center" |17=|Parenti Villa|| align="center" |1990NaN0| align="center" |16| align="center" |1973| align="center" |Providence41.8199°N -71.4361°W|Residential|

• Twin tower of Carrol Tower.^[29]

|-| align="center" |19|Towers East|| align="center" |1940NaN0| align="center" |16| align="center" |1976| align="center" |Pawtucket41.8758°N -71.3858°W|Residential||-| align="center" |20|First Unitarian Church of Providence|| align="center" |1890NaN0| align="center" || align="center" |1816|align="center"| Providence41.8244°N -71.4049°W|Church|

• ^[30]

|-| align="center" |21| Charlesgate North| | align="center" |1870NaN0| align="center" |15| align="center" |1970| align="center" |Providence41.8388°N -71.4098°W|Residential| align="center" |^[31] |-| align="center" |22|First Baptist Church|| align="center" |1850NaN0|| align="center" |1775| align="center" |Providence41.8275°N -71.4083°W|Church|Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 18th century|-| align="center" |23| Fogarty Manor|| align="center" |1820NaN0|| align="center" |1969| align="center" |Pawtucket41.8805°N -71.3832°W|Residential|Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 1960s|-| align="center" |24=| One Citizens Plaza| | align="center" | 1800NaN0| align="center" | 13| align="center" | 1990| align="center" | Providence41.8273°N -71.4106°W|Office| align="center" | ^[32] |-| align="center" |24=| Brown University Sciences Library| | align="center" | 1800NaN0| align="center" | 15| align="center" | 1971| align="center" | Providence41.8269°N -71.4001°W|University|

• With its former antenna mast included, the building reached a total height of 395feet, more than doubling its effective height and making it the third-tallest building in the city when measuring by pinnacle height.^[33]

|-| align="center" | 26|121 South Main Street| | align="center" | 1780NaN0| align="center" | 11| align="center" | 1984| align="center" | Providence41.8241°N -71.407°W|University|

• Designed as the corporate headquarters of the Old Stone Bank^[34]
• Today owned and used by Brown University^[35]

|-| align="center" | 27| Hospital Trust Building| | align="center" | 1770NaN0| align="center" | 13| align="center" | 1920| align="center" | Providence41.8257°N -71.4097°W|University|

• Also known as the Fleet Building^[36]
• Currently owned by the Rhode Island School of Design and used as a residence hall

|-| align="center" |28| Sister Dominica Manor| | align="center" | 1750NaN0| align="center" | 16| align="center" | 1966| align="center" | Providence41.8227°N -71.4213°W|Residential|

• Built as the Bradford House

|-| align="center" |29|Hilton Providence Hotel|| align="center" |~1730NaN0| align="center" |14| align="center" |1969|align="center"| Providence41.823°N -71.4186°W|Hotel|

• Built as the Holiday Inn^{[37] [38]}

|-| align="center" |30|Edge College Hill|| align="center" |1720NaN0| align="center" |15| align="center" |2018|align="center"| Providence41.8279°N -71.4101°W|Residential|

• 169 Canal St.
• Tallest building in Rhode Island constructed in the 2010s^{[39] [40]}

|-| align="center" |31|Slater Hill Apartments|| align="center" |1700NaN0| align="center" |14| align="center" || align="center" |Pawtucket41.8747°N -71.386°W|Residential||-| align="center" |32|One Regency Plaza|| align="center" |~161| align="center" |13| align="center" |1973||Residential||-| align="center" |33|Bannigan Building|| align="center" |~1600NaN0| align="center" |11| align="center" |1896| align="center" |Providence41.8247°N -71.4092°W|Office|

• ^[41]

|-| align="center" |34|Union Trust Company Building|| align="center" |~1570NaN0| align="center" |12| align="center" |1902| align="center" |Providence41.8237°N -71.4114°W|Office||-| align="center" |35|Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul|| align="center" |1560NaN0| align="center" || align="center" |1889| align="center" |Providence41.8193°N -71.4165°W|Church|

• ^[42]

|-|}

Tallest proposed

Name	Height	Floors	Status	Location	Notes
Hope Point Tower	5500NaN0	46	Never built	Jewelry District, Providence	Originally proposed as three separate towers^[43] The approved design includes a single tower with six stories of ground level retail and parking^[44] If constructed, the building would be the tallest in the state^[45]
TPG Tower	300+ (91)	30	In approval	Downtown, Providence	First proposed in 2024^[46]
Edge College Hill II	1870NaN0	15	Proposed	College Hill, Providence	First proposed in 2017^[47]
137-151 Friendship St.	1200NaN0	12	Proposed	Jewelry District, Providence	First proposed in 2021^[48]
151 Chestnut St.	1120NaN0	9	In approval	Jewelry District, Providence	If built, the structure would be the city's first residential structure to use modular construction^[49]

Timeline of tallest buildings

This table lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Rhode Island. Since the completion of the First Baptist Church in America, all structures to hold the title have been located in Providence.

Name	Image	Location	Years as tallest	Height	Floors	Coordinates	Reference
Trinity Church		Newport	–1775	~1500NaN0		41.4873°N -71.3133°W	^[51]
First Baptist Church		Providence	1775–1816	1850NaN0			^[52]
First Unitarian Church of Providence		Providence	1816–1816	1890NaN0
Grace Church		Providence	1860–1904	~2060NaN0		41.8221°N -71.4137°W
Rhode Island State House		Providence	1904–1927	2230NaN0	4	41.8309°N -71.415°W
Industrial National Bank Building		Providence	1927–present	4280NaN0	26	41.8245°N -71.4111°W	^[53]

References

General

• Web site: Buildings of Providence. https://web.archive.org/web/20121014132944/http://www.emporis.com/city/providence-ri-usa/all-buildings/highrise. dead. October 14, 2012. Emporis.com. 2012-08-21.

Specific

External links

• Diagram of Providence skyscrapers on SkyscraperPage
• Providence structures on Structurae

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bank of America Building. https://web.archive.org/web/20070515222620/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=bankofamericabuilding-providence-ri-usa. dead. May 15, 2007. 2012-08-21. Emporis.com.
2. Web site: Diagram of New England Skyscrapers. SkyscraperPage.com. 2012-08-21.
3. Book: Leazes. Providence, The Renaissance City. Northeastern University Press. 2004. 1-55553-604-2. etal.
4. News: Abbott. Elizabeth. 2013-10-29. The Superman Building in Providence, Now Dark, Is in Need of a Savior. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-07-26. 0362-4331.
5. Web site: One Financial Plaza. https://web.archive.org/web/20040912023517/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=125377. dead. September 12, 2004. 2012-08-21. Emporis.com.
6. Web site: One Financial Plaza. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
7. Web site: The Residences at the Westin. https://web.archive.org/web/20070227222120/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=streetwestinprovidenceexpansiontower-providence-ri-usa. dead. February 27, 2007. 2012-08-21. Emporis.com.
8. Web site: Current Development Projects: Residences at the Westin . https://archive.today/20070928170843/http://www.procgroup.com/development/other-projects.html . dead . 2007-09-28 . 2012-08-21 . The Procaccianti Group .
9. Web site: Westin Hotel East. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
10. Web site: The Westin Providence. https://web.archive.org/web/20070929145004/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=streetwestinprovidence-providence-ri-usa. dead. September 29, 2007. 2012-08-21. Emporis.com.
11. Web site: Westin Hotel. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
12. Web site: Hannah Sheldon-Dean's Project: The Manchester Street Generating Station. 2021-07-25. www.brown.edu.
13. Web site: Textron Tower. https://web.archive.org/web/20070326011439/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=textrontower-providence-ri-usa. dead. March 26, 2007. 2012-08-21. Emporis.com.
14. Web site: Textron Tower. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
15. Web site: 50 Kennedy Plaza. https://web.archive.org/web/20070929225235/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=50kennedyplaza-providence-ri-usa. dead. September 29, 2007. 2012-08-21. Emporis.com.
16. Web site: 50 Kennedy Plaza. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
17. Web site: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island Headquarters Building. https://archive.today/20120731140053/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=bluecrossblueshieldofrhodeislandheadquartersbuilding-providence-ri-usa. dead. July 31, 2012. 2012-08-21. Emporis.com.
18. Web site: Blue Cross unveils its plan to build new headquarters. 2007-04-19. Barbarisi . Daniel. Providence Journal.
19. Web site: Waterplace 1. 2007-08-01. SkyscraperPage.com.
20. Web site: The Dome . 2007-08-01 . Rhode Island Facts and Figures . https://web.archive.org/web/20070223014709/http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/FactFig/ . 2007-02-23 . dead .
21. Web site: Rhode Island State House. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
22. Book: Woodward , William McKenzie . Guide to Providence Architecture . EA Johnson Co. Printers . 2003 . 0-9742847-0-X . 81–157 .
23. Web site: The Tower at Carnegie Abbey. https://web.archive.org/web/20210613193813/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/204598/the-tower-at-carnegie-abbey-portsmouth-ri-usa. dead. June 13, 2021. 2020-01-07. Emporis.com.
24. Web site: Providence County Courthouse. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
25. Web site: Turk's Head Building. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
26. Web site: Waterplace 2. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
27. Web site: Pawtucket City Hall. https://web.archive.org/web/20201205144744/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/124758/pawtucket-city-hall-pawtucket-ri-usa. dead. December 5, 2020. 2020-01-07. Emporis.com.
28. Web site: Carroll Tower, Providence 125365. https://web.archive.org/web/20180418225801/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/125365/carroll-tower-providence-ri-usa. dead. April 18, 2018. Emporis. 2018-04-18.
29. Web site: Parenti Villa, Providence 196780. https://web.archive.org/web/20180418225849/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/196780/parenti-villa-providence-ri-usa. dead. April 18, 2018. 2018-04-18. Emporis.
30. Web site: Emporis Regency West Apartments. https://web.archive.org/web/20200813092158/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/125373/regency-west-apartments-providence-ri-usa. August 13, 2020. dead.
31. Web site: Charles Gate North, Providence 215906 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180418230232/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/215906/charles-gate-north-providence-ri-usa. dead. April 18, 2018. Emporis. 2018-04-18.
32. Web site: 1 Citizens Plaza. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
33. Web site: Sciences Library. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
34. Web site: Old Stone Square // Guide to Providence Architecture. 2021-10-02. guide.ppsri.org.
35. Web site: 05-010 (121 South Main). 2021-10-02. www.brown.edu.
36. Web site: Hospital Trust Building. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.
37. News: Houghton. Donald M. August 4, 1968. Four Major Hotels By 1973.
38. Web site: Emporis Hilton Providence Hotel. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414181141/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/125367/hilton-providence-hotel-providence-ri-usa. April 14, 2021. dead.
39. Web site: Edge College Hill.
40. Web site: Emporis Edge College Hill.
41. Web site: Emporis 10 Weybosset Street. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308125031/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/125364/10-weybosset-street-providence-ri-usa. March 8, 2021. dead.
42. Web site: Points of Interest in the Cathedral. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110725145220/http://www.cathedralprovidence.org/tour.html. 2011-07-25. 2011-05-24. The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.
43. Web site: Bramson. Kate. Reaching for sky in Providence: Proposed high-rises include 55-story tower. 2021-07-26. providencejournal.com. en.
44. Web site: R. J. . Heim. 2021-05-12. Fane's Hope Point Tower has one more hurdle before shovels in the ground. 2021-07-26. WJAR.
45. Web site: Edward . Fitzpatrick . September 30, 2019. It would be the biggest tower in Providence. And it's prompting a big debate.. 2021-07-26. BostonGlobe.com. en-US.
46. Web site: 2024-05-14 . Providence apartment tower takes another step forward . 2024-05-14 . WPRI.com . en-US.
47. Web site: MacDonald. Mary. 2017-12-27. 15-story building proposed for College Hill site. 2021-07-26. Providence Business News. en-US.
48. Web site: MacDonald. Mary. 2021-07-09. 12-story apartment building proposed for Jewelry District. 2021-07-26. Providence Business News. en-US.
49. Web site: Anderson. Patrick. Jewelry District apartment project with 38 Studios link seeks tax break. 2021-07-26. The Providence Journal. en-US.
50. Web site: Hartford Avenue Apartments. 2021-07-28. ArtInRuins. en.
51. Book: Millar, John Fitzhugh. The Buildings of Peter Harrison: Cataloguing the Work of the First Global Architect, 1716-1775. 2014-10-06. McFarland. 978-0-7864-7962-7. 94. en.
52. Book: Smith, George Everard Kidder. Source Book of American Architecture: 500 Notable Buildings from the 10th Century to the Present. 1996. Princeton Architectural Press. 978-1-56898-025-6. en.
53. Web site: Bank of America Building. 2012-08-21. SkyscraperPage.com.