This list of tallest buildings in Panama City ranks skyscrapers in Panama City, by height. The tallest completed building in Panama City is The Ocean Club Tower - P.H. TOC JW Marriott Panama, which stands 284.4 m (933 ft) tall.
For several years, Panama City's skyline remained largely unchanged, with only four buildings exceeding 150 m (492 feet). Beginning in the early 2000s, the city experienced a large construction boom, with new buildings rising up all over the city and two new tallest buildings since 2005. Several supertall buildings were also planned for construction; as of September 2007[update] all of these have been either cancelled (Palacio de la Bahía, and Torre Generali)[1] or are on hold (Faros de Panamá, Torre Central).
Various reasons, including the annual transit of fourteen thousand ships through the country, the one hundred and fifty international banks that have their headquarters in the city[2] and that house corporate capital, have motivated the so-called real estate boom,[3] an effect that has resulted in the construction of high-rise buildings, of more than fifty floors.[4] As of 2024, Panama City has over 68 skyscrapers under 150 meters (492 feet) tall, the most out of any city in Latin America.
Panama City began with the construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, standing 27 meters tall and one of the tallest in the city in the 17th century. Beginning with the end of the 20th century, the city has become one of the capitals with the most skyscrapers on the North American continent. In the early 2000s, the city experienced a major construction boom, with new buildings growing up all over the city.[5]
Regulation by law
The city's zonification, which was regulated in 2004 by the Ministry of Housing and Land Management of Panama, defines the main districts or sectors of San Francisco, Punta Paitilla, Calle 50, Avenida Balboa, Costa del Este and Punta Pacífica as areas suitable for the construction of tall buildings.[6] Currently, the construction of these type of buildings is regulated by Law 49 of 2004, which repealed Law 78 of 1941, which established that the height would be conditioned by the width of the road where the structure was located. With the new implemented section of law, the building heights is currently defined based on the population density of the land, which in certain areas may be a maximum of 1,500 residents per hectare.[7] In the recent years, a multimillion-dollar regulatory plan was commissioned for the city of Panama. One of its recommendations is to increase the density of the city, that is, the number of population per unit area, forcing more intensive use through increasingly taller buildings.[8]
Beginning with the end of the 20th century, the new Panama City had undergone dramatic changes reflecting a long-term development strategy. Before 1999, it was impossible to develop high-rising buildings in the reverted areas, either to the north or towards the Panama Canal basins. With this outlook, the city had two options, one being grow towards the east, or towards the San Miguelito district, with the main objective being the creation of better use of the space in the central area of the city.
The city's growth began booming for 7 consecutive years since year 2000 as it has been considered by the advertising group of International Living as one of the five best places in the world for retirement,[9] which has led Panama, thanks to an increase in investment, to a 52 percent growth in the construction area from January to August 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.[10] In 2010, Panama obtained the investment grade that raises Panama's rating from "BBB-" to "BB +", placing the central American country in a club that includes larger economies in the region, which attracts large construction investors.[11]
List of tallest buildings
Skyscrapers
Panama City skyline from Cinta Costera
This lists ranks Panama City skyscrapers that stand at least 150 meters (492 feet) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. Existing structures are included for ranking purposes based on present height. This list includes buildings under construction that have already been topped out.
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