Penobscot Building - Height

Height

Upon completion, the Penobscot Building was the tallest building outside New York and Chicago, Detroit's tallest building for nearly a half-century. When it was completed, it was the eighth tallest building in the world. Rising 566 feet (173 m), the 47-story Penobscot was the tallest building in Michigan from its completion in 1928 until the construction of the Renaissance Center's central tower in 1977. One Detroit Center surpassed the Penobscot as the tallest office building in the city upon its completion in 1993. The old framing elevation drawing of this building list is as being 562'-2" to the highest roof, approximately 565'-8" to the parapet wall around the roof, and 654'-2" to the top of the warning beacon atop the antenna.

The Penobscot has 2 basement floors, and 45 above-ground floors, for a total of 47. Although the Penobscot Building has more floors than One Detroit Center (45 above-ground floors compared to One Detroit's 43), One Detroit's floors and spires are taller, with its roof sitting roughly 60 feet taller than Penobscot's.