List of tallest buildings in Madison


This is a list of the tallest buildings in Madison, Wisconsin. Lists vary due to completion status and "approximate" heights provided, so a list of all high-rise buildings showing floor counts and construction status is probably more useful. The Wisconsin State Capitol is the tallest building in Madison. The tallest building in Madison's central business district is the State Office Building. In the mid- to late-2000s more high-rise buildings were constructed. A height restriction on the Madison Isthmus protects views of the Wisconsin State Capitol. The law restricts buildings to be no taller than the base of the pillars surrounding the dome.
The history of skyscrapers in Madison begins with the Churchill Building, completed in 1915. The current State Capitol was completed in 1917, and was the third built in Madison, replacing the previous one which was destroyed in a fire on February 27, 1904. Because of Madison's height restriction, buildings rarely exceed over 160 feet in height. The tallest building ever proposed was the Archipelago Village Tower, a 27-story, office and condominium tower, however it is unlikely to ever be constructed because of the city's height restriction.
This list includes certain well-known high-rise buildings. Many buildings in that height range are omitted.

Tallest buildings

RankNameImageHeight
ft / m
FloorsYearNote
1Wisconsin State Capitol284 / 8661917Tallest building in Madison, and tallest building in the state outside of Milwaukee
2Van Hise Hall243 / 74191967Tallest building on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, and the highest building in the city based on elevation. One of the 60 tallest education buildings in the world, it is slated to be demolished in 2025 per the university's master plan, this has since been pushed to 2035.
3UW Engineering Research Building184 / 56141968
4UW Atmospheric Oceanic & Space Sciences Building180 / 55151966The height of the building does not reflect the GOES satellite dishes, weather stations, power/communication units and workstations, or a POES satellite receiver located on the top of the building.
5State Office Building177 / 54131939Tallest office building on the Madison isthmus
6151 East Wilson172 / 52142018
7University Square Office Building164 / 50122008Located between University Avenue and Johnson Street at Lake Street, the complex consists of three parts: a 2-story retail mall; a 10-story apartment tower; and a 9-story office tower owned by the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
8Ovation 309162 / 50142015Located on W. Johnson Street near the intersection of State Street.
9Edgewater Hotel160 / 49151945A remodeling of the Edgewater was completed in 2014. The new tower's height is 160 feet.
10The Constellation Apartments158 / 48142014Located in the rapidly growing Capitol East District.
11The Galaxie158 / 48142016Located in the rapidly growing Capitol East District.
12One Hundred Wisconsin Avenue157.07 / 47.8122004Located on the capitol square, this mixed-use building features retail, office, and luxury condominiums. Received the highest ratings ever given by the city's Urban Design Commission. The design includes white bethel granite, limestone from a Mississippi River ledge, floor to ceiling glass, and copper.
13Nolen Shore149 / 45122006Named for John Nolen, Madison's landscape architect in the early 20th century.
14The Loraine143 / 43101925Originally built as a hotel, the building now houses condos. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
15The Lux143 / 43122016
16Belmont Hotel/YWCA140 / 42111924The building's height instigated Madison's current height restriction.
17Metropolitan Place 2135 / 41132007
18Hovde Building134 / 41101928
19Churchill Building134 / 4191915Madison's first skyscraper and at the time of its construction the tallest building in Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee. Its erection led to a 90-foot height limit for buildings around the Capitol that was struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1923, allowing for the construction of the Belmont Hotel.
20City View134 / 41122014
21309 West Washington133 / 41112008
22The Lyric132 / 41112017Located in the rapidly growing Capitol East District.
23Hyatt Place Madison Downtown126 / 38112010
24Tenney Plaza 125 / 38101929A 10-story art deco building designed by Law, Law & Potter that was Madison's first steel building.
25Weston Place122/37122005High-rise condo building on Madison's west side.
26Capitol Centre Apartments building I & 2119 / 36161982High-rise apartment building in downtown Madison.
27Oakwood Village tower118 / 36151975Located on the west side of Madison, this senior living center is the one of only two entries on this list located outside of the downtown and campus areas.