The Tallest Building in Atlanta: What to Know About Bank of America Plaza

If you’ve ever looked up at the Atlanta skyline and wondered which tower rules them all, the answer is Bank of America Plaza. This iconic skyscraper is not just the tallest building in Atlanta, but also one of the tallest in the entire United States.

Below is a clear, locally focused guide to the building itself, what makes it special, and what it means for people who live in, work in, or visit Atlanta.

Atlanta’s Tallest Building at a Glance

Bank of America Plaza dominates the Midtown–Downtown corridor and is easy to spot thanks to its pointed spire that glows at night.

Key facts

For anyone asking, “What is the tallest building in Atlanta?” the straightforward answer is:
➡️ Bank of America Plaza is the tallest building in Atlanta and in the entire state of Georgia.

Where Is Bank of America Plaza in Atlanta?

The tower sits in a prime spot that connects two of the city’s busiest districts:

• Border of Midtown and Downtown: It rises just south of Midtown and north of Downtown along Peachtree Street NE, one of Atlanta’s main thoroughfares.
• Near major institutions: The building is not far from Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, and a cluster of corporate offices, hotels, and residential towers.
• Transit-friendly area: The surrounding area is served by MARTA rail and bus lines, making it easy to see the building up close without needing to drive.

If you live in Atlanta, you’ve likely used it as a landmark for giving directions—especially when navigating between Midtown, Downtown, and the connector.

Can You Go Inside the Tallest Building in Atlanta?

Bank of America Plaza is primarily a commercial office building, not a tourist attraction. That affects what you can and can’t do:

Public access

• No general public observation deck
  Unlike towers in some other major cities, there is no dedicated observation deck at the top of Bank of America Plaza that is open to the public. You can’t just buy a ticket and ride up for a panoramic view.
• Lobby & common areas
  In many high-rise office buildings, the main lobby and basic access points are semi-public during business hours, but interior access beyond that is typically restricted to tenants and their guests.
• Tenant-only office floors
  Most floors are leased to businesses, so access usually requires building security clearance, a badge, or being registered as a visitor.

If you’re visiting Atlanta and want a view of the tallest building, you’ll get better results enjoying it from nearby streets, parks, and elevated vantage points instead of trying to go inside.

Best Places to See the Tallest Building in Atlanta

While you may not be able to head to the top, there are plenty of great spots around Atlanta where you can enjoy views of Bank of America Plaza in the skyline.

1. Midtown vantage points

• Along Peachtree Street NE
  Walking or driving along Peachtree through Midtown, especially near North Avenue, gives you a dramatic, close-up view looking south toward the tower.
• From near Georgia Tech
  Streets and parking decks around the Georgia Tech campus often give a nice angle of the skyline with Bank of America Plaza standing out.

2. Downtown viewpoints

• Near Centennial Olympic Park
  From the Centennial Olympic Park area, you can look east and northeast to see Bank of America Plaza as part of the broader skyline backdrop.
• From hotel districts
  Many high-rise hotels and office buildings in Downtown offer views that include the spire, particularly from upper floors and rooftop areas (when open to guests).

3. Highway and overpass views

• Downtown Connector (I‑75/I‑85)
  Drivers on the Downtown Connector, especially near the North Avenue and 10th/14th Street areas, get a clear sightline to the tower.
• Overpasses and bridges
  Several overpasses crossing the connector provide excellent photo angles looking toward the Midtown–Downtown skyline with Bank of America Plaza in the center.

4. Neighborhood skyline views

• Old Fourth Ward & BeltLine
  From portions of the Eastside BeltLine Trail or higher vantage points in the Old Fourth Ward, you can see the Midtown/Downtown buildings framed behind neighborhood streets.
• West Midtown & surrounding areas
  Certain spots west of the connector offer long-range views, especially at sunrise or sunset when the building’s reflective surfaces catch the light.

Why Bank of America Plaza Stands Out

Beyond height alone, several features make this building memorable to people who live in or visit Atlanta.

The glowing spire

The most recognizable feature is the tapered spire at the top:

• It gives the building a needle-like profile visible from miles away.
• At night, the spire is often illuminated, helping locals and visitors orient themselves while driving or walking around the city.

For many residents, the glowing crown has become a familiar nighttime reference point—useful for navigation and part of Atlanta’s visual identity.

Architecture and style

Bank of America Plaza was built during a period when Atlanta was expanding its role as a regional business hub. The design reflects:

• A postmodern style, combining a sleek tower with a decorative crown.
• A tall, vertical emphasis that makes it appear even slimmer and higher than its floor count might suggest.
• A base that connects to the streetscape and the surrounding urban grid along Peachtree.

Role in the skyline

The tower is often:

• Used in news footage and postcards to visually represent Atlanta.
• Referenced by locals as a fixed point of orientation, similar to how people in other cities use a well-known tower or landmark to get their bearings.

How Bank of America Plaza Compares to Other Tall Buildings in Atlanta

If you’re curious how it stacks up against other high-rises around the city, here’s a simple overview.

Other prominent tall buildings in Atlanta

While exact heights can vary slightly depending on sources and whether spires are counted, some other notable tall buildings in Atlanta include:

• SunTrust Plaza (now often known under different branding) – A major downtown skyscraper that is typically ranked just behind Bank of America Plaza in height.
• One Atlantic Center – A distinctive Midtown tower known for its illuminated pyramid-shaped top.
• 191 Peachtree Tower – Recognizable for its twin crown-like tops and its presence in the Downtown corridor.
• Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel – Famous for its cylindrical shape and glass exterior.

Among this group, Bank of America Plaza remains the tallest, which is why it’s the direct answer when someone asks about the tallest building in Atlanta.

Visiting Atlanta and Want to Enjoy the Skyline?

If you’re coming to Atlanta—or showing the city to out-of-town guests—Bank of America Plaza will naturally be part of the experience. Here are practical ways to make the most of the skyline, including its tallest tower:

• Take a Midtown or Downtown walking loop
  Start in Midtown along Peachtree Street, walk south toward Downtown, and watch how the tower’s angle changes as you move.
• Use MARTA for easy viewing
  Riding MARTA trains that pass through the Midtown and Downtown stations can offer quick glimpses of the skyline and the building.
• Plan photos around sunrise or sunset
  The tower is especially striking around golden hour, when the light reflects off the facade and highlights the spire.
• Check hotel or restaurant views
  Some Atlanta hotels, office towers, and rooftop venues offer skyline views that feature Bank of America Plaza, especially on higher floors and in central neighborhoods.

If you live in Atlanta, you might already see the tower daily on your commute. For visitors, it’s often one of the first features they recognize in photos and from the highway.

Practical Tips for Locals Using the Tallest Building as a Landmark

For many Atlantans, the tallest building isn’t just a piece of trivia—it’s a practical navigation tool.

Here’s how locals often use it:

• Orienting in Midtown and Downtown
  If you can see Bank of America Plaza, you can usually guess where Peachtree Street and the connector are located relative to you.
• Giving directions
  Residents sometimes reference it in casual directions, such as “Head toward the big tower with the pointy top, then turn…”
• Assessing weather and visibility
  On hazy or stormy days, how clearly you can see Bank of America Plaza from your neighborhood can give a rough sense of visibility conditions.

While your GPS will always be more precise, the tower remains a reliable visual reference across much of central Atlanta.

Key Takeaways

• The tallest building in Atlanta is Bank of America Plaza, standing at roughly 1,023 feet with 55 stories.
• It’s located between Midtown and Downtown Atlanta along Peachtree Street NE, near major roads and MARTA lines.
• The building is mainly an office tower, with no public observation deck at the top.
• You can get great views of the building from Midtown, Downtown, the Downtown Connector, nearby neighborhoods, and parts of the BeltLine.
• Its glowing spire and towering height make it one of the most recognizable landmarks in Atlanta’s skyline.

For anyone living in or visiting Atlanta, Bank of America Plaza is both a practical landmark and a symbol of the city’s modern, vertical growth.