You’re standing on the Jersey City waterfront, looking up. It’s dizzying. The wind whips off the Hudson River, and for a second, you forget you aren't in Manhattan. People usually assume the massive, glass-clad towers here are just spillover from New York’s skyline. They aren't. New Jersey has been playing a high-stakes game of "reach for the clouds" for the last decade, and the results are honestly pretty staggering.
If you ask a local to name the tallest building in New Jersey, you’ll get a few different answers. Some will point at the "Goldman Sachs building" because it held the crown for so long. Others might mention the casino towers in Atlantic City.
But there is only one king of the hill.
99 Hudson Street: The Titan of the Garden State
Right now, 99 Hudson Street is the undisputed tallest building in New Jersey. It doesn't just win by a few feet; it dominates.
Standing at exactly 900 feet (270 meters), this residential behemoth in Jersey City is a monster. It’s got 79 stories. To put that in perspective, it is the tallest residential building in the United States outside of New York and Chicago. Think about that. Not Miami, not LA, not Houston. Jersey City.
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The building was designed by Perkins Eastman and finished up around 2019. It’s basically a vertical city. There are 781 condo units inside. If you’ve got a few million dollars lying around, you can snag a penthouse with views that make the One World Trade Center look like it’s within arm's reach.
Why does this matter? Because for decades, New Jersey was the land of the "low-rise." We had the suburbs. We had the malls. Seeing a 900-foot spire on this side of the river marks a massive shift in how the world sees the Gold Coast.
The One People Always Confuse It With
You can't talk about the New Jersey skyline without mentioning 30 Hudson Street. Most people know it as the Goldman Sachs Tower.
For 14 years, this was the alpha. It’s 781 feet tall and has that classic, tapered César Pelli look—the same architect who did the Petronas Towers in Malaysia. It’s iconic. It’s the building that made the Jersey City skyline look "real" to the rest of the world back in 2004.
Even though it’s now the second tallest, it still feels more imposing to some because of its massive footprint. It houses offices for companies like Organon and AIG. But in the world of height, 30 Hudson is officially the runner-up.
The Journal Square Surge
If you haven't been to Jersey City lately, the "downtown" waterfront isn't the only place blowing up. Journal Square—which used to be a bit grittier and more low-slung—is currently having a vertical heart attack.
Journal Squared Tower 2 is currently the third tallest building in the state. It hits 754 feet.
What’s wild is the speed of development here. The Kushner Real Estate (KRE) Group finished the third and final tower of this complex just recently, in late 2024. While Tower 3 is "only" 639 feet, the combined density of these three towers has completely changed the silhouette of the state.
And then there's One Journal Square. As we sit here in 2026, these twin towers are the talk of the town. They are expected to reach 710 feet each. They are basically the new gatekeepers of the Journal Square neighborhood.
Not Just a North Jersey Game
It is easy to forget that Atlantic City has some serious height. For a long time, the Ocean Resort Casino (formerly Revel) was the only thing giving the North Jersey towers a run for their money.
It stands at 709 feet.
It’s the tallest building in New Jersey outside of the New York metro area. It’s a blue-glass wedge that looks like it belongs in Vegas. While it’s currently sitting at number 7 or 8 on the state-wide list (depending on which new construction topped out this week), it remains the undisputed heavyweight of South Jersey.
Why Are We Building So High?
It’s basically math. Space in Jersey City is gone. You can't build "out" anymore unless you want to start building into the Hudson River, which the DEP generally frowns upon.
So, developers build up.
There's also a status element. Being the developer of the tallest building in New Jersey is a massive marketing win. When 99 Hudson was being sold, "Tallest in the State" was on every brochure. It draws international investors. It draws people who want the prestige of living in a landmark.
Quick Stats: The Current Top 5 (As of 2026)
- 99 Hudson Street (Jersey City) – 900 ft
- 30 Hudson Street (Jersey City) – 781 ft
- Journal Squared Tower 2 (Jersey City) – 754 ft
- One Journal Square (Towers I & II) (Jersey City) – 710 ft (Expected Completion 2026)
- Sable / JC Urby (Jersey City) – 700 ft
Is a "Supertall" Coming?
In the skyscraper world, a "supertall" is anything over 300 meters (about 984 feet).
New Jersey doesn't have one yet.
99 Hudson came close at 900 feet. There have been rumors and "paper projects" for years—like the proposed 100 Bay Street—that hinted at a 1,000-foot tower. So far, nobody has pulled the trigger. High interest rates and the cost of specialized wind-tunnel engineering for 1,000-foot structures keep most developers in the 700–900 foot range.
But honestly? It’s only a matter of time. The "Manhattanization" of Jersey City is almost complete.
The Newark Factor
Newark is the "sleeper" in this conversation. For 58 years, the National Newark Building (465 feet) was the tallest in the state. That ended in 1989.
Lately, Newark has been waking up. The Halo project is bringing towers that actually rival the Jersey City mid-rises. Halo Tower 1 is expected to be around 454 feet, and there are plans for even taller structures near Penn Station. Newark won't be taking the "tallest" title back from Jersey City anytime soon, but it's finally joined the 21st-century skyline race.
What You Should Actually Do With This Info
If you’re a fan of architecture or just want the best view in the state, don't just look at these buildings from a car window on the Turnpike.
- Visit Exchange Place: Stand at the base of 99 Hudson. It’s the only way to feel the scale of a 900-foot wall of glass.
- Take the PATH to Journal Square: Exit the station and look up at the Journal Squared complex. It feels like a sci-fi movie.
- Go to the Rooftops: Since most of these are residential, you can't just walk into the lobby and go to the roof. However, places like the RoofTop at Exchange Place (located in the Hyatt nearby) give you a perfect eye-level view of these giants.
The skyline is changing faster than the maps can update. By the time you read this, another developer has probably filed permits for a 900-footer in a parking lot somewhere.
Actionable Insight: If you're scouting real estate or photography spots, focus on the "Gold Coast" transition points. The area between Paulus Hook and Newport is where the most dramatic height density is concentrated. For the best "full" skyline shot of the tallest building in New Jersey, head over to Liberty State Park near the CRRNJ Terminal. You'll get 99 Hudson and 30 Hudson framed perfectly against the North Jersey horizon.