Toronto currently has the greatest number of high-rises and skyscrapers being constructed in North America, significantly surpassing all other major cities.

According to data collected by Emporis, a global building information database, the city currently has 147 high-rise and skyscraper projects being constructed. The growing number of buildings is being attributed in part to the local condo-building boom.

“About 80 per cent of the high-rises and skyscrapers that are currently under construction are used as condominiums,” Emporis’ Jana Assmann toldConstruction Canada Online.

At this time last year there were 132 high-rises and skyscrapers under construction in Ontario’s capital, so the trend is still climbing. Although building is seeing an increase, New York City still has the most high-rise structures in North America with 6009; Toronto’s current total is 2501.

The remaining North American cities making up the top 10 are:

• Vancouver;
• Montréal;
• Chicago;
• Calgary;
• Miami;
• Boston;
• Ottawa; and
• Richmond, B.C.

Data collected also includes office buildings and hotels. Emporis defines a high-rise as a multi-storey building of 35 m (115 ft) or more, or 12 to 39 storeys. Skyscrapers are classified as buildings of 40 or more storeys.