Get to Know the Colorado Springs Skyline: Our City's Most Prominent Buildings

As the downtown core expands, so will the Colorado Springs skyline, with new buildings planned that will offer additional options for housing, work, dining, and entertainment. Made up of just 120 city blocks, downtown Colorado Springs saw 16.2 million people in 2024, from the workers commuting to their offices to its many out-of-town visitors.

As it stands now, Colorado Springs’ skyline is made up of dozens of civic, commercial, and historic buildings — but many locals would argue that the city’s true skyline is the outline of the Rocky Mountains, including nearby Pikes Peak.

Pikes Peak, one of Colorado’s 58 “14ers” (mountains that reach more than 14,000 feet in elevation), looms over the city’s downtown, providing a scenic backdrop for the Colorado Springs skyline.

In this blog, we will explore the buildings that shape Colorado Springs’ skyline, from the Wells Fargo Tower to the recently built U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.

The Wells Fargo Tower

At 247 feet and 16 stories, the Wells Fargo Tower is the tallest building in the city and an iconic piece of the Colorado Springs skyline. The building was completed in 1990, and in addition to housing its namesake, Wells Fargo bank, it features a variety of other offices and shops. Until 2000, it was known as the Norwest Bank Tower.

The building is at 90 S. Cascade Ave., part of what’s known as the Palmer Center complex, which also includes The Antlers hotel and the FirstBank Building. The complex can be found on Cascade Avenue between Pikes Peak and Colorado avenues, near the heart of downtown.

Plaza of the Rockies

The Plaza of the Rockies is made up of two towers — the north tower and south tower — with a plaza connecting the two. The plaza’s south tower, which is eight stories tall, was originally built in 1983 and expanded in 1995, with a common area renovation in 2001. The plaza’s south tower, which is 13 stories tall, was built in 2001. (At 193 feet, the south tower is the city’s third-tallest building.) Both towers offer Class-A office space.

The Plaza of the Rockies is known for its distinctive red brick, large arches and postmodern architectural style. The buildings can be found on South Tejon Street between Colorado Avenue and East Vermijo Avenue — the same block as the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and the El Paso County Judicial Building, which houses the county courts.

The Antlers, A Wyndham Hotel

The Antlers hotel was opened in 1883 by Gen. William Jackson Palmer, the man who had founded the city of Colorado Springs just 12 years earlier. Since then, it has been rebuilt twice. The original hotel burned down in 1898 and was rebuilt by Palmer in 1901. The second building remained in operation until 1964, when it was torn down and rebuilt, re-opening in 1967. That third building is the hotel that still stands today.

The hotel holds substantial historical significance for the city, with many locally and nationally influential people having visited over the years, including former presidents Warren G. Harding, William Howard Taft, and Theodore Roosevelt.

The 14-story, 147-foot building is at 4 S. Cascade Ave. and is also part of the Palmer Center complex, along with the Wells Fargo Tower and the FirstBank Building. The complex can be found on Cascade Avenue between Pikes Peak and Colorado avenues.

Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts

The performing arts venue commonly known as the Pikes Peak Center plays an important civic and cultural role in the community. The building, which is at 190 S. Cascade Ave., was completed in 1982 and has hosted artists as diverse as Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Alice Cooper, and Earth, Wind & Fire. It is also the home of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Its auditorium seats about 2,000 people.

Although it’s nowhere near Colorado Springs’ tallest building, the Pikes Peak Center’s distinctive facade — and the way it’s often lit up at night — adds character to the city’s skyline.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

The newest building on this list, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum opened in 2020. It’s a modern addition to the Colorado Springs skyline with eye-catching architecture, including a 250-foot steel pedestrian bridge that connects the museum (and the rest of the city’s downtown) to America the Beautiful Park.

The 60,000-square-foot museum offers interactive exhibits, innovative displays, and a vast artifact collection, its website says. 

The museum’s presence in Colorado Springs makes sense: The city brands itself as “Olympic City USA” and is home to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee headquarters, more than 20 national Olympic governing bodies, more than 50 national sport organizations and an Olympic and Paralympic Training Center.

FirstBank Building

This 14-story, 201-foot tower has a sleek design and holds the title of Colorado Springs’ second-tallest building. It plays an important role in the city’s financial services and downtown development.

The building is at 2 N. Cascade Ave. and is also part of the Palmer Center complex along with the Wells Fargo Tower and The Antlers hotel. The complex can be found on Cascade Avenue between Pikes Peak and Colorado avenues.

St. Mary’s Cathedral

St. Mary’s Cathedral is the oldest building on this list — the property was purchased in 1888, and the building was completed in 1898. The church, which incorporated elements of Neo-Gothic design, is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.

The church’s Historic spire adds character and vertical variation to Colorado Springs’ skyline, and its old-world architecture stands out among the city’s many modern buildings. The building is at 26 W. Kiowa St.

Wrapping Up: The Colorado Springs Skyline

Made up of buildings that represent Colorado Springs’ past and present, the city’s skyline blends history, culture, commerce, and scenic beauty. From The Antlers hotel and St. Mary’s Cathedral to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, the Springs’ iconic buildings add plenty of visual interest — and stand out against stunning views of the Rocky Mountains.

Looking for a home, perhaps with a view of the Colorado Springs skyline? Find available properties here.