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If you’ve spent any time walking around downtown Boise lately, you’ve probably noticed the cranes. They’re everywhere. But two specific projects—800 West Main and 700 Central—are doing more than just adding floor space. They are fundamentally changing how the city functions.
Boise used to be a sleepy capital. Not anymore.
When people talk about 800 West Main, they usually call it the Zions Bank Building. It’s been the "tallest" crown jewel for a while, sitting right at the intersection of Main Street and 8th. It’s that massive glass structure that reflects the Idaho sky. But now, 700 Central (often referred to as the ICCU Tower or the Saratoga project) is rising just a block away. It's a bit of a local rivalry, honestly.
The Reality of 800 West Main: More Than Just a Bank
Let’s be real. 800 West Main isn't just an office building. It was a statement of intent when Gardner Company finished it back in 2014. Standing at 323 feet, it claimed the title of the tallest building in Idaho.
People were skeptical at first.
"Do we really need a spire that high?"
"Is Boise becoming a 'big city'?"
The answers turned out to be yes and yes. The building features a mix of high-end office space, retail, and that iconic "spire" that defines the skyline. If you go to the 17th floor, you’re at the Boise Centre East, which is basically the heartbeat of the city's convention scene. It’s where the big deals happen. The design by Babcock Design Group wasn't just about height; it was about transparency. All that glass? It was meant to symbolize a new, open era for Idaho business.
But 800 West Main isn't just about the view from the top. The ground level is where the magic is. You have the "Grove Plaza" right there. It’s a transition zone. It connects the corporate world of Zions Bank and Holland & Hart with the public energy of the fountain and the Idaho Steelheads fans heading to the arena.
700 Central: The New Contender on the Block
Now, let's talk about the new kid. 700 Central.
Technically located at the corner of 7th and Main, this project is a massive undertaking by BVA Development and Idaho Central Credit Union. For years, that spot was just a hole in the ground or a parking lot—a remnant of the old Saratoga Hotel that burned down decades ago.
It felt like a ghost.
But 700 Central is bringing it back to life. This isn't just a carbon copy of its neighbor. While 800 West Main is very "corporate glass," 700 Central is leaning into a mixed-use philosophy that feels a bit more modern. It’s slated to include over 100,000 square feet of office space, but also residential units.
That’s the key.
Boise is desperate for downtown housing. By putting apartments right there at 7th and Main, the developers are betting that people want to live where they work. It’s a 13-story pivot from the traditional "commuter" model of the city.
Comparing the Impact on the Boise Core
You might wonder why these two matter so much compared to other developments. It’s about density.
- 800 West Main anchored the west end of the core, giving the city a vertical identity.
- 700 Central fills the "Saratoga Hole," which was a psychological wound in the city's architecture for ages.
- Economic Velocity: Between these two blocks, you have thousands of employees entering the downtown core daily. That supports the restaurants on 8th Street.
Honestly, the "Saratoga" site at 700 Central had so many false starts over the years that locals stopped believing anything would ever be built there. Seeing the steel go up was a relief. It’s not just a building; it’s the completion of a block that has been broken since the 1990s.
Why the Design Matters (and Why Some People Hate It)
Architecture is subjective.
Some people love the 800 West Main spire. Others think it’s a bit "extra" for a city the size of Boise. It’s okay to have an opinion on it. The building uses a steel frame with a glass curtain wall, which is standard for skyscrapers, but in the Idaho sun, it can be blinding.
700 Central is taking a slightly different approach. It’s designed to be more integrated. It’s not trying to out-height 800 West Main (it’s significantly shorter at 13 stories versus 18), but it’s wider. It feels more like a "hub."
The project at 700 Central also includes a massive parking garage component. In Boise, parking is a blood sport. By adding hundreds of stalls, this project actually makes 800 West Main more viable because it eases the pressure on the surrounding lots.
The Logistics of Building at 8th and Main
Building in a tight urban core is a nightmare.
When Gardner Company was doing 800 West Main, they had to deal with the "Boise Hole"—a literal pit that sat empty for nearly 20 years. They had to navigate underground utilities that hadn't been mapped properly since the 1940s.
BVA Development is facing similar hurdles at 700 Central. You can't just park a cement truck anywhere. You have to coordinate with the city, manage the traffic on Main Street, and ensure that the nearby businesses don't go under during construction.
It’s expensive.
The costs of materials in 2025 and 2026 have fluctuated wildly. Interest rates haven't made it easy either. Yet, these projects persist because the demand for "Class A" office space in Boise hasn't actually cratered like it has in places like San Francisco or Portland. Boise is a different beast. People here actually go to the office.
Understanding the "Main Street" Synergy
Main Street is the artery of Boise.
If 800 West Main is the heart, 700 Central is the lungs.
You have Zions Bank, ICCU, and Clearwater Analytics all within a two-block radius. This creates a "financial district" feel that Boise never really had before. It attracts talent. When a law firm or a tech startup looks at Boise, they aren't looking at the suburbs anymore. They want to be between 700 and 800 West Main.
There's also the "Saratoga" history. The fact that 700 Central is finally being finished means the "missing piece" of downtown history is being paved over—in a good way. The Saratoga Hotel was a legendary spot, and for years, that empty lot felt like a failure of city planning. Now, it’s a symbol of growth.
Navigating Downtown: What You Need to Know
If you are planning to visit or do business in these buildings, keep a few things in mind.
First, the wind.
Because of the "canyon effect" between 800 West Main and the surrounding structures, the wind can whip through that intersection at 8th and Main much faster than you’d expect. Hang onto your hat.
Second, the parking.
800 West Main has its own integrated parking, but it fills up fast. 700 Central will significantly add to the inventory, but until it’s fully operational, your best bet is the public garages on 9th or 10th.
Third, the food.
The proximity of these two buildings to "Restaurant Row" on 8th Street is the real reason people want to work there. You can walk from a meeting at ICCU (700 Central) to lunch at Fork or Bittercreek Alehouse in about three minutes. That’s the "lifestyle" sell of Boise.
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Moving Forward with Boise’s Development
The completion and ongoing evolution of the 800 and 700 blocks of West Main represent a shift from a "town" mindset to a "metropolitan" mindset.
You should keep an eye on the "Civic Plaza" developments nearby as well. As 700 Central settles in, the city is looking at how to make the transition between these massive buildings and the more historic, smaller-scale buildings on Idaho Street more seamless.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the New Downtown:
- For Businesses: If you're looking for prestige, 800 West Main remains the "address" of record, but 700 Central offers more modern mixed-use amenities and potentially better parking ratios for employees.
- For Investors: Focus on the secondary ripple effect. The areas immediately north of these blocks (near the YMCA and the North End) are seeing a surge in value because of the high-income workforce stationed at 7th and Main.
- For Locals: Don't ignore the public spaces. The lobby of 800 West Main is often accessible for events, and the new 700 Central development is expected to have public-facing retail that will open up the 7th Street corridor.
- Logistics Tip: Use the Boise "CityGo" app if you’re commuting to this area. With the increased density of these two projects, traditional driving and parking is becoming less efficient than the shuttle and bike-share options centered around 8th Street.
The skyline isn't done yet, but the "Main Street corridor" between 7th and 9th is now officially the densest, most valuable piece of real estate in the state of Idaho. That isn't changing anytime soon.