Best Signature Buildings To Get As Soon As Possible In Cities: Skylines 2

A new addition to Cities: Skylines 2 gameplay is Signature Buildings, unique zone buildings that provide buffs to their surrounding areas depending on the nature of their construction and placement. In a bid to better “personalize” the city-sim, Cities: Skylines 2 players can use Signature Buildings to help add a dash of style to a growing city, especially since more Signature Buildings are unlocked based on a city’s overall progress pertaining to Milestones, citizen Happiness levels, or Zoned areas.

However, with the game offering different Signature Buildings scattered across Residential, Commercial, and Industrial types, players might have a hard time choosing just which are must-haves for their city.

10 One Stop Station

Complete The Outskirts With A Motorist Hub

When it's time for Cities: Skylines 2 residents to ditch public transportation options in favor of the long road trip, it's not surprising for them to reach the outskirts of busy city centers and venture into the countryside. Players who already created their city's suburbs can further complete the experience with the One Stop Station, a fairly large gas station that acts as a motorist hub akin to stop-overs in between road trips.

Its fairly large size and 4,000 Noise Pollution means the One Stop Station is likely to be optimized in sparsely populated areas or within the vicinity of other structures that don't necessarily need to be accessible to civilians at the onset. Beyond the traditional suburb placement, the One Stop Station can be located near a busy road to redirect traffic.

9 Waterfall Array

Stun Business Districts With A Stylish Tower

One can usually judge the attractiveness of the business district of any city, or in this case, a Cities: Skylines map, based on its selection of high-rises. The Waterfall Array in Cities: Skylines 2 doesn't immediately scream "Software Giant HQ," especially with its chosen architectural style that vaguely resembles postmodernism. The structure opting for a slimmer frame with an abundance of cylinders and a light brown color can add a retro flair to a Commercial District, doing away with minimalist styles.

Stats-wise, the Waterfall Array is only unlocked at 6,000 Cells and a Server Farm while still providing 1,000 XP. Not only that, but its manageable 1,000 Noise Pollution is perhaps the lowest among the available high-rises among Signature Buildings.

8 Pharma

A Change Of Pace Among Industrial Buildings

On top of Pollution generated by Industrial Zone buildings in Cities: Skylines 2, their sheer size forces players to optimize their transportation whenever working with these locations, regardless of their chosen map. Not only that, but the rather rugged appearances make them unsightly when placed alongside Commercial and Residential Zones, making their isolation preferable both stats-wise and aesthetics-wise. However, the Pharma Signature Building defies this trend, as its clean white-and-blue design lacks the notorious smoke associated with Industrial Buildings, making it quite a sight to behold, even when placed in the proximity of other Zones.

This design choice also extends to its effects. Pharma is one of only three Signature Industrial Buildings to offer buffs to University Education and University Graduation, with the others being Switchon and Oil Refinery. However, Pharma by far boasts the lowest Pollution generation and overall size among the three, making it a space saver.

7 Figura Building

Elevate Busy Spaces With High-Class Residences

It's not surprising for densely-populated cities to have buildings that combine lower-level commercial areas with higher-level residential spaces, especially in a bid to fight traffic via public transport. The Figura Building of Cities: Skylines 2 offers a multi-floored gallery below luxury residences befitting higher-class locales. At 4,000 Cells and an immediate +8 Well Being to a 1.25-kilometer radius with a manageable 1500 Noise Pollution, the Figura Building can become a decent addition to most areas without being an obstruction.

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Its immediate impression of being a luxury area makes it fit just before busy Commercial Zones or at the edge of Residential Zones. The lower-level gallery space incentivizes more tactical positioning of the Signature Building, allowing it to occupy more design-themed recreational spaces without necessarily having to be within busy areas.

6 Principiis

Police HQ And Office Complex Rolled Into One

Crime remains an important element to manage in Cities: Skylines 2, requiring the proper placement of Police Stations and similar services near densely-populated areas to curb the rise of unsavory members of the populace. However, the Principiis can become an attractive way for players to get wild with their imagination, leaving the traditional confines of crime fighting with the police and transitioning to the digital age.

Taking the guise of an office building, Principiis technically still houses various companies. However, its rather industrial-esque exterior gives the guise of a purpose-laden structure. Its manageable size and 3,000 Noise Pollution can be a worthwhile risk considering its benefits, especially with its reduction of Crime Rates in its immediate vicinity. This makes Principiis an ideal Signature Building to position close to populated areas.

5 Streamline Diner

Complete The Busy Commercial Area With A Retro Eatery

Aesthetic plays a big role in creating a beautiful city in Cities: Skylines 2, with a location's overall appeal increasing if players get to follow a set "theme" throughout their playthrough. However, if the Streamline Diner is any indication, players should still catch the attention of visitors with design pieces that stand out from the rest. Regardless of a city's overall motif, the classic diner aesthetic of the Streamline Diner can leave a much-needed dash of retro, regardless of the city's location.

The beginning of a Commercial Zone could benefit from a Streamline Diner by helping more minimalist-looking Residential Zones transition into a business district. Likewise, a Streamline Diner can add some spice to a monotonous Commercial Zone precisely due to its nostalgic element.

4 Square Center

A Posh Shopping Center Fit For All Income Levels

The high-rise glass and banners of Square Center elevate its overall vibe as a shopping center in Cities: Skylines 2, especially since the smaller 10x7 Fashion Square plays stereotypically into the appearance of a mall that is at the epicenter of traffic jams. At Level 5 with 60 Buildings, the Square Center can add flair to a busy Commercial Zone with its imposing "formal" appearance.

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Placing the Square Center in an ordinary Commercial Zone can elevate its immediate location with the presence of a seemingly high-class mall. Amid an area poised as a business district, the architectural design of the Square Center hybridizes a mall and a museum, allowing it to fit more designer structures.

3 Activity Plaza

Compact Activity Center With Neutral Aesthetic

Among the Commercial Buildings that players have as Signature Buildings in Cities: Skylines 2 gameplay, the Activity Plaza proves a unique building doesn't have to sacrifice the city's overall aesthetic. Compared to other Commercial Signature Buildings that pack a lot of bonuses, the Activity Plaza boasts the most neutral appearance: that of a dome-esque recreational center, compact enough to blend in with other Commercial Zones or become the highlight of areas outside Residential areas.

At Level 5 and 120 Buildings, the Activity Plaza doesn't have to risk adding too much "quirkiness" to the city compared to the harsh blue of the Capacitor Building or the castle-esque Emerald Building. Its Noise Pollution of 4,000 is also the lowest for Signature Buildings with its series of benefits.

2 Watanabe Tower

Secure The City's First Skyscraper

Fans of city simulators like Cities: Skylines know that a city is achieving moderate success by the time it has become the site for its first skyscraper, with Watanabe Tower becoming the representative of such an achievement with its mere 5x6-cell requirement for an impossibly-high structure. Among Signature Residential Buildings, the Watanabe Tower wins against its more sophisticated counterparts in sheer height alone, making its presence a monumental achievement for a city before players work their way toward more sophisticated structures like the Grass Crown.

Stats-wise, the Watanabe Tower simply needs a city to be at Level 5 with 50 Buildings, requirements that players are likely to achieve without realizing. While other towers such as Century Castle, Colossal Tower, and Waveform Tower boast more sophisticated appearances, Watanabe Tower's small area requirement makes it a more manageable acquisition.

1 Vertigo Square

Spice Things Up In A Residential Area

When it comes to players securing one of their first Signature Buildings in Cities: Skylines 2, their choice should reflect their playthrough's burgeoning status. While the Baltar Pines has the pristine minimalist appearance of a high-class person's home, Vertigo Square adds more personality to a Residential Area with its strong brown hues and eccentric thin apartment-esque design.

Vertigo Square being one of the first choices of a Signature Building in the game is safe enough with its 1,000 Cell requirement. Combined with its decent size and Well-Being boost, Vertigo Square can elevate a Residential Zone into the upper-income territory before working its way toward more complex Signature Buildings.

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Cities: Skylines 2

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7 /10

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Released

October 24, 2023

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Developer(s)

Colossal Order

Platform(s)

PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S

Genre(s)

City Builder

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