Could the tallest building in the United States be built in Oklahoma City? Yes.
California developer Scott Matteson announced plans last month to expand the planned Boardwalk At Bricktown project by adding a 134-story, 1,750-foot tower. This would make the tower slightly shorter than the 1,776-foot-tall Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center in New York City.
But now Matteson has set his sights even higher. His investment and development company last week announced plans to increase the height of the Legends Tower to 1,907 feet, a symbolic number because Oklahoma became a state in 1907.
Developers say that if the plan succeeds, the Legends Tower will be the tallest building in the United States and the fifth tallest in the world. The longest is Burj Khalifa In Dubai, its height is 2,716 feet.
The new tower will also be more than twice the height of the current largest building in Oklahoma City. The 50-storey Devon Energy Centre. Completed in 2012, it is also the tallest building in the state.
Developer says construction will be 'distinctive destination'
Referring to a period of growth, Matteson He said in a statement That Oklahoma City is “well positioned to support large-scale projects such as the one envisioned for Bricktown.”
He said: “We believe that this development will be a distinctive destination for the city, further expanding and diversifying the growing economy, attracting investment, new companies and job opportunities. It is a dynamic environment and we hope to see that.” The Bricktown Boardwalk is a source of pride for Oklahoma City.
The project will bring a Las Vegas-style façade to the already vibrant Lower Bricktown area near the Oklahoma River in downtown Oklahoma City. The project covers more than 3 acres and is scheduled to host more than 2 million square feet of residential, commercial and entertainment projects, including two Hyatt hotels, residential apartments, apartments, shops and restaurants.
The project will also have a lake and a trail. Also coming to the area is a new arena for the NBA franchise Oklahoma Thunder, which is expected to cost at least $900 million.
Work on the first three 345-foot towers is scheduled to begin this year. The Legends Tower will be built after its completion.
“The upper floors of the high-rise tower will consist of a public observatory, a restaurant and a bar where visitors will be able to enjoy stunning views of the city,” the developers say.
Some doubt that the massive tower will stand
Can Oklahoma City swing this? There are some skeptics.
When the announcement was made, world architects He asked, “Why is this high-rise building being built in Oklahoma City (OKC)? And will it really happen?”
While we await the developers' request for a zoning change or rezoning, “it remains to be seen whether the tallest tower in the United States being built in Oklahoma is just a publicity stunt, or whether the team will be able to follow through on its dream,” wrote World-Architects, which It describes itself as “a network of selected contemporary architects and construction professionals.”
B1M construction site Obvious: “No offense to Oklahoma City but it doesn't have the high-density urban dynamism known for producing towering skyscrapers.”
Developers say Oklahoma City needs more housing and entertainment options, but there are concerns about the spread of tornadoes in the area.
Oklahoma City is the 18th largest city in the United States with an estimated population of 702,837 in 2024, an annual growth rate of 0.73%, according to World population reviewbased on US Census estimates.
Developers need to rezone the project for a taller building because the current maximum height allowed is 300 feet, according to Oklahoma City Free PressCiting comments from city public information officer Christy Yaeger.
“They will need to rezone the area,” Yaeger was quoted as saying by the newspaper. “We understand that the applicant’s representative is preparing a new SPUD (Simple Planned Unit Development) application, which will go to the Planning Commission for a recommendation and the City Council for a final decision.”
Optimism in Oklahoma City
Although the project is still far from complete agreement, local support exists. The Oklahoma City Council approved a record $200 million in tax increment financing to be paid after the first two residential towers are built.
“The Bricktown Boardwalk and associated developments look exciting for Oklahoma City, and indeed the entire state, but we know they have a long way to go to get the project off the ground,” Renee Hoover-Payton, president of the Oklahoma Association of Realtors, told USA TODAY in a statement. “That the project has nearly 2,000 urban and associated residential units is a bonus for our capital, and (the association recognizes) the great potential to add to Oklahoma City’s urban housing mix.”
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