Why Oklahoma City Is Building America's Tallest Building - 1900ft! 

Once built, no one will ever get lost on a clear day in OKC, you just find the giant tower on the horizon and you will know where you are

I like the height they picked. Oklahoma became a state in 1907.

OKC of all places though is wild

You can see the Devon Tower from just south of Newcastle on I-44 coming into OKC as it is now. You'd probably see this monster from Chickasha! It's absolutely crazy but Im honestly all for it honestly.

That would be one super tall building in Oklahoma. New York City would be like we gotta build taller.

Dubai in Oklahoma, the parallels are evident

Giddey’s face crossed out cracked me up LOL nice video man

I’m from Oklahoma City and our city is growing like crazy since the pandemic. A lot of people from the West Coast and East Coast can’t afford their houses anymore so the low cost of living is amazing. The crime rate is lower here and we’re close to Dallas in Texas. Big hubs a business, but we need in our cities what they should invest in is light rail and high-speed trains connecting to Dallas Tulsa another part of the country, Oklahoma is a complicated beautiful state. We have a pros and cons or stereotypes but the people here are super nice low cost-of-living and I believe we can do anything we put our minds to ❤

So glad you made a video on this! Sending appreciation from OKC!

To be honest we don’t get Tornadoes in the downtown area.. It’s usually south towards Moore/Norman, and head Northeast to The Shawnee area, and then typically west out by El Reno. I’m excited about this, and I hope they build it. Coupled with the new Thunder Arena, and a new MLS stadium, it’ll be the central hub for both professional sports. We just built a huge Central Park area to be developed on all sides too.. people sleep on OKC. But here we are!

It'll look a little silly in a small town, but I hope they do it. America should build bigger and better. It's inspiring.

The population of OKC proper, as of 2024, is over 702,000 people. I'm from Minneapolis and currently reside in OKC. If you look at some old photos and/or videos of the Minneapolis skyline, it was much like Oklahoma City is today. There was one super tall skyscraper, the IDS Tower, which stood out magnificently against the skyline in 1973. After the IDS was built, a bunch of other tall structures, which are similar in height to the IDS, began to pop up, all over the downtown landscape. To this day, MPLS proper is still architecturally evolving, and it only has a core population of 426,000 people. Dubai is also a city, which sprung up from out of nowhere. Further proof that if you build it, they will come. This will be a huge win for OKC.

Love this content! I know Bricktown has become a local destination over the past decade and this project would take it to the next level.

As someone from Oklahoma and who lived in the OKC metro area several years ago, I appreciate you covering this more thoroughly than other nonlocal news sources seemed to have. Most of them didn't go into much depth about there being the other three buildings on the site, about what would be in all these buildings, why it's proposed for the Bricktown District in the downtown core of the city, etc. So I appreciate that you went into more details about this. I'm gonna share this video with friends from outside the state who've already inquired about this and also save it in case I get asked again. This is just a good video that I feel answers a lot of what I've gotten asked about it so far from folks not from here.

OKC Resident here - we have never had a tornado pathway go through downtown OKC since we started recording them in the early 1800s. Lots of natural wind barriers around us that break up some of the rotation and speeds, not really a worry for this building. Hail on the other hand.....

It's a long-shot to get built but I hope it does. It looks out of place now in the renderings but buildings like this always have a magnet effect since it generally adds value to all those buildings around it. The Burj Dubai/Khalifa is a classic example of this. While the hotel/office space was seen as a bit of a loss leader, the revenues from the area around the tower rose dramatically more so it made up for it and then some... And of course the revenues from the observation deck are ALWAYS the most profitable spaces in any skyscraper and why some get built in the first place. Gensler released a PDF on this 10 years ago for the Chicago Spire site outlining the economics of modern towers and this has only increased from that timeframe... Selling $50 lift passes (like in ski resorts) is how you make your bread and butter!

Such a great video as always Beaver I wholeheartedly agree with you in the fact that this would transform OKC in a completely new way. I was raised here and loved how you did your research on the zoning for the area never knew it was only 300ft limit plus seeing how the city approved the millions in TIF. I think all the towers will be built, just the “Legends Tower” maybe half of the proposed height. I don’t think there would be a demand all the way there for 1,907ft that would be incredibly challenging to get approved for example the tornadoes everyone has mentioned. Non the less I’m excited and proud for the future of the city great video again

I don't see it being built, but I can see the smaller buildings being built, and that's the most it'll get out of it. I could be wrong, so let's see what happens. 🤷🏾‍♂️

Great detail. Thanks

They should totally do this!! It would be so badass!

I hope we're entering the era of commemorating year dates with building heights.. especially because that means a ton of towers between 1,500-1,600 ft and 2,020-2,030 ft tall 😁👍

I love the idea and I hope it happens!

I like the idea!

For those who question if it would be occupied...perhaps not so much at first, but remember, the Empire State Building sat pretty much empty until the 1950's. Its a marathon, not a sprint.

Great report! This could be amazing, and could challenge places like Columbus, Ohio to reach for the skies.

I live in okc and I am so for this to be built!

Nice pic of you meeting Scott Madison.

Sounds like a front seat view to the tornados

When I heard of this, I thought it was just a aspirational goal. Not really a real project. We also have had earthquakes up to 5.1 magnitudes recently. I’d believe it if it was 800 ft or the same as the Devon tower. But twice that is crazy.

That is a LOT of new space for a smaller metro like OKC. Is there actually enough demand for it?

Keep growing bro! Sub!

There is 1.2 million people in the metropolitan area of Oklahoma City Oklahoma City has been annexing land and working with the suburban cities around it for many years now and it's bigger than what you have described in this video

When you looks at the buildings from a view when you’re behind the Devon tower, it doesn’t look to bad. It’s look’s actually pretty good when the angle is right. But alone I’ll admit it’s a bit funky

its about damn time we get a city in the states that wants to build tall...every damn American city is being super conserrvative while the rest of the world is going nuts. I hope they get a gigantic building boom off of this...we need to get building again in our other mid-sized cities

As a person born and raised in OKC , OKC has 1.4 million people and growing we have crept up into the top 20 largest cities in the US at around 19th, still have a ways to go, but we have quietly passed alot of cities, alot of people try and talk down on OKC, most have never been, or have driven through and thats it, the fact of the matter is we growing, thats just the facts! Now will this skyscraper really be built that remains to be seen, but we, did just pass a bond for 900 million dollar arena for the Thunder

You failed to mention that the developers have ALREADY fully secured the financing for the project. OKC is not trying to build the tallest building in America, it is a pride point that Oklahoma became a State in 1907, thus the height being 1907 feet tall. Don’t make it a competition thing!

With OKC being near the heart of 'tornado alley', they'd have to get a great engineer team to design that thing, especially at 1900ft. *edit... yeah, as I'm writing this, @ 7:10 you mention the heavy prevalent threat of tornadoes in the region.

Would be hilarious, honestly, I love it

When flying from Dallas to OKC, most flight paths circle around the north side of downtown to get to a southbound runway at Will Rogers World Airport. It would give an interesting look from the plane coming in if it were built.

I would want new buildings in Kansas City too. But that tall??? Nah.

DO IT !! Happy for OKC they deserve to shine too. Texas, Cali, NY get enough attention.

Am I the *ONLY ONE* getting two kind of vibes from this project? One is a probable Midwest version of the Ryugyong hotel in Pyongyang. I mean, while OKC is growing, I genuinely don't see a 1900 ft tall building in the middle of nowhere filling up that fast to be profitable in 20 years. I can see it a few hundred miles to the south/southeast (Austin, Dallas, Houston), but, even then, it'll take a decade to turn a profit. The whole overblown scale of the project brings me to the second vibe, which I'll politely call "male ego enhancement." (I don't want you in trouble for my theories, Beaver!) I honestly think that the mind behind this is typical of other American real estate developers of the last few decades, in that they feel smaller than their colleagues, and need to do something to leave their mark, whether it's building a huge symbol, or running for office. Either way, they fail.

Our OKC motto: The Modern Frontier

This is hilarious and I would be very happy if they did do it but otherwise, OKC should really focus on filling in the ridiculous amount of vacant land and surface parking

looks like OK City will be giving us the bird- via their giant middle finger, err building

Could it be more "insane" or "out-of-place" than the Burj Khalifa? I say, build it!

I live like 9 miles directly east of the proposed building and to me it looks like it would give me shade all afternoon. That thing is massive.

my sister lives in edmond just north of the city..youll probably see it from her house.. i love okc ill give them credit for their creativity and boldness in development projects .. i think its great i hope they build it ..bring in more jobs and tourism and it will be a giant middle finger to new york city saying we are growing great !! who says you can be the only city with high towers!!

Yessir, I'll be able to see it 45 minutes away when the sun rises. Looking up on 44 and seeing what looks like a crack on will sure look nice. (nor really, its not sarcasm) Chickashaian here! (ITS PRONOUNCED CHICK-UH-SHAY)

I saw this on another video that this is not happening now.

That would be some pluto in aquarius type stuff for america amazing

I think that Legends Tower's height is comedic when compared to OKC's current skyline. I don't know if the people of OKC are in favor of it or not, but if they aren't, then I see it being like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or the original world trade center in NYC, where they were once hated by their city's citizens when built, but eventually found themselves as world-famous icons that their city's people love/loved. Of course, I'm from the St. Louis area, so I don't really get a say in whether Legends Tower gets approved or not, but I kind of hope it does, as long as OKC's weather doesn't pose a danger to it. I mean, both the fastest-rotating and largest tornados recorded having struck the area, with the 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado, and the 2013 El Reno tornado respectively. So many tornados just barely miss OKC, or graze the outer city limits. But, as long as the weather isn't a bigger problem than it already is, and building this won't harm the local housing market or anything, I say to go for it. Would I like a 1821 ft tall building in St. Louis? No. Purely because of the Gateway Arch. It shouldn't be dwarfed by another local building. Plus, OKC has like 700K people, and a booming population. St. Louis doesn't even have 300K anymore, and has been hemorrhaging residents for decades. (Just the city, the metro is still increasing.) Maybe building it Kansas City someday? Also, we have tornados too, just not as many as OKC But hey, I might be able to see Legends Tower from my home city, even with the Ozarks in the way.

a few slight corrections. The population figure cited was from 2020 census, OKC is 703,000 as of 2023, metro area is 1.5 million. Also, I believe the Boardwalk at Bricktown development is approved by the city as is the $200 million TIF (rebate), but you're correct in that they need to get variances for the tower heights. While not everyone will like OKC or its skyline, the city has been improving for decades and the next 5-10 years will probably be the biggest in history. The tornado argument is bogus, yes - OKC is the most tornado prone major city in the world, however, none of them hit downtown and even if they did there wouldn't necessarily be the same damage as the stick built suburbs they do hit. Tornadoes also hit Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and so on and OKC already has a tower nearly 1000 feet in the Devon Tower. I'm positive that just like homes in OKC, all existing and any new towers downtown will be built with tornadoes, straight line winds, earthquakes, and floods in mind. I agree with Beaver that this development is real and anticipate the city will approve the variances. Also, Matteson stated they want to start construction by June 2024 on the 2 residential and Dream by Hilton hotel tower, podium, and parking (phase 1). The supertall is the 4th tower, it's height will depend on performas of the first two - but if you look at the composition, this is set up to be a success given this will be somewhat first-to-market for OKC, the existing luxury highrise (conversions) have done extremely well, OKC is continuing to not only grow but attract the urban market, and like Beaver mentioned - the Legends Tower supertall will be OKC's landmark identitifying structure (aka Space Needle, etc) that just so happens to be a fully livable structure. One other thing to note, OKC has several developable lots immediately nearby the new arena site and where Legends tower will be - Legends will likely encourage further development which WILL fill-in the skyline expanding the CBD further south and 'hopefully' will change some minds about OKC and its skyline. And hopefully, will encourage New York and Chicago to build higher!

I like how it looks like American 'Art Deco' architecture but futuristic 👍

It is quite tall for the area.... the articles I'm reading (read many) mention that it's a proposal, but not sure if they will have the funding to make it a reality

If they build this i would literally move to Oklahoma. Not even joking.

It’s certain that this skyscraper will be designed to withstand both a direct hit from an EF-5 tornado and earthquakes. Plus I’d imagine that they will not only have cameras, but many other weather instruments as well.

I hope they don't build that building. It's unnecessary to build that just for the sake of saying "Look y'all we have the tallest!" It will look out of place.

Hey man maybe you should make emc videos again now that you rejoined

I’ll hold off on booking my travel ‘til it’s completed

If it gets built, hopefully it helps catalyze the “dense urban fabric” (paraphrasing B1M) that OKC currently lacks. Seems like OKC in 50 years is gonna be bungalows and supertalls. The most extreme example of the “missing middle”

That is crazy but another city you should talk about is Newark and the Halo tower's

Given the fact that Oklahoma City is growing at a rapid pace, give it 10-20 years I doubt it’ll stick out so much as skyline will have changed dramatically with increased population and businesses, seems like a long time, but it’s a not in terms of city, development and construction

it would look kinda odd but i like the idea of it. the USA created the skyscraper and used to lead the world in height but we seem to have lost the desire to build tall. maybe it could inspire the rest of the country to set records as well.

It would be across the old arena eight? Not the new one? Like on the place which is now occupied by a parking lot?

I love geography channels.

Have you ever tried a netty pot? Maybe some afrin?

Literally me playing Cities: Skylines placing a supertall builfing among smaller towers be like

Fun fact. You would not be able to see it from New York, but you could see it from Dallas Fort Worth. In a airplane at 15000 ft wirh binoculars

I wonder if some state would have built something like that at an even 2000ft...?

I really hope they make this skyscraper and much taller.

"With there being no market for two arenas across from each other" Check out Des Moines, Wells Fargo Arena right next to the older Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The Iowa Barnstormers arena football team has played in both

I recently visited Las Vegas and went to the Stratosphere there, the tallest structure in Vegas with a slew of attractions and a massive observation deck. It was absolutely dead. Walked right on, practically had the whole observation deck to ourselves. These kind of novelties don’t have staying power, plus in OKC, there is absolutely nothing to see from the top. If this gets built, I’m sure there will be big hoopla at first, but I think gimmicks like this flame out pretty fast. I don’t think any other city will feel pressure to build a super tall structure to beat OKC once they see what a boondogle it is.

Simple reason why… population boom. Okc has moved into the top 20 largest cities in the US of A 🇺🇸! The suburbs are growing more rapidly than I can ever remember in any place I’ve ever lived across this country. Population=demand. Demand for food, entertainment, living, and with the wealth that has come to the area, it also demands high end amenities. It will be built but my guess is it won’t be 1900ft. More like 1300

As much as I'm not holding my breath that this ever happens, the "woah factor" would be no different than the CN Tower in Toronto.

Let's goo

Everyone who does these videos should agree to use the MSA population. Not the cities themselves. The OKC MSA is 1.5M people.

The architecture (AO) and the City has to wait for the FAA to get the approval first for the height requirement. And from the latest interview from OETA, that process is already underway. The 3 other towers will begin construction this summer.

to quote the bumper stickers i saw all over oklahoma city and the rest of the state while my band was on tour there: "Keep Oklahoma Awful" it's like "Keep Portland Weird" or "Keep Austin Weird" except it actually means something

The Thunder moved to OKC in 2008.

I would love it to go in

500M Indoor water park resort, 1B Arena, 1B Disney-quality theme park and now a 1.5B skyscraper. Flat is where its at.

They really should build this, think of all the housing it'd provide and city revenue from tourism. I'm not from OKC but if my team where playing the Thunder and I could go watch the game, walk across the street, and see the tallest building in America, I think I'd just have to fork up some vacation money. Lot of Floridians like myself, see Oklahoma as flyover country but that 1900ft concrete pillar would be a big middle finger to any plane in North America that is skipping out on Oklahoma.

Seems like there’s no shortage of space in OKC, I always thought you build high when you can’t build wide, but they sure can build wide there.

Okkkkkk right in tornado alley. Sounds smart…

2:46 idk where you got 21 years ago from but the Thunder have only been in OKC since 2009

Just to add some unsaid updates: The city council has approved of an "unlimited" height zoning condition for the development. Furthermore, the design is being further reviewed and tested for wind tunnel and seismic endurance trials (the first to simulate response to tornadic wind speeds, the second to address the now recurring earthquakes from fracking).

Yeah, sure, ok, sounds good and lemme know how this works out. Sounds really cool as long as I don't pay for it.

1700 ft? I thought we were just saying it was 1900 ft

It'd be a feat if this gets built. I think there's still a benefit if doesn't materialize. One big benefit is that it markets OKC as a place that wants to support bold investments. While OKC is out of the way for most people, the city continues to evolve in exciting ways. Another big benefit is that the city has or will be modernizing its zoning and development regulations. In many mid-size cities, the talk about parking would immediately derail a project like this.

Tornado alley has moved east. Not sure why you don't hear there more as almost every time they speak of tornados now it's east of Oklahoma.

The city approved the heights . So they are preparing to start construction

I actually caught the subtle joke on the height. 1,907 ft for 1907, the year Oklahoma became a state.

I don't know if it's because I was born and raised in a town in Oregon but I am not a fan of skyscrapers, or really tall buildings in general. There's so many other ways we could utilize architecture and building off of our surrounding environment.. So I think it's pretty bland to just build these skyscrapers all over. Plus it seems anything that would be in them would be unaffordable. Maybe we could try new formats going forward. (random: I've been curious about how the UK has low income housing programs to help keep things from falling apart. Yet America is dealing with our cities falling apart MUCH more and yet we are yet to try what the UK is doing for those dealing with poverty. People are clearly struggling and others are frustrated seeing things go to crap around town. So why would America not attempt something like the UK does? Anything is better than us currently doing nothing and acting like there isn't a huge cost of living issue nowadays..)

3:28 half of Downtown is parking. What a shame.

I read that eighty years from now the three most populous cities in the US will all be in Texas. Three hour drive from Dallas, this won’t seem so crazy then

Being thicker than a non-occupied tower, and out of porportion to other buildings, from a distance it would appear to be a gigantic smokestack.

This is absurd. There is no way this could possibly be profitable. The Shanghai Tower and the Burj Kalifah only exist because they were government funded vanity projects. Despite that, the Shanghai Tower was half vacant for the first several years of its life! Other supertall buildings have not fared much better - and that was *before* the massive drop in demand for office space post-Covid. If even NYC's supertall residential towers are mostly unoccupied investment properties, what seriously makes anyone think that this new tower in OKC could ever have enough tenants to be profitable? I have no doubt that the city council and probably the state government would be persuaded to put taxpayer money into it as an "infrastructure project for the public good." Which just means the private investors will probably end up saddling the city with the bill once the project cataclysmically fails to meet expectations. It looks cool, though.

Oklahoma City hasn't built highrise residential since the 1960s. Is there much of a market for highrise residential there?

OKC: We’re going to build the tallest skyscraper in the country! F5 tornadoes: Am I a joke to you?