One World Trade Centerin Manhattan, New York, is close to becoming the second tallest skyscraper in the United States, as a new tower is slated to surpass it. This new Legends Tower, was approved for construction last Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma City Council approved an "unlimited" height for this supertall skyscraper designed by the architecture firm AO. The Legends Tower complex will reach a height of 581 meters. This dimension immediately makes it the tallest building in the country and the fifth tallest in the world.
It will be 39 meters taller than the current king of the United States, One World Trade Center in New York. The tallest in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which measures 827 meters high.
The original proposal was submitted earlier this year, with a height of 533 meters for the skyscraper. Shortly after, the developer announced that they had changed the plans and were requesting permission from the city to build at the currently approved height. It was in March that Scott Matteson, owner of one of the developers, Matteson Capital, announced that "the entire project" had been financed and that construction could begin in June.
Construction of the first towers surrounding Legends Towers will begin in the fall
Work on the first three smaller towers is scheduled to begin this year. The main tower will be built once these are completed. “AO and Matteson Capital eagerly anticipate the start of construction on the first buildings this fall and the subsequent opening of the Legends Tower, which will become the tallest building in the United States. Once completed, the Boardwalk’s impact on Bricktown will be significant,” stated the developer behind this monumental project.
Legends Tower Skyscraper | Photo courtesy of AO architecture studio.
The complex will house retail and entertainment spaces, while the towers will contain residences and a luxury hotel. The commercial plaza, featuring restaurants, retail shops, and open spaces, will be called Boardwalk at Bricktown. “A catalyst for urban evolution, The Boardwalk embodies the energetic essence of Oklahoma City, honoring its rich past, dynamic present, and promising future,” the designers added.
The building will also have to withstand challenging weather conditions, as Oklahoma is known for its strong winds and earthquakes. Therefore, the designers have announced that a thick concrete core will be installed around the elevator shaft for added stability.
On the other hand, the skyscraper's windows will be able to withstand the force of a tornado without damage. They claim this will be one of the safest places in the event of a tornado.
Later, in that same area, there are plans to also build a new NBA stadium, the Oklahoma Thunder, for $900 million.
The opening of Legends Tower coincides with a period of remarkableeconomic growth and diversification, moving away from its traditional reliance on the oil and gas industries. This growth was fueled by investments in urban attractions, funded through a 1% sales tax, intended to enhance the city's cultural and entertainment offerings.
As the Legends Tower project moves forward, the question arises as to whether this ambitious skyscraper will represent the architectural future of Oklahoma City or, on the contrary, whether it will be too great a challenge to the traditional perception of the American cityscape.
