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Legends Tower
Legends Tower is an approved supertall skyscraper to be built in the Bricktown entertainment district of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. The 134-story building would stand 1,907 feet (581 m) tall, a reference to Oklahoma's admission to the Union in 1907. Developed by real estate firm Matteson Capital and architecture firm AO, Legends Tower would be the centerpiece of the planned mixed-use development The Boardwalk at Bricktown. If built, Legends Tower would become the sixth-tallest building in the world and the tallest building in the United States and Western Hemisphere, surpassing One World Trade Center in New York City, and more than doubling the height of Oklahoma City's current tallest building, the 50-story Devon Energy Center.[1][2] HistoryInitial plans for Legends Tower first emerged in December 2023, several months after Matteson Capital and AO first proposed the mixed-use development The Boardwalk at Bricktown to the Oklahoma City Council in August 2023.[3] Legends Tower was originally planned to be 1,750 feet (530 m) tall, which would have made it the second-tallest building in the United States after New York City's One World Trade Center.[3][4] On January 19, 2024, a revised plan for The Boardwalk at Bricktown, including the increased 1,907 feet (581 m) height of Legends Tower, was unveiled in a press release by Matteson Capital, AO, and several other development firms.[5][6] The revised height is an allusion to the fact that Oklahoma became a U.S. state in 1907.[7] Matteson Capital CEO Scot Matteson said the development aims to capitalize on Oklahoma City's growth, stating: "We believe that this development will be an iconic destination for the city, further driving the expansion and diversification of the growing economy, drawing in investment, new businesses, and jobs. It's a dynamic environment and we hope to see The Boardwalk at Bricktown stand as the pride of Oklahoma City."[2] The revised plan required renewed approval from the Oklahoma City Council, due to a zoning rule that limits buildings in the area to 300 feet (91 m) tall; Matteson and AO had negotiated an exception to the rule for their original proposal.[2] On March 11, 2024, Matteson announced that the Boardwalk at Bricktown project had fully secured $1.5 billion in financing, but Legends Tower still awaited approval from the city council and the Federal Aviation Administration.[8] Scot Matteson said, "The goal is to start moving dirt by the end of summer, doing the grading and infrastructure on the entire four acres [1.6 ha] of land."[9] On April 11, 2024, the Oklahoma City Planning Commission recommended that the city council approve zoning for the project but warned that they disliked the extensive use of LED signage throughout the development shown in the renderings. Matteson said he plans to start work on the first stage, which consists of two towers and a Dream Hotel, 23 and 22 stories above a retail podium respectively, in summer 2024. The second phase would consist of the Legends Tower, which rises to 1,907 ft (581 m) and 126 stories above the podium.[10] On June 4, 2024, the Oklahoma City Council voted 8–1 to approve the rezoning required to build Legends Tower, leaving only the building's digital signage pending approval from the city.[11][12] UsageLegends Tower is planned to be a mixed-use building with hotel, residential, and retail functions, including a 350-key Hyatt hotel, 1,776 apartments, and 110,000 square feet (10,000 m2) of retail stores and restaurants.[5][6][13] The top floors of the building would feature a restaurant and observation deck with views of the city.[1] The surrounding Boardwalk at Bricktown complex would cover 3 acres (1.2 ha), including three more buildings each rising to 345 feet (105 m), another Hyatt hotel, additional retail and restaurant space, open plazas, parking garages, a lagoon, and a new arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association.[1][2][4][14] ReactionsSome critics of the project have labeled it unfeasible, citing zoning challenges, high interest rates, the prevalence of tornadoes in Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City's lack of existing urban density.[1][5] Kenton Tsoodle, CEO of the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, called the project "aspirational," adding, "If they build something like that, great. Obviously, that would be market-driven."[3] Economist, professor, and skyscraper expert Jason Barr described the building as "an unprecedented outlier" that is "way too tall given the city's population".[5] Oklahoma City mayor David Holt was lukewarm about the project, writing in a statement to CNN: "In my observation private developers often announce plans and some of those plans happen, and some don't. I have no strong opinion and look forward to following their effort."[5] References
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