Oklahoma City has become an unlikely contender in the skyscraper race.
Yes, the unassuming metropolis is now making headlines with audacious plans to construct the tallest building in the United States, the New York Post reports.
Developers at Matteson Capital, a real estate company, are gearing up to redefine the city's skyline with the awe-inspiring Boardwalk at Bricktown tower, set to soar to an astonishing height of 1,907 feet.
This ambitious endeavor would catapult the Boardwalk at Bricktown to the title of the tallest building in the entire country, surpassing even Manhattan's iconic Freedom Tower. Matteson Capital explained their symbolic choice of height, stating that it "honors the year that Oklahoma was admitted as the 46th state of the United States," per the Oklahoma City Free Press.
Initially, the project's proposal had the tallest tower standing at 1,750 feet, securing a second-place spot in the national skyscraper rankings. However, the recent announcement from Matteson Capital reveals their intention to seek a variance from the city's zoning board, aiming to further elevate their colossal creation to new heights.
If the variance is granted, this towering structure will not only claim the title of the tallest in the nation but also secure its place as the fifth tallest in the world - behind the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower, the Shanghai Tower, Merdeka 118, and the Burj Khalifa.
The Boardwalk at Bricktown project encompasses an impressive 5 million square feet of mixed-use development. Among its numerous offerings are 1,776 residential units, two Hyatt hotels, condominiums, and a generous 110,000 square feet of commercial and community space.
What sets this monumental skyscraper apart is the fourth tower, reaching an astounding 1,907 feet into the Oklahoma City sky. The pinnacle of this architectural marvel will feature a restaurant, a bar, and an observation deck, providing breathtaking panoramic views of the city and beyond.
However, this grand vision may encounter hurdles on its path to realization. While Matteson Capital initially indicated its intent to request a variance, city officials have emphasized that rezoning the property would be necessary rather than merely seeking a variance.
Oklahoma City, with a population of approximately 680,000 at the 2020 census, has been steadily climbing the ranks as one of America's fastest-growing cities. In the previous year, it ascended to become the country's 20th most populous city.
Over the past two decades, the field of architecture and structural engineering has witnessed remarkable progress, leading to the proliferation of soaring skyscrapers in many of the world's most prominent cities.
The current reigning champion in the skyscraper realm is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, standing tall at a staggering height of 828 meters (2,716 feet 6 inches). This iconic structure, which surpasses the Empire State Building's height by over twice and the Eiffel Tower's by nearly three times, is a testament to human engineering and innovation.
The Burj Khalifa boasts an array of impressive records, including the "Tallest elevator in a building" at 504 meters (1,654 feet), the "Most floors in a building" with 163 levels, and the "Highest restaurant from ground level" at a soaring 441.3 meters (1,447 feet 10 inches), as confirmed by Guinness World Records.
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