If you’ve driven through downtown Oklahoma City lately, you know the skyline feels... a little lopsided. For years, the 844-foot Devon Energy Center has stood there like a giant glass thumb, completely overshadowing everything else. It’s a beautiful building, sure, but it looks a bit lonely.
Now, though, things are getting weird.
People are talking about a new tall building Oklahoma City is supposed to get—the Legends Tower—and the numbers are honestly hard to wrap your head around. We aren't just talking about a new "big" office building. We're talking about a 1,907-foot monster that would make the Devon Tower look like a LEGO set. If it actually happens, it wouldn't just be the tallest building in Oklahoma; it would be the tallest building in the entire United States.
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Yes, taller than New York. Taller than Chicago. In the middle of the Great Plains.
The Absolute Unit: Understanding the Legends Tower
Basically, the developer, Matteson Capital, wants to build this massive 134-story skyscraper as part of a project called the Boardwalk at Bricktown. The height—1,907 feet—isn’t a random number. It's a nod to 1907, the year Oklahoma became a state. Sorta poetic, if you're into that kind of thing.
But here is where the "what most people get wrong" part comes in. Most folks see the flashy renderings and think it's just a pipe dream or a PR stunt. They think, "Who would build a 1,900-foot tower in Tornado Alley?"
Actually, the engineering isn't the biggest hurdle. Modern supertalls like the Burj Khalifa are designed to sway and take incredible wind loads. The real questions are about the money and the FAA. As of early 2026, the developer claims to have secured over $1.5 billion in financing, which is a massive chunk of change for a city that, until recently, didn't even have a building over 900 feet.
Why Oklahoma City?
You might wonder why a developer wouldn't just build this in Miami or NYC. Honestly, it comes down to land costs and "unlimited height" zoning. The Oklahoma City Council actually approved a zoning change that removed height restrictions for this specific site in Bricktown.
That’s something you don't see in Manhattan.
There’s also the "Thunder" factor. With the new $900 million arena being planned nearby for the OKC Thunder, the city is trying to turn Bricktown into a massive entertainment hub. The tower is meant to be the crown jewel of that expansion, featuring a Hyatt Dream Hotel, luxury condos, and a public observatory that would let you see probably halfway to Kansas on a clear day.
The Current Heavyweight: Devon Energy Center
Until a shovel actually hits dirt for the Legends Tower, the reigning champ of the tall building Oklahoma City scene remains the Devon Energy Center. Completed in 2012, it changed the vibe of the city overnight.
- Height: 844 feet.
- Floors: 50.
- Cost: Roughly $750 million.
- The Vibe: It’s famous for "Vast," the restaurant on the 49th floor that has incredible views of the city.
Before Devon came along, the tallest building was the BancFirst Tower (formerly Liberty Tower), which sits at 500 feet. Imagine that jump—going from 500 feet to 844. Now imagine jumping from 844 to 1,907. It’s a vertical leap that most urban planners find slightly terrifying.
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The "Tornado Alley" Elephant in the Room
Every time someone mentions a supertall building in Oklahoma, the first thing people bring up is tornadoes. It makes sense. If you’ve lived here, you know what a dry line can do on a Tuesday in May.
Engineers like those at Thornton Tomasetti (who are involved in the project) have heard it all. They argue that a building this size is essentially a massive concrete tube. The core is so thick and the glass is so reinforced that it’s probably the safest place in the state during a storm. The real danger in a tornado isn't the building falling over; it's the debris shattering windows at high speeds.
The bigger headache is the Federal Aviation Administration. Because the tower is so tall, it potentially interferes with flight paths for regional airports. Negotiating that "hazard to air navigation" tag is usually where these projects go to die, or at least where they get a "haircut" and lose a few hundred feet of height.
What This Means for Local Business
If this thing actually gets built, it’s going to change the local economy in a weird way. We're looking at:
- A massive spike in tourism: People will travel just to stand on the tallest observation deck in the Western Hemisphere.
- Increased density: Putting 1,700+ residential units in one spot forces the city to improve public transit.
- The "Halo" effect: Nearby properties in Bricktown will likely see values skyrocket.
But it’s not all sunshine. Critics worry about "ghost towers"—buildings that are mostly empty but owned by international investors. In a city like OKC, where there is plenty of room to build out, building up is a choice, not a necessity.
Moving Forward: The Real Next Steps
If you're watching the skyline, don't expect the 1,907-foot spire to appear tomorrow. The project is being built in phases.
The first phase involves the "shorter" towers (which are still 345 feet tall) and the initial hotel and retail space. Construction on these lower sections is the bellwether. If the developer can't get the 345-footers off the ground, the Legends Tower is likely never happening.
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Keep an eye on the infrastructure permits. Once the "grading and drainage" work starts at the site, that’s when you know the money is real. Until then, it’s just a very expensive set of pictures. For now, the Devon Tower is still the king, but for the first time in a decade, its crown looks a little shaky.
Actionable Insight for Locals: If you are looking to invest or move, watch the area bounded by E Reno Ave and S Shields Blvd. The "Boardwalk at Bricktown" development will live or die based on the city's ability to finalize the new arena deals by mid-2026. If the arena moves forward, the likelihood of the supertall tower reaching its full height increases significantly as the area becomes a 24/7 destination.