The Legends Tower is a dazzling skyscraper 581 meters high. The American architectural scene, traditionally dominated by cities like New York and Chicago, will have a new watershed. Oklahoma City, the capital of the state of the same name, announced plans to erect what will be the tallest skyscraper in the country. Legends Tower will not only change the city’s skyline, it will also mark a milestone by becoming the tallest building in the United States, surpassing New York’s One World Trade Center by 39 meters.
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This intrepid project, conceived to celebrate the year Oklahoma joined the Union as the 46th state, will be located on a site that currently corresponds to a parking lot. Very close to the train tracks and a U-Haul warehouse. Its design not only seeks to transform the immediate environment, but also to renew the infrastructure and aesthetics of the city.
In addition to the main tower, the plan calls for the construction of three smaller towers, each 105 meters high. These additional buildings will house 1,776 residential units and a luxury hotel, promising to become a new hub of urban life and economic activity for the region. Although Oklahoma City’s population is relatively modest, with approximately 700,000 inhabitants and about 1.4 million in its metropolitan area, funding of $1.6 billion is available. According to developer Scot Matteson, there is strong confidence in the viability and success of the project.
Legends Tower will be tornado-proof.
However, the choice of location carries with it inherent concerns. With Oklahoma City being one of the most tornado-prone places in the United States, structural safety is a top priority. To meet this challenge, the designers integrated advanced safety features, including a robust concrete core that will wrap around the elevator shaft, providing additional stability. As well as windows designed to withstand the extreme forces of tornadoes.
Rob Budetti, managing partner of California-based studio AO leading the project’s design, has suggested that, during a tornado, this could be one of the safest places in the city. This development also comes at a crucial time, with the Oklahoma City Planning Commission already giving its approval. Still, some administrative hurdles remain, such as the necessary zoning discussions that the city council will address at a meeting on June 4.
If all these challenges are overcome, construction could begin as soon as July of this year, marking a before and after in the history of American architecture. With Legends Tower, Oklahoma City not only hopes to transform its urban physiognomy, but also position the city in a prominent sixth place in the world in terms of building height. Once completed, it will be located just behind the Ping An Finance Center in China. An achievement that is sure to capture global attention and empower local development towards an innovative and prosperous future.
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