How Many Stories is the Tallest Building in Oklahoma City? A Deep Dive into OK's Skyscraper Game (It's a Tall Order, Y'all!)
What is up, my fellow skyline enthusiasts and vertical visionaries? Pull up a chair, grab a cold soda, and let's talk about some serious altitude. We're diving headfirst into the concrete jungle of the American Heartland to answer a question that keeps architects up at night and gives casual tourists a crick in the neck: just how many stories does the tallest building in Oklahoma City rock?
Forget your typical Wikipedia search, folks. We're going on a high-octane, information-packed thrill ride to not just get a number, but to unpack the entire history, the hilarious context, and the utterly mind-boggling future of OKC’s skyscraper saga. It’s a drama full of ambitious developers, dizzying heights, and one giant, shimmering tower that's the absolute bomb.
Step 1: Peeling Back the Curtain: The Current Champ
First things first, let's get the facts straight. As of right now, if you roll into Oklahoma City and gaze up like a bewildered puppy, the building that’s gonna make you say, "Hold up, that's huge!" is the undisputed, reigning champion.
| How Many Stories Is The Tallest Building In Oklahoma City |
1.1. The Name Drop: Devon Energy Center
The current tallest building in Oklahoma City—and the entire state of Oklahoma, by the way—is the Devon Energy Center, often just called the "Devon Tower." It's not just a building; it's a massive, glass-clad statement that screams, "Yeah, we got big oil and gas money, and we know how to use it!" Its sleek, modern design stands out on the OKC skyline like a perfectly tailored tuxedo at a picnic. It's truly a sight to behold.
1.2. The Big Number: Stories That Matter
Tip: Slow down when you hit important details.
So, you want the brass tacks? The answer to your main question? Drumroll, please...
The Devon Energy Center boasts a jaw-dropping total of 50 stories.
Yup, fifty! That’s fifty floors of serious corporate hustle, high-tech offices, and, let’s not forget, one seriously fancy public restaurant on the top floors where you can eat a steak while looking down at the clouds (more on that later, keep reading, you won't want to miss the deets). This behemoth of glass and steel reaches an architectural height of 844 feet (about 257 meters). It truly redefined the Oklahoma City skyline when it was completed.
Step 2: The Ascent to Glory: How Devon Got So High
Buildings don’t just poof into existence. The Devon Tower’s rise was a major event in OKC history, a genuine flex for the city’s downtown revitalization.
2.1. Knocking Out the Competition: The 40-Year Reign
Before Devon came along, the title of OKC’s tallest was held for a whopping four decades by the BancFirst Tower (originally the Liberty National Bank Tower, then Chase Tower—the name changes are a whole other comedy skit). That old champ clocked in at 36 stories. When the Devon Tower was under construction, every floor added was a mini-celebration as it steadily surpassed its predecessor. Imagine the drama! It was like a real-life, slow-motion skyscraper race! When Devon finally topped out in 2011, it was a massive shift in the city's architectural landscape.
QuickTip: Revisit key lines for better recall.
2.2. A View Worth the Trip: VAST Restaurant
This isn't just an office building, folks. Remember those 50 stories? The 49th and 50th floors are home to the incredible VAST restaurant. This is where the magic happens. You don't have to be an oil exec to get in; it's open to the public. Pro-Tip: Try to snag a window seat just before sunset. The view of the city transforming from daytime bustle to a glittering grid of lights is absolutely next-level. It’s the highest you can legally go without a pilot's license!
Step 3: Wait, There’s More! The Future Sky-High Drama (The Plot Thickens!)
Just when you thought 50 stories was the end of the story, OKC's developers went absolutely bananas. We’re talking about a proposed project that is so ambitious, it sounds like something straight out of a superhero movie. Get ready to have your mind blown.
3.1. The Legends Tower: A Total Game-Changer
Hold onto your hats, because there is a proposed development that would make the 50-story Devon Tower look like a cute little baby building. It's called the Legends Tower, and it's part of a massive development known as the "Boardwalk at Bricktown." This isn't just a slight height increase—this is the Olympics of tall!
3.2. The Proposed Story Count: Seriously?
QuickTip: Use the post as a quick reference later.
Ready for the number? The developers are aiming for a staggering 134 stories! No, that's not a typo. One hundred and thirty-four floors! This proposed supertall skyscraper would be a total beast, reaching a mind-bending height of 1,907 feet. Why 1,907 feet? That's a clever nod to the year Oklahoma was admitted to the Union—1907.
3.3. Taming the Tornado Alley Titans
This crazy ambition comes with some real, serious questions. Building a tower that tall—taller than One World Trade Center in NYC, mind you—in a place affectionately known as "Tornado Alley"? That’s not for the faint of heart! Engineers are going to have to make sure this thing can withstand the kind of winds that would send your average garden gnome into low Earth orbit. It's a structural engineering challenge that is truly epic. We're talking super-reinforced concrete cores and foundations deep enough to hit ancient dinosaur bones.
So, to wrap up this sky-scraping adventure, the current titleholder is the Devon Energy Center with 50 stories. But keep your eyes glued to the OKC skyline, because if the Legends Tower gets built, we’ll be talking about a new champ with 134 stories that will change the American skyline forever! It’s a story as big as the building itself!
FAQ Questions and Answers
How tall is the Devon Energy Center in feet?
The Devon Energy Center stands at an impressive 844 feet (257 meters), which makes it the tallest building in the entire state of Oklahoma.
QuickTip: Skim the intro, then dive deeper.
How to visit the top of the tallest building in Oklahoma City?
You can visit the top by making a reservation at the VAST restaurant, which is located on the 49th and 50th floors of the Devon Energy Center. It’s a great spot for a fancy date night!
What was the tallest building in OKC before the Devon Tower?
The tallest building before the Devon Tower was the BancFirst Tower (formerly Chase Tower), which has 36 stories and held the title for about 40 years.
What is the proposed name for the future tallest skyscraper in Oklahoma City?
The proposed skyscraper that would surpass the Devon Tower is called the Legends Tower, and it is planned to be a massive 134 stories.
How to get a good photograph of the Oklahoma City skyline?
For a truly killer shot that captures the Devon Tower in all its glory, head to the Myriad Botanical Gardens or the Skydance Bridge at night. The way the tower is lit up is pure Instagram gold.
Would you like me to find out the specific year the BancFirst Tower (the former tallest building) was completed?