What could soon be the tallest building in the US has just been approved to be built at an “unlimited height,” reports People. The new record holder, which would overtake One World Trade Center in New York City, would be nowhere near the shimmering skylines of the Big Apple, Chicago, or Los Angeles, but rather in Oklahoma City, right in the middle of America’s heartland.
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What to know about the future tallest building in the US
Called the Boardwalk at Bricktown, the complex was designed by AO and developed by Matteson Capital. In January, the organizations submitted a request to the Oklahoma City Council to build a 1,907-foot-tall tower, after previously being given the green light to build the structure at 1,750 feet. The approved modification means the complex will be 131 feet taller than One World Trade Center and also claim the record for the sixth tallest building in the world.
“AO is delighted that the Oklahoma City Council has approved the development team’s request for unlimited height for the Boardwalk at Bricktown,” AO said in a statement to People. “We are grateful that the city council has embraced the vision of Matteson Capital and the entire design team to transform the city into a global destination.”
Boardwalk at Bricktown design
The building will be a mixed-use structure, offering residential, hospitality, retail, dining, and entertainment space across five million square feet. “The Boardwalk at Bricktown will deliver an exciting architectural tapestry of modern design and a rich mixed-use experience at the heart of a vibrant entertainment district,” AO shared on its website.
The base levels of the complex will feature open plazas and space for retail and dining tenants. From this volume, four towers extend upwards. Three stand at 345 feet, while the fourth—called Legends Tower—will ascend 1,907 feet. Not only does this height secure the record for tallest building in the country, it also represents the year Oklahoma was ratified as the 46th state, 1907. “A catalyst for urban evolution, The Boardwalk embodies the spirited essence of Oklahoma City, honoring its rich past, dynamic present, and promising future,” AO shared. The mixed-use building will hold a hotel, 1,583 residential units, and 203,000 square feet of dining, retail, and entertainment space.
When will the Boardwalk at Bricktown be completed?
Construction for phase one of the Boardwalk at Bricktown (which would include the Dream Hotel by Hyatt, residential condominiums in the Dream Tower, and two residential towers filled with apartments) is anticipated to begin later this year. The Legends Tower, part of phase two, will likely be completed by 2030, according to Gulf News.
If constructed as planned, the Boardwalk at Bricktown would be the 18th building to hold the title of the tallest building in the US. It would be the first in Oklahoma and one of only a handful outside of New York City. Prior to One World Trade Center holding the record, the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower in Chicago was the tallest.
What are the tallest buildings in America right now?
From New York to Chicago, these skyscrapers push the limits of design and engineering—and several have once held the world’s tallest title.
1. One World Trade Center (New York, New York)
Photo: Getty Images
