The Legends Tower is set to be constructed in Oklahoma City, standing at a height of 581 meters, which is approximately 40 meters taller than the One World Trade Center.
Authorities are considering the construction of the tallest skyscraper in the United States, as reported by Interesting Engineering on April 19. The new building, Legends Tower, will not be located in the bustling cities of New York or Chicago but in Oklahoma City, which has a population of only about 700,000. The structure will be situated on a parking lot near rail tracks and warehouses.
Design of the 581m tall Legends Tower in the U.S. (Image: AO).
Initially, Legends Tower was planned to be the second tallest building in the U.S. However, the designers and developers decided to aim even higher. According to the new plan, the building will reach a height of 1,907 feet (581 meters) to commemorate the year Oklahoma became the 46th state of the United States. Consequently, Legends Tower will be approximately 40 meters taller than the current tallest skyscraper in the U.S., the One World Trade Center in New York City. The tower is expected to rank sixth among the tallest buildings in the world, following China’s Ping An International Finance Center.
Surrounding the main skyscraper, Legends Tower, are three smaller buildings, each standing at 105 meters. The Legends Tower is expected to feature around 1,750 residential units and a luxury hotel. The estimated cost of the project, which includes structures like a water pool and wooden walkways, is $1.6 billion.
However, the new project also faces several challenges. Constructing such a tall building in a city with a population of less than 1 million may not make much financial sense. Additionally, during a city planning meeting, another concern was raised regarding the weather.
Oklahoma City is prone to tornadoes, making it difficult to construct a tall building like the Legends Tower. To address this issue, Rob Budetti, a manager at AO – the company responsible for designing Legends Tower – stated that engineers will build a thick concrete core around the elevator shaft to ensure stability. The building’s windows will also be designed to withstand the impacts of tornadoes without damage. Budetti even suggested that this could be one of the safest places for people during a tornado.
The Oklahoma City Planning Commission has approved the project, although there are still some obstacles, including a city meeting on June 4. If all goes well, project developer Scot Matteson hopes to break ground in July this year.
