As many families and individuals continue looking for comfortable cities to settle down in, Oklahoma City remains a popular destination based on affordable housing and a low cost of living. The largest city in Oklahoma as well as its capital, Oklahoma City continues to be the center of the state’s economic industries. Oklahoma City has a population of about 680,000 residents, while the surrounding metropolitan region has a total population of over 1.4 million people.
From professional opportunities to a wide variety of recreation, dining, shopping, and entertainment options, including professional sports teams, Oklahoma City is a great place to live for families and individuals alike, making it one of the most popular places to settle down in the Great Plains.
To go along with all of the appealing amenities that Oklahoma City has to offer, including luxury homes throughout the area, the city has a skyline that makes it one of the most picturesque destinations in the Midwest. If you are thinking about making a move to Oklahoma City soon, you can get familiar with the iconic buildings in the skyline that are high on the list of must-see architecture in OKC.
Devon Energy Center
When it comes to the most iconic buildings in the Oklahoma City skyline, the tallest building of them all has to top the list. The Devon Energy Center is a 50-story skyscraper home to corporate offices. It not only is the tallest building in the Oklahoma City skyline but also the tallest building in the entire state, with a height of 844 feet. But its claim to fame goes even further as it is the tallest building in the Great Plains region between Chicago and Dallas, making it a true landmark for the city.
Construction of this enormous example of must-see architecture in OKC took only about three years, starting in 2009 and concluding in 2012. Those 50 stories contribute to about 1.8 million square feet of space. The Devon Energy Center is a sleek and modern skyscraper with a clean geometric shape that immediately makes it stand out and is visible far and wide. Its record height and stylish modern appearance place this skyscraper at the top of the list of must-see architecture in Oklahoma City.
First National Center
The Oklahoma City Skyline showcases a rich variety of styles of architecture, making it one of the most visually striking skylines in the Midwest and even the nation. A perfect example of this variety is the First National Center. While the enormous Devon Energy Center is a sleek and modern skyscraper, the First National Center is must-see architecture in OKC because of its equally iconic Art Deco style. This look is instantly recognizable around the world and is reflected in other iconic skyscrapers across the nation, such as the Empire State Building in New York City.
The First National Center itself stands 406 feet tall, while the pointed spire gives the building a total height of 446 feet. The tower is just over 90 years old and was constructed in 1931, providing a rich variety of old and new buildings which make up the Oklahoma City skyline. First National Center is the third-tallest building in the city and the sixth-tallest in the state. The art deco style of the tower was achieved by using materials such as granite, marble, and polished aluminum. Current plans for the building include transforming a portion of it into a hotel with over 130 rooms and for the ground floors to include dining and retail spaces.
BancFirst Tower
The designation of the second-tallest tower in the Oklahoma City skyline belongs to BancFirst Tower, located near the Devon Energy Center. BancFirst Tower was originally named Liberty Tower when it was completed in 1971 and is exactly 500 feet tall. BancFirst Tower primarily serves as a corporate office building for several companies, though it also serves as a meeting space for various local organizations.
One of the tower’s previous notable aspects was that the anchor of the USS Oklahoma, one of the ships sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, had been on public view outside of the skyscraper, between it and the Hilton Hotel just to the north. The anchor is now located farther north in the city.
BancFirst Tower is instantly recognizable when looking at the Oklahoma City skyline, especially when viewing it from the south, as the tower stands opposite the huge Devon Energy Center with many of the other iconic buildings that make up the skyline, such as the First National Center building, sitting in between these two tallest buildings in the city’s skyline.
Paycom Center
It may not be a particularly tall building in the Oklahoma City skyline, but it is one of the favorite buildings in the city for loyal Oklahoma City sports fans. New residents who are exploring must-see architecture in OKC discover that Paycom Center is the city’s premier sports and concert arena and, most notably, is home to the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. This iconic building in Oklahoma City is a favorite destination night after night for large portions of the year as up to around 18,000 fans fill the arena to cheer on the Thunder.
The arena was opened in 2002 and became home to the Thunder NBA franchise starting in 2008. When the arena is not hosting professional sporting events, it is a destination for music lovers from around the region who attend headline concerts and more. Looking at the city skyline from the south, the rounded roof is visible in front of all the other iconic buildings in downtown Oklahoma City.
Find a great agent to invest in homes for sale in Oklahoma City, OK
These buildings top the list of must-see architecture in OKC. When you’re ready to start viewing homes for sale in this wonderful city, work with the Jennifer Kragh Group, the go-to agency for the best luxury, historic, and classic homes in the market.
