The Finishing Touches: Oklahoma City’s Downtown Revival Gains Momentum with Latest Developments In recent years, Oklahoma City has undergone a remarkable transformation, rapidly evolving from a small-town charm to a vibrant urban hub. The revitalization of downtown Oklahoma City has been decades in the making, with various projects and initiatives converging to create a thriving metropolis. The latest additions to the city’s landscape are the long-awaited new stadium and entertainment district, poised to put the final touches on this urban renaissance. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of these exciting developments and explore how they will cement Oklahoma City’s status as a premier destination for sports, entertainment, and culture. Get ready to experience the ultimate fusion of sports, dining, and nightlife – the future of downtown Oklahoma City is now within reach.
The Legends Tower: A Game-Changer for Downtown OKC
The seemingly improbable Legends Tower has passed a major hurdle towards its realization. On June 4, the city council approved in an eight-to-one vote the rezoning of the three-acre development site, dubbed Boardwalk at Bricktown, of which the 1,907-foot-tall tower is the most conspicuous component.
A Supertall in the Making: The Legends Tower
The skyscraper, if built, will be the tallest in the United States, a distinction currently held by One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. It would also be the fifth-tallest in the world, trailing behemoths such as Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur.
Boardwalk at Bricktown will span more than three acres, and its podium would include a host of retail and entertainment establishments. Image courtesy AO Orange County, California-based Architects Orange (AO), a firm with expertise in entertainment districts, is leading the design of the 5 million-square-foot mixed-use development, which will include a retail-and-entertainment podium, and three other 345-foot-tall towers.
The towers would house some 900 hotel rooms and 1,776 residential units, approximately doubling the amount of housing in downtown Oklahoma City. As reported by Unionjournalism in March, the $1.2 billion project has been in the works for at least two years—and, according to Boardwalk at Bricktown’s developer Scot Matteson, founder and managing partner of Matteson Capital and Centurion Partners, it is fully financed.
The Structural System: A Concrete-and-Steel Core
Although there is plenty of work to be done before the Legends Tower’s design is finalized, determining the structure is fairly straightforward, according to Ola Johansson, senior principal at Thornton Tomasetti, which is serving as the project’s structural consultant.
The structural system being developed by Thornton Tomasetti will likely consist of a concrete-and-steel building core, outrigger concrete columns and steel trusses, and post-tensioned concrete floor framing. Image courtesy Thornton Tomasetti
“Thornton Tomasetti has completed a number of skyscrapers in areas with very high winds, like Taipei 101 (1,667 feet) and Shanghai Tower (2,073 feet). It’s really just a matter of understanding wind forces, through, for example, wind tunnel analysis, and designing for them,” Johansson explains. “Controlling the movement of the tower, for occupant comfort, is the greater challenge.”
The Tower’s Impact on the City’s Skyline
The Legends Tower would stand out in the relatively muted Oklahoma City skyline. Image courtesy AO
Naysayers abound for the Legends Tower. Many question the economics of a supertall in America’s 20th-largest city, and the wisdom of building such a lanky edifice in the often-windblown Tornado Alley. For the design team, these concerns are misplaced, if not misguided.
“Oklahoma City is the sixth-fastest growing city in the country right now, and if you look at a map, this property is dead center of substantial new developments, like the city’s new convention center; the planned $900 million downtown arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder and a 10,000-seat soccer stadium for the Energy FC, and others,” says AO managing partner Rob Budetti. “The city has invested a lot of money into this entertainment district, and Boardwalk at Bricktown is another piece of that puzzle.”
Challenges and Opportunities in Downtown OKC
While the Thunder organization has been the biggest sports game in town for the past 20-plus years, a new player recently entered the fray in the form of Echo. Founded by entrepreneur Christian Kanady, Echo purchased a majority interest in the OKC Energy soccer franchise in August 2024, creating a new division called OKC for Soccer.
Uncertainty in the Real Estate Market
Ready to commence a new real estate cycle, real estate leaders globally are braced for another challenging year of uncertainty, with lingering inflation, largely driven by factors including geopolitical instability, and persistently higher interest rates in some regions, potentially delaying a hoped-for recovery in capital markets and occupancy metrics.
This is according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Global Outlook 2025 from PwC and ULI, which provides an important gauge of global sentiment for investment and development prospects, amalgamating and updating three regional reports which canvassed thousands of real estate leaders across Europe, the United States and Asia Pacific.
The Importance of Public-Private Partnerships
“The collaboration among private developers, investors, and the city underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in bringing ambitious visions to life,” said David Chapman, professor of real estate at the University of Central Oklahoma.
“With the right mix of thoughtful planning, strategic investment, and community engagement, OKC is demonstrating how a well-executed stadium district can redefine a city’s identity and long-term economic trajectory.”
The Future of Downtown OKC: A Hub of Connectivity and Growth
Mark Beffort, CEO of local real estate firm Robinson Park, has seen firsthand the evolution of downtown OKC over the past 30 years. He was an early pioneer in bringing residential condominiums to downtown in 2010 with the conversion of the top seven floors of the 1930s-era City Place office building.
More recently, in 2022, a local group led by developer Gary Brooks converted the city’s iconic First National Center office building into mixed uses, including retail, food and beverage establishments, luxury apartments, and a hotel.
The OKC Entertainment District site is the last major undeveloped tract in downtown Oklahoma City, and will create synergies with Bricktown and the new Thunder NBA arena which opens in 2028.
“We’re wanting to create a very vibrant community where it doesn’t matter your demographic,” said Beffort. “This is a place where everyone wants to come because this is the connecting puzzle piece for unlocking the future of downtown OKC.”
“We are thinking of this as an experience economy,” said Megan Gelmers, director of investments and development at Robinson Park. “We need to stop creating islands and instead create a destination and environments that connect to the core of downtown. This site is all about creating density so people have everything they need right in those 60 acres.”
The key to the district’s success, she added, is connectivity. “Ensuring we are all working together to successfully build OKC for the next 20 or 30 years is critical.”
Conclusion
Conclusion: The Final Flourish of Downtown Oklahoma City’s Revitalization
In our exploration of the transformative developments in downtown Oklahoma City, one theme has emerged: the convergence of exciting new projects that are cementing the city’s position as a hub for entertainment, culture, and innovation. The addition of a state-of-the-art stadium and an entertainment district is the final puzzle piece in a complex narrative of urban revitalization. The key takeaway from this story is that Oklahoma City’s commitment to reinvention has paid off, yielding a vibrant downtown that is now a magnet for visitors, residents, and businesses alike. By investing in these signature projects, the city has not only created new opportunities for economic growth but also enhanced the quality of life for its citizens.
The significance of these developments extends beyond the city’s borders, as they serve as a model for urban renewal initiatives nationwide. By embracing a forward-thinking approach to development, Oklahoma City has demonstrated that even the most unlikely of places can be transformed into thriving, dynamic destinations. As the city continues to evolve and adapt, the possibilities for growth and exploration are endless. What’s next for downtown Oklahoma City? Will it continue to push the boundaries of innovation and creativity, or will it solidify its position as a regional leader in entertainment and culture? One thing is certain: the momentum is building, and the city is poised to reap the rewards of its vision and determination.
As Oklahoma City raises the curtain on its new stadium and entertainment district, the world is watching. This is more than just a development project – it’s a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives and a shining example of what can be achieved when creativity, perseverance, and collective vision come together. As the city’s downtown continues to shine, one thing is clear: Oklahoma City’s best days are yet to come.