Tallest US tower: ‘More to come’ on Oklahoma’s sky-high ambition
Proposed Legends Tower could redefine Oklahoma City’s skyline — if it actually happens
Oklahoma City may soon host America’s tallest skyscraper — but don’t hold your breath just yet.
The Boardwalk at Bricktown development includes the audacious Legends Tower, a 1,907-foot (581-metre) megaproject set to eclipse even New York’s One World Trade Center.
Developer Scot Matteson told local media he’s not backing down: “We haven’t changed anything, not yet anyway.”
While skeptics — and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) — aren’t exactly cheering (“a hazard to air navigation”, warned one letter), Matteson insists the vision is still alive and climbing.
“There's more to come, that’s all I can say,” he teased.
Permits? Not filed yet.
Financing? Allegedly locked in.
Construction? Maybe by year’s end.
For now, Legends Tower is still just a dream scraping the skies.
Here's what we know so far:
Location, height
Legends Tower is a proposed 1,907-foot | 581-metre skyscraper slated for Bricktown, Oklahoma City (OKC).
Designed to be 134 stories tall, it's intended to surpass One World Trade Center and become the tallest building in the United States and North America, as per Market Realist.
The height is symbolic, commemorating 1907, the year Oklahoma became the 46th US state, as per Newsweek.
Development plan
Legends Tower is the centerpiece of the Boardwalk at Bricktown, a 3‑acre mixed-use development including:
Two 345-ft residential towers
A Hyatt Dream Hotel
1,776 apartments ranging from affordable workforce housing to luxury units
Over 110,000 sq ft of retail space
Amenities like canal-side promenades and a new Thunder arena, the Journal Record reported.
Cost
The skyscraper's estimated total cost is between $1.5–1.6 billion. Developers said $1.5 billion has been "secured" or fully funded by mid‑2025. Phase one (smaller towers & hotel) is expected to begin later this year, according to New Atlas.
Regulatory, zoning issues
On June 4, 2024, Oklahoma City Council approved rezoning to remove the site's 300-ft height limit — overriding prior restrictions and permitting unlimited height construction.
Planning Commission had already recommended approval in April 2024; signage and LED lighting details still pending separate review, The Journal Record reported.
FAA concerns
US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local airport authorities have raised safety concerns, warning the tower could disrupt flight paths and alter instrument approach procedures at Will Rogers International Airport, Tinker AFB, and OU’s airport.
In December 2024, the FAA declared the planned height a "hazard to air navigation," potentially forcing pilots to circle longer before landing, according to News9.
The FAA’s final report is still pending. The development team has indicated they'd be open to “modest height adjustments” – if required, according to Market Realist.
Timeline & construction outlook
Grading and infrastructure work for phase one expected to start in 2025, targeting completion in ~18–30 months.
Legends Tower (phase two) likely to begin in 2026 and reach completion by 2030.
However, recent reports suggest construction has been delayed due to ongoing FAA and aviation-related hurdles; ground-breaking for phase one is still anticipated in 2025.
Criticisms & technical feasibility
Some critics question the feasibility of such a tall structure in a mid‑sized metro with low urban density, limited high-end housing demand, and frequent tornadoes.
Local council members raised doubts about developer promises around affordable housing and community case management via nonprofit partnerships
Financials
The Legends Tower is secured financially and cleared initial zoning, and promises to redefine America’s skyline.
But lingering FAA objections and feasibility concerns may still reshape — or delay — this mega-project.
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