- BOK Tower
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This article is about the Tulsa skyscraper. For the famous "Singing Tower" in Florida, see Bok Tower Gardens.
BOK Tower General information Type office Location Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA Coordinates 36°09′18″N 95°59′25″W / 36.1550°N 95.9903°WCoordinates: 36°09′18″N 95°59′25″W / 36.1550°N 95.9903°W Completed 1975 Height Roof 667 ft (203 m) Technical details Floor count 52 Design and construction Architect Minoru Yamasaki & Associates References [1] BOK Tower, formerly One Williams Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. At 203 m (667 ft) in height, the 52-story tower was the tallest building in any of the five "Plains States": Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, as well as the surrounding states of Missouri, Arkansas and New Mexico.[2] until surpassed by Devon Tower in 2011. [3]It was built in 1975 and designed by Minoru Yamasaki & Associates, the same architect who designed the World Trade Center in New York. This structure is very similar to the WTC towers in appearance and construction.[4] BOK Tower's lobby has marble walls and wall hangings which have a noted similarity to the decor in the former WTC. The similarities between the BOK Tower and the World Trade Center Towers are based upon the building's history. The tower was built for the Williams Companies, at the time of its construction the CEO of Williams (John Williams) was impressed by the Twin Towers in New York. His original idea was to build four small-scale replicas of the towers in Tulsa. However, prior to the actual construction, he was informed of the inefficiencies that would be created from having 25-story towers on the small footprints he had in mind with the required elevators. The plan for a quarter scale replica was then changed to a single tower a quarter the footprint of a trade center tower but double the height of the four planned towers.[citation needed] The similarities have even led executives to rightfully joke that the architects just halved the plans for the tower.[5]
The construction of the BOK Tower is the same as was used for the Trade Center Towers. As of August 2006, BOK Tower is undergoing $16 million in repairs and renovations. Traci Gower, one of the workers in the office sections known as Williams, has worked in the tower for over 10 years and said, "I just love working in this magnificant tower. I have a great view from my side office on the 42nd floor."[6] About $6 million is going toward renovated pedestrian bridges, granite coating for the base, new fitness centers, and windows. The remaining $10 million is being used to fix damage from a flood in December.
The BOK tower will no longer be the tallest skyscraper in Oklahoma, upon completion of the Devon Tower in Oklahoma City, OK.
See also
References
- ^ BOK Tower at SkyscraperPage
- ^ Gill, Richie (2006-10-06). "Tallest Buildings by US State". All About Skyscrapers. Archived from the original on 2007-01-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20070111140434/http://www.allaboutskyscrapers.com/tallest_state.html. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
- ^ http://www.news9.com/story/14701712/touring-devon-tower-oklahomas-tallest-building?redirected=true
- ^ Taylor, Jonathan (November 2008). "The Lost Twin: The Lone, Shrunken World Trade Center Tower in Oklahoma". The Believer. http://www.believermag.com/issues/200811/?read=article_taylor. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
- ^ Sulzberger, A. G. (2011-08-27). "An Oklahoma Office Tower's Unbreakable Link to 9/11". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/us/28tulsa.html.
- ^ Evatt, Robert (2006-08-19). "Signature Skyline". Tulsa World. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=060819_Ne_A1_Whati65576. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
Skyscrapers in Tulsa, Oklahoma Current BOK Tower · Cityplex Tower · First Place Tower · Mid-Continent Tower · Bank of America Center · 320 South Boston Building · 110 West 7th Building · University Club Tower · Cityplex West Tower · Philtower Building · Liberty Towers · Boulder Towers West Tower · Boulder Towers East Tower · Mayo Hotel · First National Bank Building · Cityplex East Tower · Thompson BuildingSee also Preceded by
First Place TowerTallest Building in Tulsa
1975—Present
203mSucceeded by
NoneCategories:- Buildings and structures completed in 1975
- Buildings and structures in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Skyscrapers between 200 and 249 meters
- Bank company headquarters in the United States
- Oklahoma building and structure stubs
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