City of Faith
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Place | Tulsa, Oklahoma, (US) |
| Organization | |
| Care System | Private |
| Hospital Type | Community |
| Affiliated University | Oral Roberts University |
| Services | |
| Emergency Dept. | Unknown |
| Beds | Unknown |
| History | |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Closed | 1989 |
| Links | |
| Website | Unknown |
| See also | Hospitals in Oklahoma |
City of Faith Medical and Research Center was a massive hospital located at 81st Street and Lewis Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Built by Oral Roberts University, it was the tallest hospital in the world (as well as one of the largest) during its brief period of operation. The complex is now predominantly office space.
Contents |
[edit] History
City of Faith was built between 1979 and 1981, during which time Oral Roberts claimed to have seen a 900-foot tall Jesus who encouraged him to continue the project. The hospital accepted its first patient in November, 1981. Although many argued that Tulsa did not need another hospital, Tulsa's continued growth soon led to a shortage of hospital beds.[citation needed] In 1987, during a fund raising drive to pay for rising costs associated with operating the hospital and medical school, Roberts announced to a television audience that unless he raised $8 million by that March, God would "call him home" (a euphemism for death).[1] Some were fearful that he was referring to suicide given the passionate pleas and tear that accompanied his statement. Financial difficulties forced City of Faith to close in late 1989, just eight years after it opened. Most of the complex was subsequently converted to office space and leased out under the name CityPlex Towers. It was originally built debt free, though mortgages were later taken out on it to finance its operation and other parts of the ministry.
[edit] Building
The complex consists of three towers totaling over 2.2 million square feet of office space. The tallest of these is the 60-story CityPlex Tower, which at 648 feet (198 m) is the second tallest building in Oklahoma after One Williams Center. The main tower is flanked by the 30-story CityPlex West Tower and the 20-story CityPlex East Tower, which reach heights of 348 feet (106 m) and 248 ft (76 m). Below the fifth floor the towers are joined in a building referred to as the base building. All three towers are triangular in plan.
CityPlex features a futurist style of architecture similar to the Oral Roberts University campus across the street.
Two of the towers are currently non-medical. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America operated in CityPlex West until April 2005, when they built their own facility. Orthopedic Hospital of Oklahoma, an orthopedic speciality hospital, operates in Cityplex West as well as the base building. A Christian radio station, KXOJ, operates in the complex with their transmitting equipment at the top of the 60 story tower. There is a dining room located on the 60th floor allowing a panoramic view of the Arkansas River and Tulsa.
The complex includes three auditoriums with theatre-style seating, fitness center, cafeteria, food court, dining room, convenience store, and catering. The building still stands partially vacant, especially Cityplex West, which is entirely vacant above the ninth floor. Many floors are unfinished from the time of construction.
Until about 1992, the "Praying Hands" scuplture sat directly in front of the lobby of the City of Faith, with a series of fountains and streams going out from it to the road. The sculpture was then moved to the entrance to Oral Roberts University as there were negotiations taking place regarding the sale of CityPlex Towers.
[edit] Trivia
- CityPlex West, the only tower still in use as a hospital, currently ranks as the eighth tallest hospital in the world.[citation needed] If the main tower were still used as a hospital, it would easily be the tallest in the world.
- The rapper MC 900 Ft. Jesus takes his stage name from the 900-foot Jesus incident.
