BOK Tower

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BOK Tower
Information
Location Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Status Complete
Constructed 1975
Use office
Height
Roof 667 ft (203 m)
Technical details
Floor count 52
Companies
Architect Minoru Yamasaki & Associates

BOK Tower, formerly One Williams Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. At 203 m (667 ft) in height, the 52-story tower is 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.[1] 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. 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 it the CEO of Williams (John Williams) was impressed by the Twin Towers in New York. His original idea was to build four a small-scale replicas of the towers in Tulsa. However, prior to the actual construction, he was informed of the inefficencies that would be created from having 25 story towers on the small foot prints 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 foot print of a trade center tower but double the height of the four planned towers.[citation needed]

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.[2] 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gill, Richie (2006-10-06). Tallest Buildings by US State. All About Skyscrapers. Retrieved on 2007-04-14.
  2. ^ Evatt, Robert. "Signature Skyline", Tulsa World, 2006-08-19. Retrieved on 2007-09-19. 
Preceded by
First Place Tower
Tallest Building in Tulsa
1975—Present
203m
Succeeded by
None