320 South Boston Building

320 South Boston Building
Former names Exchange National Bank Building
Alternative names National Bank of Tulsa Building
General information
Status Complete
Address 320 South Boston
Town or city Tulsa, Oklahoma
Country USA
Construction started 1910
Completed 1929
Height
Height 400 feet
Top floor 22
Design and construction
Architect George Winkler

The 320 South Boston Building, formerly known as the National Bank of Tulsa Building, is a 22-story highrise building located in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was originally constructed at the corner of Third Street and Boston Avenue as a ten-story headquarters building for the Exchange National Bank of Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1917, and expanded to its present dimensions in 1929.[1][2] The addition brought the building's height to 400 feet (122 m), making it the tallest building in Oklahoma.[1] It lost this distinction in 1931, but remained the tallest building in Tulsa until Fourth National Bank (today Bank of America Center) was completed in 1967.

In 1933, Exchange National Bank reorganized and renamed itself as the National Bank of Tulsa. Thereafter, the building was known as the National Bank of Tulsa Building (or NBT Building), until the bank renamed itself as Bank of Oklahoma (BOK). The BOK moved to its newly-constructed BOK Tower in 1977. The NBT Building reverted to its former 320 South Boston Building name and became a general office building.

Like the Empire State Building, the pinnacle of 320 South Boston was designed as a Zeppelin mooring. This was used at least once when a U.S. Navy Zeppelin moored there in the 1930s. The top of the building was illuminated for weather alerts, with flashing red lights in the event of an approaching storm.[3][4]

The architect was George Winkler, who also designed the Mayo Hotel.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Historic Tulsa: The Bank at 320 South Boston,[1]
  2. ^ Emporis
  3. ^ http://www.tulsatvmemories.com/weather.html#nbt
  4. ^ Underwood, Bill (February 26, 1997). "320 South Boston." Tulsa World.

External links

Preceded by
Philtower Building
Tallest Building in Tulsa
1928—1967
122m
Succeeded by
Bank of America Center