THE towering plan for the United States’ tallest skyscraper could shrink after airports say the bid for “unlimited height” is a “safety risk”.
Oklahoma City’s forthcoming Legends Tower is planned to be 1,907 feet tall (581m) with work set to begin soon.
That would make it higher than One World Trade Center and the tallest building in the US.
But, the plan now faces a challenge after Oklahoma City Airport Trust Airports Direct Jeff Mulder said the height would endanger flight safety.
According to the Oklahoman, Mulder sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressing airports’ apprehension that pilots will have to spend more time circling due to concerns about building height.
Flights in and out of OKC would take longer for passengers and more time for planes in the air means more risk.
Flight patterns would likely have to change, Mulder said, and a tight circling approach would be needed, rather than going straight-in.
Concerns about the proposed tower’s impact on airspace have been raised by Will Rogers International Airport, Wiley Post Airport, and Tinker Air Force Base, as the structure is positioned at the periphery of all three areas.
Mulder stated the letter is a routine process and it is “not in support or against the project”.
Oklahoma’s City Council gave the green light for the skyscraper to be built at an “unlimited” height.
It is being designed by AO architects and developed by Matteson Capital.
Scot Matteson, founder of Matteson Capital, told KOCO News 5 ABC that he “expected some pushback”.
He said: “We’re waiting for the full report from the FAA, which we are supposed to get by the end of this month.”
Matteson also told News on 6 that the tower could be a “little shorter” if it needed to be, despite the “unlimited height”.
But the height figure, 1,907ft, is important as it is the same number as the year Oklahoma was admitted to the US as a state.
The grandiose structure is part of the Boardwalk at Bricktown complex which also consists of three other towers – each about 345 ft tall.
The $1 billion development is set to cover a substantial two million square feet and will feature 1,776 residential units, two upscale Hyatt hotels, as well as 110,000 square feet allocated for entertainment, retail, and dining establishments.
The top of the tower will also offer a breathtaking view of the entire city landscape from its restaurant and a bar.
And an observation deck will be installed for the same purpose.
When completed, The Legends Tower will become the sixth tallest building in the world.
The Legends Tower will join the ranks of the highest skyscrapers in the world. Here’s the top-5:
- Burj Khalifa, UAE
At 2,717 ft tall, the structure in Dubai has been the tallest since 2009. It broke multiple world records, including world’s largest light and sound show staged on a single building.
- Merdeka 118, Malaysia
Located in the capital Kuala Lumpur, this building is a megatall skyscraper spanning 2,227 ft height. It is also the tallest building in Southeast Asia and Malaysia. The spire of the building was finally completed in 2022.
- Shanghai Tower, China
Synonymous to the name, it is located in Shanghai and is the tallest building in China at 2,073 ft. It is also the tallest and largest LEED platinum certified building in the world since 2015. The LEED is awarded to green structures that are environmentally sustainable.
- Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower, Saudi Arabia
A government-owned complex of seven skyscraper hotels in Mecca is aimed at catering the pilgrims and its tallest tower stands at 1,972 ft. It is also the sixth-tallest freestanding structure in the world.
- Ping An International Finance Centre, China
At 1,966 ft tall, this skyscraper was completed in 2017 and is the second tallest building in China. It is also the second largest skyscraper in the world by floor area and holds the record for having the highest observation deck in a building.
