AT&T Building (Oklahoma City)

AT&T Building (Oklahoma City)
Name	AT&T Building (Oklahoma City)
Location	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Status	Completed
Completion date	1971
Building type	Office
Roof	380 ft (116 m)
Floor count	24
Architect	Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Developer	AT&T
Owner	AT&T (original)

AT&T Building (Oklahoma City) is a high-rise office tower in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, completed in 1971 as a regional headquarters for AT&T. Situated near the Oklahoma State Capitol and the Bricktown district, the building has been associated with telecommunications, corporate real estate, and urban renewal efforts involving entities such as Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy, and municipal agencies. It has appeared in discussions alongside landmarks like the Skirvin Hotel, the Myriad Botanical Gardens, and the Devon Tower.

History

The building was developed during a period of expansion for AT&T and was planned amid contemporary projects like the World Trade Center towers and skyscrapers by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in cities such as Chicago and New York City. Groundbreaking occurred in the late 1960s, contemporaneous with infrastructure projects including the nearby Interstate 40 corridor and urban renewal efforts promoted by local leaders influenced by federal programs under presidents such as Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. Its opening in 1971 paralleled economic shifts in Oklahoma associated with the Oil crisis of 1973 and activity by companies like ConocoPhillips and Continental Resources that later reshaped Oklahoma City's skyline. Over subsequent decades the property was affected by corporate restructuring within AT&T and regional consolidation trends seen in firms like BellSouth and Verizon Communications.

Architecture and design

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the tower reflects late-modernist design principles similar to those of SOM projects in San Francisco, Houston, and Dallas. The exterior employs a curtain wall and modular fenestration reminiscent of Philip Johnson-era high-rises and the International Style popularized by architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and firms like Gensler. Materials and systems echo mechanical strategies used in contemporaneous office towers including the Equitable Building (Portland, Oregon) and One Market Plaza. The lobby incorporated public art and amenities that connected to civic spaces like Civic Center Music Hall and cultural institutions such as the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and Chesapeake Energy Arena. Landscape coordination with nearby plazas drew on precedents set by designers who worked on Plaza de la Constitución-scale urban projects.

Ownership and tenants

Originally owned and occupied by AT&T as a regional switching and administrative center, the building later saw tenants from the energy sector including firms such as Continental Airlines (regional offices), Devon Energy (leasing activity), and legal practices representing clients like T. Boone Pickens-related interests. Financial institutions including branches of Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and regional credit unions maintained presence in mixed-use floors, mirroring tenancy patterns found in buildings occupied by Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young in other central business districts. Municipal and nonprofit occupants, analogous to organizations like Oklahoma City Public Schools administrative offices and United Way of Central Oklahoma, also used space during periods of corporate downsizing.

Cultural and economic impact

The tower contributed to downtown Oklahoma City's commercial density, influencing retail corridors that include the Automobile Alley and entertainment zones like Bricktown Ballpark. Its presence factored into urban planning debates involving the MAPS initiative and redevelopment projects championed by figures such as Mayor Mick Cornett and civic groups modeled on national nonprofits like International Downtown Association. Economically, the building anchored professional services employment that interacted with energy-sector booms and busts driven by events such as the 1980s oil glut and commodity cycles affecting companies like ExxonMobil and BP. Culturally, proximity to performing arts venues like The Criterion and institutions such as the Oklahoma City National Memorial linked corporate space use with philanthropic and memorial activities.

Renovations and preservation

Throughout its life the structure underwent mechanical, façade, and interior renovations paralleling modernization projects in comparable towers, guided by preservation practices advocated by organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation for midcentury high-rises. Upgrades addressed HVAC, elevator systems, and ADA compliance influenced by legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and sustainability retrofits referenced standards promoted by U.S. Green Building Council. Local preservation efforts engaged stakeholders including the Oklahoma Historical Society and downtown neighborhood associations, balancing adaptive reuse strategies seen in conversions elsewhere in cities like Minneapolis and Denver.

Notable events and incidents

Notable incidents connected to the building include corporate reorganizations tied to AT&T divestiture histories and workforce relocations resembling shifts triggered by the Bell System breakup. The tower has hosted civic meetings, energy-sector press conferences during price shocks tied to geopolitical events such as the Gulf War, and philanthropic galas affiliated with institutions like Saint Anthony Hospital fundraisers. Emergency responses to routine incidents coordinated with agencies such as the Oklahoma City Police Department and Oklahoma City Fire Department followed protocols similar to those enacted after downtown emergencies in other metropolitan centers.

Category:Buildings and structures in Oklahoma City Category:Skidmore, Owings & Merrill buildings Category:Office buildings completed in 1971