The ‘new’ £1.4bn skyscraper standing a whopping 581m tall and now the tallest in the US

This proposed American supertall skyscraper, standing at a staggering 581 metres tall, would become the tallest building in the US, surpassing the One World Trade Centre in New York City.

If built, it would also become one of the tallest buildings in the world and would more than double the height of the city’s current tallest building, the 50-storey Devon Energy Center.

The 134-storey building, built in the Bricktown entertainment district of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, would stand at a staggering 581 metres tall. It would form part of the aim to transform the city into a “global destination”, according to dezeen.

Developed by the real estate firm Matteson Capital and architectural firm AO, Legends Tower would be the centrepiece of the planned mixed-use development, The Boardwalk at Bricktown.

Initial plans for the tower first emerged in December 2023, four months after the firms first proposed the development.

At that time, the tower was planned to only be 530 metres tall, meaning it would become the second-tallest building in the US.

However, revised plans revealed in January 2024 included the 51-metre increase in height. In their press release, Matteson Capital CEO Scot Matteson said the development aimed to capitalise on Oklahoma City's growth: "We believe that this development will be an iconic destination for the city, further driving the expansion and diversification of the growing economy, drawing in investment, new businesses, and jobs.

“It’s a dynamic environment and we hope to see The Boardwalk at Bricktown stand as the pride of Oklahoma City."

Legends Tower will be a mixed-use building, with residential, retail and hotel functions, including a 350-key Hyatt hotel - a multinational hospitality company with headquarters in Chicago. The top floors would feature an observation deck with views of the city.

The Boardwalk at Bricktown complex would cover three acres and house 1,776 apartments and 110,000 square feet of retail spaces and restaurants. It would also cater for car parks, a lagoon, open plazas and a new arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA.

The revised plans required renewed approval from the Oklahoma City Council, as a result of zoning rules that limits buildings to 91 metres tall. The firms had previously negotiated an exception to the rule with their original proposal.

In March 2024, Matteson announced that the Boardwalk and Bricktown project had fully secured $1.5 billion - or £1.4 billion - in financing, but Legends Tower still awaited approval from the city council and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Matteson said: "The goal is to start moving dirt by the end of summer, doing the grading and infrastructure on the entire four acres of land." The first stage of the project consists of two towers and a Dream Hotel, 23 and 22 storeys above a retail podium respectively. The second phase would consist of the Legends Tower, which would rise 126 storeys above the podium.

On June 4 2024, the city council voted 8-1 to approve the rezoning required to build the tower, leaving just the building’s digital signage pending approval.

In April, the Oklahoma City Planning Commission recommended that the city council approve zoning for the project, but also warned that they disliked the extensive use of LED signage throughout the development.

Critics of the project have cited its infeasibility due to zoning challenges, high interest rates and the prevalence of tornadoes in Oklahoma. Jason Barr, an economist, professor and skyscraper expert, described the building as "an unprecedented outlier" that is "way too tall given the city’s population".

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City mayor David Holt remained undecided, writing in a statement to CNN: “In my observation private developers often announce plans and some of those plans happen, and some don't. I have no strong opinion and look forward to following their effort”.