Proposal to build US’ tallest skyscraper gets billions in funding

A digital render of the Legacy Tower at the Boardwalk at Bricktown development in Oklahoma (Image: Matteson Capital)

Proposed in January, the Boardwalk at Bricktown would include four towers on 2.7-million-sq-ft of space over approximately four acres.

Matteson told Oklahoma-based ABC affiliate KOCO that the scheme could start as early as this summer with dirt-moving, grading, and infrastructure work across the project site.

The build is seeking a height-variance allowance from Oklahoma City officials to construct the proposed 1,907-ft (581m) Legacy Tower, previously known as ‘Legends Tower’. If completed, it would be the world’s sixth-largest skyscraper and the tallest in the US. At present, One World Trade Center in New York City is the country’s tallest at 1,776 ft (541.3m).

The Legacy Tower is one of four main buildings to be constructed for the project. If denied a variance, Matteson told media the project will revert to a smaller plan, which would include a 350-ft tower (106.7m) in place of the Legacy Tower. It would be a height reduction of more than 1,550 ft (472.4m).

The supertall was designed by US-based architectural firm AO.

Legacy Tower criticism

While the project overall has support, the inclusion of Legacy Tower has brought detractors.

Specifically, critics have questioned the purpose of building the nation’s biggest supertall in a city with a population of just 700,000.

Oklahoma City is the 20th largest by population in the US, however, with approximately 606mi² (1,570km²) of land area, the city ranks 320th in terms of population density.

Opponents to the build have questioned why such a large tower would be built at the proposed site considering its value might be greater in larger coastal cities.

Matteson has claimed to have worked on major projects across the globe including the Residences at Little Nell hotel in Aspen, Colorado, US, the Icon Hotel in Houston, US, and the Sapphire Tower condos in San Diego and Miami (both in the US), as well as a 5,000-acre plan in Tuscany, Italy.

Prior to 2020, several media outlets noted Matteson was best-known for dating a reality-television personality from the Real Housewives of Orange County.