The Tallest Building in OKC: Devon Energy Center Architectural and Visitor Guide

The tallest building in OKC is the Devon Energy Center, a 50-story skyscraper in downtown Oklahoma City that reaches a height of 844 feet (257 meters). Completed in 2012, the tower serves as the global headquarters for Devon Energy and stands as the tallest building in both Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma.

Architectural Profile and Key Specifications

The Devon Energy Center dominates the Oklahoma City skyline with its distinctive glass skin and continuous tapering triangular form. Designed by the international architecture firm Pickard Chilton, with Kendall/Heaton Associates serving as the architect of record and Thornton Tomasetti handling structural engineering, the tower was planned to consolidate Devon Energy’s corporate workforce into a single central hub. Before its construction, the company’s operations were dispersed across multiple downtown office locations.

Rising 844 feet above street level, the building encompasses approximately 1.8 million square feet of space. Its structural system combines a high-strength reinforced concrete core with structural steel perimeter framing. This hybrid design delivers the structural rigidity necessary to withstand the severe wind loads typical of the Southern Plains while maintaining open, column-free interior floor plates that maximize floor-plan flexibility.

The footprint of the main tower is a three-sided polygon with convex sides. As the building rises, its corners taper slightly inward, creating a sleek profile that reflects changing sunlight throughout the day. At night, the tower’s exterior lighting system highlights its vertical edges, making it a visible landmark across the entire Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

At the base of the tower sits a six-story glass rotunda that acts as the primary entrance hall and civic connector. Measuring 120 feet in diameter, this sky-lit atrium connects the high-rise structure to low-rise podium elements, including a 300-seat auditorium, training facilities, and employee amenities, while creating a public-facing entrance along Sheridan Avenue.

Construction History and Development

The planning of the Devon Energy Center began during a period of major growth for Devon Energy Corporation, one of North America's largest independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. In 2008, company leadership announced plans for a landmark tower that would bring thousands of employees under one roof while making a long-term investment in downtown Oklahoma City.

Groundbreaking took place in October 2009 during the recovery period following the 2008 global financial crisis. Constructing an 844-foot tower in a region prone to severe thunderstorms, high wind shear, and occasional seismic activity required precise engineering and logistical execution. Holder Construction served as the general contractor, overseeing a labor force that poured tens of thousands of cubic yards of concrete and erected thousands of tons of structural steel.

The building officially topped out in September 2011 when the final structural steel beam was lifted into place at the 50th floor. Interior fit-out and exterior glazing work continued through mid-2012, with employees beginning occupancy later that year.

Upon completion, the Devon Energy Center drastically altered Oklahoma City's skyline hierarchy. It surpassed the 667-foot BOK Tower in Tulsa to become the tallest building in the state of Oklahoma. Within Oklahoma City itself, it surpassed the 493-foot First National Center—which had held the record for the city's tallest structure for over 80 years—by more than 350 feet.

Comparing Oklahoma City's Tallest Buildings

To understand the scale of the Devon Energy Center, it is useful to evaluate it alongside other major high-rise structures within Oklahoma City and across the state. The tower is nearly double the height of the city's second-tallest building, creating a unique visual central point in the urban landscape.

While historic towers such as the First National Center and City Place Tower showcase 1930s Art Deco and Neo-Gothic architectural styles, the Devon Energy Center represents 21st-century curtain-wall design. Newer additions like BOK Park Plaza (completed in 2018) were designed with complementary glass facades to harmoniously mirror the visual style established by Devon Tower.

Engineering and Sustainability Features

Designing an 844-foot glass skyscraper in the Southern High Plains presented distinct mechanical, environmental, and structural challenges. Oklahoma City experiences significant temperature swings throughout the year, along with sustained severe spring storm systems.

Wind Load Management and Structural Rigidity

High winds exert immense lateral forces on tall structures. To mitigate vortex shedding and sway, engineers incorporated subtle corner chamfers and a tapering profile into the tower's geometry. The central concrete core acts as a rigid spine, absorbing lateral wind shear and distributing forces safely into a massive foundation mat resting on deep bedrock.

Advanced Glass Enclosure and Thermal Performance

The building’s envelope features high-performance, low-emissivity (low-E) glass panels. This glazing system maximizes natural interior daylighting to reduce electric lighting demands while rejecting solar heat gain. Floor-to-ceiling glass paneling optimizes interior views across all 50 stories without overburdening the building's central mechanical cooling systems.

Environmental Certifications and Resource Management

The Devon Energy Center achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Key sustainability measures integrated into the facility include:

• Daylight Harvesting: Automated shading and lighting control systems adjust internal light levels based on real-time external sunlight.
• Water Conservation: High-efficiency plumbing fixtures and condensate capture systems collect water from HVAC equipment for landscape irrigation.
• Energy-Efficient HVAC: Variable-air-volume systems paired with heat-recovery chillers reduce total energy consumption compared to conventional office tower baselines.
• Urban Integration: The development includes extensive pedestrian infrastructure, public green spaces, and direct connections to public transit corridors.

Public Access, Viewing Options, and Dining at Vast

Although the Devon Energy Center primarily functions as a private corporate headquarters, several key areas are open to the public, making it a popular destination for residents and visitors to Oklahoma City.

• Upper Levels: Floors 49 & 50
  
  
  • Vast Restaurant (Fine Dining & Public Views)
• Mid-Tower: Floors 7 to 48
  
  
  • Private Devon Energy Corporate Offices
• Podium Base: Floors 1 to 6
  
  
  • Glass Rotunda, Public Atrium, Dining, & Event Spaces

The Rotunda and Ground-Level Public Spaces

The six-story glass rotunda serves as an accessible urban living room. Visitors can enter the rotunda during regular business hours to admire its open architecture, dramatic skylit ceiling, and indoor landscaping. The rotunda seamlessly connects to outdoor public plazas and walkways that join the tower with nearby urban amenities.

Vast Restaurant (Floors 49 and 50)

The primary way for the public to enjoy panoramic views from the top of the tower is by visiting Vast, an upscale restaurant located on the 49th and 50th floors.

• Elevation and Views: Situated more than 700 feet above ground level, Vast offers 360-degree views extending across the Oklahoma City metro area, including downtown, the Oklahoma River corridor, and rural horizons up to 30 miles away on clear days.
• Dining Options: The restaurant serves lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients and regional American cuisine.
• Bar and Lounge: Visitors looking for casual access without a full dinner reservation can visit the lounge area for drinks and small plates while enjoying the view.

Outdoor Plazas and Park Integration

Directly adjacent to the tower is a expansive landscaped plaza featuring water features, seating areas, and pedestrian paths. The site connects directly to the Myriad Botanical Gardens, a 15-acre public park featuring outdoor gardens, a sunken lake, and the Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory.

Urban Planning and Economic Impact on Downtown OKC

The construction of the Devon Energy Center served as a catalyst for downtown Oklahoma City’s broader urban renewal efforts, which accelerated through the city's Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) initiatives.

Prior to the tower's construction, downtown OKC faced high commercial vacancy rates and limited evening foot traffic. Devon Energy’s decision to build its headquarters in the city core anchored thousands of corporate jobs in the central business district. This influx of daily workers supported new retail, dining, and hospitality ventures throughout nearby districts such as Bricktown, the Arts District, and the West Village.

Following the building's opening, surrounding land values increased, encouraging further private real estate investments. Notable neighboring developments include the construction of the BOK Park Plaza office tower, renovations to historic properties like the First National Center into a luxury hotel and residential complex, and expanded transit options like the Oklahoma City Streetcar system, which operates stops adjacent to the Devon site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Devon Energy Center open to the general public for tours?

The corporate office floors of the Devon Energy Center are secure private facilities requiring badge access. However, the six-story ground-floor rotunda and public plazas are accessible during normal daytime operating hours. The public can access the top floors by making a reservation or visiting the lounge at Vast, the restaurant located on floors 49 and 50.

How does the height of Devon Energy Center compare to skyscrapers nationwide?

At 844 feet, the Devon Energy Center is the tallest building in Oklahoma and one of the tallest structures in the interior Plains region of the United States. While it does not rank among the top 30 tallest buildings nationally (which are dominated by supertall towers in cities like New York and Chicago), it remains one of the tallest corporate headquarters built in a mid-sized U.S. metropolitan area.

Who designed and engineered the Devon Energy Center?

The design architect for the building was Pickard Chilton, an architectural firm based in New Haven, Connecticut. The architect of record was Kendall/Heaton Associates, and the structural engineering was executed by Thornton Tomasetti, a global engineering firm recognized for tall-building structural design.

What building was the tallest in Oklahoma City before Devon Tower was constructed?

Before the Devon Energy Center was completed in 2012, the tallest building in Oklahoma City was the First National Center (originally known as the First National Bank Building). Standing at 493 feet (150 meters), the 33-story Art Deco tower held the title of Oklahoma City's tallest building from its opening in 1931 until Devon Tower topped out in 2011.

Are there any proposed buildings planned to surpass the height of the Devon Energy Center?

Developers have periodically submitted high-rise proposals for downtown Oklahoma City, including mixed-use supertall concepts such as the proposed Boardwalk at Bricktown development. However, as of 2026, the Devon Energy Center remains the tallest standing, completed building in both Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma.

Practical Recommendations for Visitors

If you plan to visit, view, or photograph the Devon Energy Center, consider the following practical guidance:

1. Reserve Viewing and Dining Ahead of Time: To access the top-floor views at Vast, book reservations several weeks in advance for dinner or weekend brunch, as prime window tables fill quickly. Walk-ins are accepted in the lounge on a first-come, first-served basis.
2. Best Photography Locations:
   
   
   • Myriad Botanical Gardens (South Lawn): Provides an unobstructed view framing the full south elevation of the tower reflecting over the park’s central lake.
   • Scissortail Park: Offers a wide landscape perspective showing how the tower anchors the downtown skyline.
   • Corner of Sheridan and Hudson Avenues: Ideal for capturing close-up architectural shots of the glass rotunda and main entrance.
3. Transportation and Parking: Utilize paid parking garages along West Sheridan Avenue or Robert S. Kerr Avenue. The Oklahoma City Streetcar (Downtown Loop) stops directly near the tower, allowing convenient access from nearby hotel districts and the Bricktown entertainment district.