Founders Tower

Erected in 1964 by the United Founders Life Insurance Corporation, Founders Tower is one of the most unique and well-known buildings in Oklahoma City. The first skyscraper built outside of the downtown area, Founders Tower is 20-stories tall and reaches a height of 275 feet. The structure originally housed the real estate development division of the company and offices of other tenants before being converted into luxury apartments in 2006.

The top story features a cantilevered floor and was home to a revolving restaurant before that establishment closed. The building was designed in the Googie style of architecture which emerged in Southern California in the 1930s and remained popular through the 1960s. One common characteristic of the Googie style is the use of geometric shapes. As such, Founders Tower was designed in the shape of a ten-sided polygon. Other features included cantilevered balconies and a folded plate roof that creates a zigzag outline. Founders Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Beutler, Mark. "The Rise of Founders Tower." 405 Magazine. August 2018.  https://www.405magazine.com/August-2018/The-Rise-of-Founders-Tower.

McQuillin, Steven. "United Life Founders Tower." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/ed7fc77d-61c6-4e15-a7eb-4d88e012e3b3.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founders_Tower_(Oklahoma_City)#/media/File:Unitedfounders_10_29_07_c.jpg