Dowell Center, High-rise building in downtown Oklahoma City, United States.
The Dowell Center is a high-rise office building in downtown Oklahoma City that rises 20 stories above the surrounding streetscape. Italian marble, Vermont marble, and terra cotta trim create a refined appearance across the building's facade and exterior details.
The structure was originally built in 1927 as the Petroleum Building with 18 floors and became an early landmark on the city's skyline. In 1964 the Kerr-McGee Corporation added two more stories, reshaping the building's overall footprint.
The building represents an era when Oklahoma City was growing rapidly due to oil wealth, and its design reflects the ambitions of that prosperous time. The marble and terra cotta details on the exterior show the care taken in building such structures during that period.
The Dowell Center stands in downtown Oklahoma City directly beside Kerr Park, on the block bounded by surrounding streets of the central business district. Visitors reach it on foot from nearby offices and public spaces, and the park next door gives a clear reference point for finding the tower's entrance.
The tower was first planned as a ten-story structure by contractor J. W. Mann before being built to 18 stories, and it was designed as the first building in the city aimed at the oil fraternity. It stood as Oklahoma City's tallest building when completed in 1927.
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