First National Center, Art Deco skyscraper in Downtown Oklahoma City, United States
First National Center is a 33-story Art Deco skyscraper in downtown Oklahoma City, 406 feet (136 m) tall at the roof and 446 feet (150 m) at its spire. Its shaft is divided into narrow vertical piers between recessed columns of windows, and near the top the tower steps back into a tiered crown with a small pyramidal roof capped by a thin mast. The 2022 restoration fitted it with 146 hotel rooms, 193 apartments, and retail and restaurant space.
The building was completed in 1931 during a period when Oklahoma City was experiencing strong economic growth and expansion. Its construction took only ten months, which was a remarkable achievement for such a large structure at that time.
The Great Banking Hall, restored in the 2022 reopening, serves as a public lobby and event space and has hosted galas, balls and proms. The 2017 restoration repaired its decorative painted ceilings, stone columns, cast stone, metal finishes and vault doors and safes. The building's interior mixes polished aluminum, granite, glass and marbles from around the world.
The tower links to neighbouring buildings through the Oklahoma City Underground tunnels and elevated walkways, so you can move between blocks without going outside. The Great Banking Hall now serves as a public lobby and event space, though it can be closed during private bookings. The 1957 and 1972 additions were converted into a 700-space parking garage.
The aluminum aviation tower atop the roof housed a white rotating beacon visible for 75 miles, guiding aircraft approaching Oklahoma City at night. The building was topped out at 446 feet (150 m) with this beacon above a polished aluminum notched roofline.
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