First National Center

First National Center
First National Center, a prominent fixture in the downtown Oklahoma City skyline.
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Apartments Hotel
Location	120 N ROBINSON AVE, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma United States
Coordinates	35°28′06″N 97°30′58″W / 35.46833°N 97.51611°W / 35.46833; -97.51611Coordinates: 35°28′06″N 97°30′58″W / 35.46833°N 97.51611°W / 35.46833; -97.51611
Opening	1931
Cost	$5,000,000
Height
Roof	446 ft
Technical details
Floor count	33
Floor area	992,000 square feet (92,200 m2)
Design and construction
Architect	Weary and Alford
References

The First National Center, formerly known as First National Bank Building, is a prominent skyscraper in downtown Oklahoma City. The art deco tower is 446 feet (136 m) tall at the roof, and is 493 feet (150 m) at its spire and contains 33 floors. The building was constructed in 1931 by the First National Bank and Trust Company of Oklahoma City and has 990,000 square feet (92,000 m²) of office space.

First National Center is currently the third tallest building in Oklahoma City, after the Devon Tower and Chase Tower, respectively. The tower is the sixth tallest building in the state of Oklahoma. The tower has a notable architectural resemblance to the Empire State Building in New York City.

The First National Center is connected to adjacent buildings in the downtown area via the Oklahoma City Underground series of tunnels and elevated walkways. In 2007, the building had a 40% occupancy rate. By 2016, the occupancy rate had dropped to less than 20%.

The owner of the building was the First National Bank Corporation for use by the First National Bank and Trust Company of Oklahoma City. The bank's president E.P. Johnson and stockholders S.M. Gloyd, W.T. Hales, H.R. Hudson, R.A. Vose, and H.M. Johnson comprised the building's ownership and underwrote the construction. The cost of the building was $5 million.

Work began in September 1930, with the demolition of several smaller buildings on the site. By January 1931, the site was clear, and construction on the tower began February 1 and was completed by November of the same year. The bank moved into the building on December 14, 1931. When it was completed, the 33-story skyscraper was declared to be the fourth tallest building west of the Mississippi River.

In September 1957, the 14-story First National Office Building was completed on the east side of the tower, and in October 1977 an adjoining 14-story L-shaped annex was added that went east to Broadway Avenue, bringing First National Center complex to its current state.

Among many businesses of early day Oklahoma City, the Beacon Club was once located at the top of the building.