Mid-Continent Tower Tulsa

The Mid-Continent Tower in Tulsa started out as the 16-story Cosden Building

From the leasing company's website:


"The Construction of a Historic Landmark At first glance, a visitor may not notice one of the most unique aspects of the Mid-Continent Tower; that it is, in fact, two distinct buildings. The 16-story Cosden Building was completed in 1918. The 36-story Mid-Continent Tower was completed in 1984...66 years later.

Because the original structure was not able to support the weight of an additional 20 floors, "cantilever" design was used to suspend the new Tower over the older building at the 15th floor level. The two structures do not actually touch one another. The Tower rises 21 stories above and extends 40 feet horizontally over the older 16-story building. Deeper and wider steel trusses in the construction of the 16th and 17th floors of the Tower and a 120' deep foundation carry the burden of the cantilevered floors.

In order to sustain continuity of the original Tudor Gothic design, more than 85,000 pieces of terra-cotta panels, spires, cornices and moldings were produced for the exterior façade. At the time of the Tower's construction, the only manufacturer of terra-cotta in the United States was located in Lincoln, California. Terra-cotta is fired, glazed clay material somewhat like a ceramic tile. Elaborately ornamental, each hand-crafted and hand-cast piece is a work of art.

Marble slabs to match the existing interior walls were carefully selected in integrating the two structures. Three different types of marble used in the Tower came from Italy. Calcutta Vagli Rosatta marble graces the walls and columns. A marble called Roman Travertine covers the walls of the rest rooms. The accents and trim are Verde Antique. Two colors of marble from Tennessee make up the lobby's floor - Craig Rose and Rose Gray."

Tulsa's first high rise building constructed in 1918 by oilman Joseph Cosden

There is a architectural model on display in the lobby of the 36 story skyscraper.

There is a display in the lower level that shows a cross section of the steel that was used to cantilever the next portion of the building over the old building.

The lobby in the newer section of they building is covered in the same marble that was used in the older existing building.  Stained glass was used extensively in the new addition to pay homage to the Neo-Gothic design of the project. There is a also a stained glass mural that was commissioned to show the Tulsa Skyline as it existed at that time. The Elevator Lobby ceiling also has a stained glass ceiling. 

Here is a view of the elevator lobby in the old part of the building and you can see how it connects to the new addition.  Both lobbies are covered in the same marble.

The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places 

From the street you can get a view of the intricate Terra-cotta tiles that cover the building.

To see my post about the Philtower (shown above, in the center with the pyramidal roof) click HERE

This front view shows the original Cosden Building on the right and the new addition on the left and cantilevered above.

The top three floors of the high rise were designed to be the executive office of Reading & Bates Corporation and are connected by a marble, wood and brass spiral staircase. 

The ceiling of the spiral staircase is adorned with a stained glass dome.  It has been described as being inside a large scale Louis B. Tiffany Lamp.

This last photo shows one of the drinking fountains inside the original section of the building at each elevator lobby.  They are carved into the marble walls and still work!