The Chesapeake Energy Arena has always struck me as more utilitarian than it is aesthetically pleasing – the BOK Center in Tulsa is much more striking. But the vastness of the exterior as well as the interior space makes it remarkable. I have attended several Thunder games and concerts here, and the open space inside of the area seems to amplify energy and deliver anticipation for the show or game to be enjoyed. Arenas are inherently gathering places, and the placement of this building on the edge of the city makes it accessible to out-of-town audiences while also allowing people to move to Bricktown, the city’s entertainment district. To me, the Chesapeake Energy Arena’s importance lies both in the immense scale on which it was built and in the many, many people who gather inside. The Chesapeake Arena was designed by The Benham Companies, LLC. Picture Source

Like most central Oklahomans, I saw the Devon Tower on the horizon a long time before I ever went into it, or even before it was completed. To me, it represents the transformation of Oklahoma City into a destination city – I am sure that while it stands alone on the skyline now, it will soon be joined by others of equal or even greater height. To Oklahoma, I know that it represents oil, our most important export. From far away, it looks solid but its curves make it on surprisingly unimposing, and from close up its glass façade and nighttime lights give it fluidity and life. One of my friends is a bartender at the restaurant on the top floor of the tower, and he says that working in a place with such a commanding view of central Oklahoma serves as a reminder of how much growing the city still has to do. My overall experience with the Devon Tower has been positive as it signals a new era in Oklahoma City architecture and business. The Devon Tower was designed by Jon Pickard. Picture Source