The Philtower Building is a historic building located at 427 South Boston Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Description and history
Completed in 1928, it was designed by Edward Buehler Delk and financed by renowned oilman and dedicated philanthropist Waite Phillips (1883–1964).[2] Associated architects Keene & Simpson performed architectural supervision in the construction of the building.[3] In 1941, Phillips deeded the Philtower Building to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), along with most of his Philmont Ranch and Villa Philmonte. The income from the building was used to help support Philmont. In 1977, the BSA sold the Building to a group of local investors. This group, The Philtower LLC, is the current owner.[2] It is an example of neo-gothic and art deco architecture.
According to the Tulsa Preservation Commission, the building represents the Gothic Revival architecture style. A notable feature is the illuminated, sloping tiled roof. The office on the 21st floor that was used by Waite Phillips has been preserved.[4][5]
The vaulted lobby ceiling is composed of large carved stone rosettes that were created in Italy and reassembled in the building by the same craftsmen that made them.[6]
Originally built as a high-rise office building, floors 12–20 were converted to loft apartments in 2004, making the Philtower Tulsa's first mixed use high-rise. The building has 24 floors and is 323 feet tall.[2]
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[1] It was included in the Oil Capital Historic District on December 13, 2010.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ a b c "Philtower website: History"Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ Keene Archived 2012-04-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Tulsa Preservation Commission Website: "Philtower Building"
- ^ Tulsa World – Waite Phillips Execute Office Restored to Former Glory
- ^ "FROM OIL TO ART DECO". Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Oil Capital Historic District. Archived 2014-07-15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved June 19, 2014.
External links
- Philtower Official Site
- Philtower at Skyscraper Page
- Voices of Oklahoma interview with Elliot "Chope" and Virginia Phillips. First person interview conducted on May 5, 2009, with Elliot "Chope" and Virginia Phillips, son and daughter-in-law of Waite Phillips. Original audio and transcript archived with Voices of Oklahoma oral history project.
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