| Dowell Center | |
| Location: | 134 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States |
| Coordinates: | 35.4714°N -97.5306°W |
| Status: | Built |
| Opening: | 1927 |
| Building Type: | Office |
| Roof: | 243feet |
| Floor Count: | 20 |
| Architect: | Layton & Forsyth[1] |
| Main Contractor: | J. W. Mann |
| References: | [2] |
The Dowell Center is a 20-story skyscraper in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Construction on the original 18-story tower began in 1926, and was completed in 1927. The tower's footprint was doubled and two stories added in 1964 by then owner Kerr-McGee Corporation. The Dowell Center comprises more than 205,000 ft2 (19,045 m2) and is located adjacent to Kerr Park.
Originally planned as a ten-story structure during Oklahoma City's early century building boom[3] by Oklahoma City general contractor J. W. Mann. Designed as the first building to appeal to Oklahoma City's oil fraternity the building the 18-story Petroleum Building broke ground in 1926 and was completed in 1927.[4] At the time it was the tallest building in Oklahoma City.[4] Financial difficulties developed and in 1934 ownership of the building changed through a $500,000 federal court foreclosure and was later sold to R. D. Cravens and Associates in 1946.[5] The Petroleum Building was sold again in 1952 to Kerr-McGee Oil Co.[4] who would rename it the Republic Building in 1953 after its tenant Republic Supply Co[6] and use it as additional space for the oil company and other Kerr-McGee interests.[4] In 1962 Kerr-McGee began a significant expansion of the newly christened Kermac Building that would see the structure double its east/west foot print and add 2 stories.[7] The expansion reportedly cost $4 million and took 2 years to complete.[8]