Devon: The Story of a Civic Landmark

This richly illustrated monograph tells the comprehensive inside story of one of the greatest architecture achievements in the history of Oklahoma City, and the state's tallest building: the Devon Energy Center. The story begins with the project's origins in Oklahoma City's need for community redevelopment and a desire for corporate growth, through its elegant and collaborative design process, to its complex construction and realization. Intended for everyone interested in the development of landmark structures and 21st-century skyscrapers, the book is both technical and highly visual, including an impressive collection of the concept and architectural drawings and models by Pickard Chilton, the project's Design Architect. Each expertly crafted component of this complex development including its heaven-piercing tower, its glass rotunda, the free-standing Devon Auditorium, the 50th-story restaurant, Devon Gardens, and its exquisite palette of materials are discussed and featured. The monograph concludes with a visual essay of beautiful photographs of the completed project, captured by some of the country's premiere architectural photographers.

Authored by architecture critic Michael J. Crosbie, the narrative takes the reader through the Center's complex history, addressing the project's grand urban design and its vital impact on the civic, social, and urban fabric of the city. Dr. Crosbie also relates tales and insights gained from interviews of the project's many collaborators: Devon Energy, developers, and the many architecture, design, engineering, and construction professionals. The text reveals the project as both an immense collaborative effort and as a singular vision of the philanthropic Devon Executive Chairman, Larry Nichols.