Dowell Center

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]

• List of tallest buildings in Oklahoma City