Although New York may scoff, this building’s 13 stories qualified it for skyscraper status in early-day Oklahoma City. Commissioned by Charles F. Colcord, the Colcord owes its strength to his noting that only those San Francisco structures of reinforced concrete survived that city’s devastating earthquake and fire of 1906. Thus, the Colcord was Oklahoma’s first steel reinforced concrete building, a relatively new technique at the turn of the century. Its architectural style comes from the Chicago School, one of whose chief founders was Louis Sullivan, who designed the decorative terra cotta ornamentation. Windows are paired on each floor, creating vertical bands, while projecting eaves top the decorative frieze under the flat roof. Marble is used throughout the entry, leading to a pair of sculptured, nickel-and-brass doors of an elevator — the city’s first. Interiors are graced with fine marble wainscots and floors, oak and walnut trim, blue-chip glass, and unique marble drinking fountains. In a flowering script, Colcord’s initials are emblazoned on door hardware throughout. Although the building has been spruced up in past decades, its marble halls and other unique characteristics remain untouched. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and in 2006, underwent extensive renovations to become Oklahoma City’s first boutique hotel. Today, the Colcord boasts a classic-contemporary style, complete with a new restaurant and lounge.

Project 180 streetscape renovations installed a series of destination markers throughout downtown Oklahoma City. The destination markers depict an aerial map with a small silver pin that denotes “you are here.” The outer ring of each destination marker highlights a local historic or pop culture event specific to the city. Historical significance: Charles Colcord was the embodiment of the early rugged individualist Oklahoman; a veteran of two land runs, at times a cowboy, a rancher, a policeman, a sheriff, a deputy, a capitalist, a banker, and an oilman. The furniture from his penthouse office in the Colcord Building can be seen around the corner in the Norick Downtown Library. This marker reads: The Colcord Building, one of the city’s first skyscrapers, was built in 1909 – 1910 by Charles Colcord. Constructed after the great San Francisco earthquake of 1905, it was built to withstand earthquakes and fire. Built as an office building, it was remodeled as a hotel in 2006.