The 1920s were a transformative decade in Oklahoma City, which was becoming a bustling hub of growth, prosperity, and economic development fueled by the oil boom and post-World War I optimism. The city’s population had doubled in size since 1910 as people flocked to the area to pursue jobs in the burgeoning oil, commerce, manufacturing, and financial sectors. The skyline grew with new Art-Deco inspired buildings and downtown hummed as the thriving heart of a lively social scene.
And The Harlow has seen it all.
Confidently rooted in its modernist Art Deco identity, The Harlow reimagines the charisma, opulence, and elegance of the Roaring 20s and brings back to downtown Oklahoma City the electric, effervescent energy that defined the city in the early 20th century. Bearing the namesake of one of Hollywood’s quintessential cultural icons, Jean Harlow, The Harlow pays homage to her trailblazing legacy of refined poise and independence, offering Oklahomans a unique living experience that is the epitome of consummate luxury and unparalleled quality.
Boasting 265 high-end, upscale apartments and over 4,300 sq ft of retail and restaurant space—including the reintroduction of access to the OKC Underground—The Harlow combines two historic buildings integral to the story of Oklahoma City.
When it opened in 1923, the Medical Arts Building at 100 Park Avenue was the tallest building in the city and an archetypal example of the era’s Art Deco style, featuring 12 stories of stunning geometric sophistication. The Medical Arts Building is significant for its role it played in community planning and development during Oklahoma City’s fourth major construction boom.
The Tradesmen National Bank Building, 101 Broadway, was built in 1921, a 10-story limestone building designed in the Sullivanesque style that served as a precursor to Art Deco and laid the foundation for modern skyscraper construction by introducing innovative stylized and decorative concepts for tall buildings. Occupied first by the Tradesmen National Bank and most recently by BancFirst—in addition to an array of interim companies and organizations in various capacities—the Tradesmen National Bank Building represents the exponential growth of Oklahoma City’s early banking and financial sectors. In addition to being one of downtown’s most recognizable landmarks, the first air-conditioned building in OKC, and a model example of the architecture of the era, the building housed one of the first major banks established in downtown and now serves as a symbol of this pivotal transition in Oklahoma’s economic history and development.
Oklahoma has always been a state in transition, constantly redefining itself while staying true to its history, and The Harlow is no different. After more than 100 years, The Harlow is at the heart of another transformation, introducing Oklahoma City to luxury high-rise living that harkens back to the magnetic and captivating zeitgeist of Hollywood’s Golden Age. And, just as Jean Harlow and the Roaring 20s embraced the bold and redefined social expectations, so too does The Harlow.
As with all of their ambitious historic projects, Gardner Tannenbaum has again met the challenge of preserving the charm of one of Oklahoma City’s eminent landmarks while infusing both the property and the surrounding downtown area with a vibrant, dynamic ambiance. What was once unused office space is now exceptional living for the people who drive this city forward, and while The Harlow maintains much of its original architectural design and appeal, it has been elevated and enhanced for the next generation of Oklahomans. With décor inspired by classic cinema and nostalgic amenities like duckpin bowling and a private resident movie theater alongside modern perks like free workspaces, sports facilities, and a pet spa, The Harlow is simply and unabashedly inimitable, exactly like the Blonde Bombshell herself.
