Anyone who has driven past 616 N. Walnut Ave in recent weeks has seen it: a single, unmistakable line of structural steel tracing the building’s triangular edge against the sky. It has a name now — the Flatiron Beam — and at 146,000 pounds, it is the defining architectural element of the Berry Rock Building and the marker for the gateway between downtown Oklahoma City and the Innovation District.
An Architectural Gateway
The Flatiron Beam is not ornament. Its form follows the triangular logic of the site itself, extending the geometry that has shaped the building from the first drawings into a feature visible from blocks away.
Rand Elliott, of Rand Elliott Architects, described the intent: “The Berry-Rock building is designed to become a modern landmark for Flatiron District’s future. It’s an architectural gateway into downtown OKC.”
Engineering 146,000 Pounds
Setting a beam of this scale took precision at every step. Fabricated from structural steel HSS members and steel plates by Bennett Steel, Inc. of Sapulpa and Tulsa, the piece was engineered by Wallace Design Collective and erected on site under general contractor Lingo Construction Services.
Jacob Williams, project manager at Lingo Construction Services, said: “Careful planning and precision engineering brought the Flatiron Beam to life. At 146,000 pounds of structural steel, it’s a defining architectural element of the Berry Rock Building, and a fitting tribute to the Flatiron District’s history and character.”
For the team that built and set it, the beam was as much a collaboration as a construction feat. Brian Williams, project manager at Bennett Steel, Inc., said: “The Flatiron Beam is an extremely unique aspect of the project that required much thought and collaboration between Bennett Steel, Lingo Construction, Rand Elliott Architects and Wallace Design Collective. Proper planning and collaboration allowed the 146,000-pound structure to be installed safely and efficiently. We appreciate the trust that was put in us to bring the project partner’s vision to realization, and we’re proud to have been able to fabricate and erect this signature piece for the Flatiron District.”
At a Glance
| Weight | 146,000 lbs |
| Material | Structural steel HSS members and steel plates |
| Fabricated & erected by | Bennett Steel, Inc. (Sapulpa / Tulsa, OK) |
| General contractor | Lingo Construction Services |
| Architect | Rand Elliott Architects |
| Structural design | Wallace Design Collective |
What’s Ahead
With the Flatiron Beam set, the building’s signature exterior takes its final shape. Interior buildout continues through the third quarter, keeping the Berry Rock Building on schedule for its September 25, 2026 opening.
