You can’t miss it. If you’re driving down South Lewis Avenue in Tulsa, the gold-tinted glass hits you like a physical weight. It’s shimmering. It’s massive. It’s arguably the most ambitious, controversial, and visually arresting architectural project in Oklahoma history. We’re talking about the City of Faith Tulsa, a complex that was supposed to change the world—or at least the way we think about prayer and pills.
Most people see the "60-30-20" towers and think of Oral Roberts. They think of the 900-foot-tall vision. They think of the 80s. But there is a whole lot more to the story than just a televangelist with a big dream and a lot of concrete.
The Vision That Built the City of Faith Tulsa
Oral Roberts claimed he had a vision in 1977. He said God told him to build a medical center that would merge "prayer and medicine." It sounds almost normal now—holistic health is a multi-billion dollar industry—but in the late 70s? It was radical. He wasn't just building a hospital; he was building a theological statement.
The architecture is symbolic. The tallest tower stands 60 stories high. The middle one is 30. The shortest is 20. Why? Because Roberts believed in the "whole man" concept: spirit, mind, and body. It’s a 2.2 million-square-foot monument to the idea that you can't fix a broken body if you ignore a hurting soul.
Honestly, the sheer scale of the project was terrifying to the local medical establishment. In 1981, when it finally opened, Tulsa already had plenty of hospital beds. The Oklahoma Health Planning Commission actually tried to block it. They didn't think the city needed a massive new medical center. They were worried it would bankrupt other local institutions. But Roberts wouldn't budge. He fought the state in court and won.
Money, Miracles, and a Very Famous 900-Foot Jesus
If you grew up in the 80s, you probably remember the "900-foot Jesus" story. In 1980, Roberts told his followers that he had seen a vision of a massive Jesus who reached down, lifted the City of Faith Tulsa, and told him the project would be completed.
People laughed. People mocked him. But the checkbooks stayed open.
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The funding for this place was a wild ride of direct-mail campaigns and televised pleas. It wasn't corporate backers or government grants building those gold towers. It was millions of small donations from "prayer partners" across the globe. You’ve gotta admit, regardless of what you think about the theology, the man knew how to mobilize a crowd.
What was inside?
Inside, it looked less like a sterile clinic and more like a high-end hotel. Soft colors. High ceilings. It was meant to be "the most beautiful hospital in the world." Roberts hired some of the best doctors he could find, promising them a place where they could actually pray with their patients without getting fired.
But the dream had a shelf life.
Why the Hospital Closed (And What It Is Now)
By 1989, the medical center was bleeding money. It turns out that running a 60-story hospital is incredibly expensive, and the occupancy rates just weren't there. People weren't traveling from all over the world in the numbers Roberts had predicted.
It closed. Just eight years after it opened.
The medical community in Tulsa breathed a sigh of relief, but the city was left with a massive, gleaming ghost town. For a while, it felt like the City of Faith Tulsa would become a multi-million dollar ruin. But then, something interesting happened.
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It pivoted.
Today, you don't call it the City of Faith. It’s officially CityPlex Towers. It’s one of the most successful office conversions in the region. Instead of hospital beds, you’ve got law firms, tech startups, call centers, and even satellite campuses for other universities.
- The 60-story tower: Mainly commercial office space.
- The 30-story tower: A mix of professional services and the Surgery Center of Oklahoma.
- The 20-story tower: Research and administrative offices.
It’s a business hub. It’s basically a vertical city within Tulsa. You can go to the gym, get your hair cut, eat lunch, and file your taxes without ever leaving the complex.
The "Praying Hands" and the Legacy
You can't talk about the City of Faith without mentioning the hands. The Praying Hands sculpture at the entrance is 60 feet tall. It weighs 30 tons. It’s the largest bronze sculpture of its kind in the world.
Initially, the hands were located at the very front of the medical center entrance. When the complex transitioned to CityPlex, they were moved to the entrance of Oral Roberts University (ORU) just across the street. They serve as a permanent reminder of what the site was supposed to be.
Even though the original mission failed, the building itself became a survivor. It’s a landmark. Pilots use it to navigate. Locals use it as a compass.
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A Lesson in Ambition
The City of Faith Tulsa represents the peak of the "Gospel of Success" era. It’s a case study in what happens when massive religious fervor meets the hard reality of healthcare economics. Was it a failure? Economically, as a hospital, yes. But as an architectural feat and a long-term commercial asset for Tulsa? It’s arguably a success.
What You Should Know If You Visit
If you’re heading to Tulsa to see the towers, keep a few things in mind. It isn't a museum. It's a working office building. You can't just wander onto the 60th floor to take selfies unless you have business there.
- Photography: The best shots are from the ORU campus across the street or from the parking lots nearby at sunset. That gold glass reflects the Oklahoma sky in a way that looks like it's literally on fire.
- The Surroundings: The area around 81st and Lewis has grown up around the towers. There are great local spots like Fat Guy's Burger Bar nearby if you need to refuel.
- The Scale: Don't just look at the height. Look at the footprint. The base of the building is enormous. It covers acres.
Moving Forward With the History
The City of Faith Tulsa is more than just a cluster of tall buildings. It's a reminder of a specific moment in American culture when the line between faith and infrastructure was almost non-existent.
If you're interested in the intersection of architecture and history, take the time to drive past at different times of the day. The light changes the color of the towers from a dull bronze to a blinding yellow. It’s a testament to a man who thought big—maybe too big—but left an indelible mark on the Oklahoma landscape.
The building transitioned from a place of healing to a place of commerce, proving that even the most specific visions can find a second life in a changing world. It’s not the medical mecca Oral Roberts promised, but it’s a vital, bustling part of Tulsa’s economy.
Next Steps for Your Tulsa Visit:
To get the most out of your visit to the site, start at the Praying Hands sculpture on the ORU campus to understand the scale of the original vision. Then, drive through the CityPlex complex to see how the towers have been repurposed for modern business. Finally, visit the ORU Cultural Center nearby, which houses archives and exhibits detailing the construction and history of the towers for a deeper historical context.