Engineering Feats
Oklahoma has several impressive engineering feats that span infrastructure, energy, aerospace, and environmental innovation. Here are some of the top engineering accomplishments in the state.
Summer with OEF
Click here to download a PDF of the color sheet or email us at info@oef.org.
Hey kids, every week this summer, OEF will publish a new color sheet for elementary students featuring a different Oklahoma engineering feat. Be sure to check back each week for a new color sheet and information about one of Oklahoma’s engineering treasures. This week’s color sheet is Kaw Lake and Dam. We’d love to see your work so please send us a picture of your decorated color sheet. Our email is info@oef.org. We might even share it on the OEF Facebook page or website. Read ahead to learn more about Kaw Lake and Dam.
Oklahoma’s Impressive Engineering Feats
Did you know Oklahoma has several impressive engineering feats that span infrastructure, energy, aerospace, and environmental innovation? Now, that school is out for the summer, how about taking time to discover some of the top engineering accomplishments in our state!?
🚧 1. Keystone Dam and Lake
Location: Near Sand Springs, on the Arkansas River.
Significance: A multipurpose project providing flood control, hydroelectric power, water supply, and recreation.
Engineering Highlights:
Completed in 1968 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Contains over 5 million cubic yards of concrete and earth.
Powers a hydroelectric plant generating around 70 megawatts.
✈️ 2. Tinker Air Force Base
Location: Oklahoma City.
Significance: One of the largest and most important U.S. Air Force maintenance depots.
Engineering Highlights:
Houses massive facilities for aircraft maintenance and logistics.
Central to the U.S. military’s global aviation operations.
Supports Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and other aerospace giants.
🌪️ 3. National Weather Center
Location: Norman, University of Oklahoma campus.
Significance: Global leader in severe weather research and forecasting.
Engineering Highlights:
Home to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center and National Severe Storms Laboratory.
Advanced radar, computing systems, and weather modeling tools developed and maintained here.
🛣️ 4. Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway (Oklahoma City)
Significance: One of Oklahoma’s largest infrastructure relocation and modernization projects.
Engineering Highlights:
A $600 million project completed in 2012.
Replaced an aging elevated freeway with a modern, ground-level system.
Improved traffic flow and safety while opening land for development (e.g., Scissortail Park, Convention Center).
🛢️ 5. Oil and Gas Drilling Technology (Statewide)
Significance: Oklahoma is a pioneer in horizontal drilling and fracking technology.
Engineering Highlights:
Major contributor to the shale revolution (e.g., Woodford Shale).
Companies like Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy have headquarters in Oklahoma City and have led innovation in drilling techniques.
🌊 6. McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS)
Significance: A 445-mile inland waterway connecting Oklahoma to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
Engineering Highlights:
Includes 18 locks and dams.
Allows barge traffic from the Port of Catoosa (Tulsa) to the sea.
One of the most complex civil engineering projects in the Midwest.
🏙️ 7. Devon Energy Center
Location: Oklahoma City.
Significance: Tallest building in Oklahoma and an energy sector landmark.
Engineering Highlights:
50 stories tall, completed in 2012.
LEED-certified skyscraper with advanced HVAC and structural systems.
Designed by Pickard Chilton with cutting-edge seismic and wind resistance tech.
Other Notable Bridges and Water Systems
Oklahoma also has several additional notable bridges as well as water systems that stand out due to their engineering innovation, historical importance, or critical role in infrastructure. Here are some of the most significant ones:
🌉 8. Skydance Bridge (Oklahoma City)
Type: Pedestrian bridge.
Significance: Iconic and artistic; a symbol of Oklahoma City.
Engineering Features:
197 feet long, 126 feet tall.
Inspired by the scissor-tailed flycatcher, Oklahoma’s state bird.
Complex steel structure with dynamic LED lighting.
Connects Scissortail Park across Interstate 40.
9. Cimarron River Bridge
Type: Steel truss bridge.
Location: Near Ripley.
We’re working on updating this portion of the post.
10. Canadian River Bridge (Interstate 40)
Location: Near Bridgeport, OK.
Significance: Spans one of Oklahoma’s major rivers with long, elevated spans.
Engineering Features:
Nearly 4,000 feet long.
Part of a major east-west corridor.
Critical upgrade for interstate freight and passenger travel.
11. Historic Route 66 Bridges
Notables:
Rock Creek Bridge (Sapulpa, 1921).
Lake Overholser Bridge (OKC, 1924).
Significance: Part of the original U.S. Route 66.
Engineering Features:
Early examples of reinforced concrete and steel girder construction.
Protected for historic and engineering preservation.
12. Atoka Water Pipeline
Length: 100 miles.
Route: From Atoka Lake to Oklahoma City.
Significance: One of the longest gravity-fed water pipelines in the U.S.
Engineering Features:
Supplies drinking water to over a million people.
New expansion projects (2020s) include a parallel pipeline to meet OKC’s future needs.
13. Spavinaw Water System (Tulsa)
Built: 1920s.
Source: Spavinaw Lake to Tulsa (55 miles).
Significance: Innovative gravity-flow system still in use today.
Engineering Features:
Required extensive tunneling and aqueduct design.
A model of early 20th-century municipal water engineering.
4. Kaw Lake and Dam
Location: North Central Oklahoma.
Significance: Provides flood control, water supply, and recreation.
Engineering Features:
Concrete gravity dam built by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Includes features for water diversion and environmental management.
Check out these online learning platforms
Khan Academy: Offers structured courses in math and physics.
Brilliant.org: Interactive problem solving in math, logic, and science.
Code.org or Scratch (MIT): Easy introduction to programming and game design.
Coursera/edX (with parental supervision): University-level courses like “Introduction to Engineering” or “Math for Data Science” (some are beginner-friendly).
Have a STEMtastic Summer
Summer is a perfect time for middle schoolers to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering options.
🌍 Everyday Math & Engineering
- Cooking or baking to understand ratios and chemistry.
- Design a budget or plan a trip to learn about real-world math.
- Build a garden with irrigation systems or solar-powered lights.
🔬 Explore Engineering Fields
- Research different fields (civil, mechanical, aerospace, etc.).
- Try simulations or games like Bridge Constructor, Kerbal Space Program, or Tinkercad.
- Watch educational YouTube channels:
- Mark Rober, STEM for Kids, Numberphile, Veritasium, or Physics Girl.
🔧 Hands-On Projects and DIY Kits
- Build simple machines or robots:
- Use kits like LEGO Mindstorms, VEX Robotics, or Arduino starter kits.
- Projects can involve motors, sensors, and basic coding.
- Tinker with household items:
- Build Rube Goldberg machines, rubber band-powered cars, or bridges from popsicle sticks.
- Raspberry Pi or micro:bit projects:
- Create weather stations, simple games, or home automation systems.
- Great way to learn basic electronics and coding.