Entry No. 23 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: outdoor
Architectural DNA
“twisting like a double helix with no floor to land on and no building to climb”
A rusted spiral fire escape, salvaged from the demolished Marion Hotel, hangs suspended in midair between two Midtown buildings, twisting like a double helix with no floor to land on and no building to climb. Installed by Fitzsimmons Architects in 2014, it's a surreal piece of accidental-feeling public art most people walk right past.
The story
Look straight up mid-block along NW 10th Street and you'll catch a piece of ghost architecture suspended over the pavement. Suspended on steel cables between the 123 Garage parking deck and the brick facade of the historic Buick building, a rusted spiral fire escape hangs frozen in midair. It was salvaged from the demolished Marion Hotel, rescued from the scrap heap, and installed by Fitzsimmons Architects and Lingo Construction Services in 2014 as a quiet piece of overhead public art.
The surreal thrill of the piece is its complete refusal to function. A fire escape exists to offer a frantic route down to safety; this one starts nowhere, ends nowhere, and floats twenty feet above the pavement with no floor to catch you and no doorway to climb toward. It twists like a strand of metal DNA in an open brick corridor that hundreds of pedestrians walk right beneath every day without ever raising their heads.
What it's like
Finding it takes no ticket, no waiting, and about three minutes of your afternoon. Leave your car in the 123 Garage right on 10th Street or walk over from nearby Plaza Court. The trap is scanning at street level—you have to physically stop mid-block and tilt your head back to spot the ironwork dangling against the sky. Plan your visit for daytime when direct sun catches the orange patina of the rust, and if you look closely at the structure, you can spot the architect's initials etched right into the metal.
The move: Make it the odd centerpiece of a slow Midtown wander: find the floating staircase, hunt for the architect's initials etched into it, then drift to a nearby Midtown coffee or patio to compare photos.
📍 Before you go The staircase hangs over NW 10th Street in Midtown, strung on cables between the 123 Garage parking structure and the old Buick building beside it, so look up mid-block rather than scanning at street level. The garage right there is the easiest place to leave the car, and the piece reads best in daylight when the rust catches the sun. There is no plaque or marked entrance, which is the catch: it is easy to walk straight under it without noticing. Midtown coffee shops, patios, and the Plaza Court block are all within an easy stroll for a longer wander.
- 📍 Midtown
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 123 NW 10th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Hours: Outdoor public art, viewable anytime; best in good light for photos.
Pair it with
- Factory Obscura: Mix-Tape After Hours — Trade an outdoor structural illusion for a fully immersive, music-inspired indoor art maze just two blocks east in Automobile Alley.
- Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge — Pair your high-concept architectural viewing with retro 1970s lanes, wood paneling, and a cold drink down the block in Midtown.
- Vacant Wheel Candle Bar — Keep the slow Midtown stroll going by tucking into Plant People to hand-blend your own custom soy candle.
Good to know
Where exactly is Architectural DNA located?
It is suspended in midair between the 123 Garage and the old Buick building at 123 NW 10th St in OKC's Midtown district.
How much does it cost to view?
It is completely free and accessible from the public sidewalk 24 hours a day.
What is the history of the staircase?
The cast-iron spiral fire escape was originally attached to the Marion Hotel. After the hotel was demolished, Fitzsimmons Architects repurposed the structure and hung it overhead in 2014.
When is the best time to see it?
Daylight hours are best, as bright sun highlights the texture of the rusted iron against the surrounding brick.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · Roadside America · buildwithlingo.com
last checked: 2026-06-06