Devon Energy celebrates new headquarters opening in downtown Oklahoma City

“I have the opportunity as governor to meet with a lot of national and international people. Devon is one of those names that is known around the world,” Fallin said. “When I tell people Devon's world headquarters is in Oklahoma City and that they just completed a new 50-story, modern tower in the downtown area, it perks up their ears that they should consider coming to Oklahoma.”

The project also drew praise from other energy companies in the city.

“This changes everything about Oklahoma City,” said SandRidge Energy Inc. CEO Tom Ward, who attended the dedication. “Instantaneously, you can look up and see how great Oklahoma City is doing and what Larry has done over the past 30 years.”

SandRidge is amid its own construction project. The company recently renovated the former Kerr-McGee Tower and is upgrading two other downtown Oklahoma buildings that combined will create a new SandRidge campus.

Meanwhile, Chesapeake Energy Corp. is continuing to expand its headquarters across town, and Continental Resources Inc. and Enogex each recently moved their headquarters to downtown buildings.

The growth at so many of the city's energy companies benefits the entire industry and has helped local companies recruit employees from across the country, Ward said.

“There's a lot of vitality in Oklahoma City,” Ward said. “We have a great employee base in the community. That brings people from Houston and everywhere else.”