Granite from outside the 26th floor of First National crashed down onto the street below Sunday night, hitting two parked trucks and prompting the emergency closure of Robinson Avenue.
Building owner Gary Brooks reported after inspecting the scene the incident likely was due to water that got in behind the exterior granite during a fire that occurred several weeks ago. The freezing temperatures, he said, are likely to have led to the granite popping out of place.
Of concern to both Brooks and the city is that the debris crashed down into a pedestrian crosswalk below.
Brooks and partner Charlie Nicholas purchased First National in early 2017 and are in the process of redeveloping the 1931 Art Deco tower into housing, a hotel and retail while converting the two adjoining buildings into a parking garage.
The street closing, Brooks said, will likely continue until the remaining granite is inspected and secured.
“The city is shutting down Robinson from the south side of the Oil & Gas Building (where Sweets and Eats is located) to the north side of our building,” Brooks said. “We will have to do some clean-up and We’re going to start building scaffolding around the building to make sure people are protected.”
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-eed277060ebae345aece4914fdf4f43c.jpg" alt="Photo - Debris can be seen atop this damaged pedestrian walkway connecting high-rise buildings above Robinson. A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman " title="Debris can be seen atop this damaged pedestrian walkway connecting high-rise buildings above Robinson. A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman "><figcaption>Debris can be seen atop this damaged pedestrian walkway connecting high-rise buildings above Robinson. A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-4ed2ca173632f03a40d76006840cc59e.jpg" alt="Photo - " title=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-9f2806d7f790fadb7cd7a6ddf2460103.jpg" alt="Photo - A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman " title="A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman "><figcaption>A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-24c82261550f7050e9217016b1a0e033.jpg" alt="Photo - A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman " title="A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman "><figcaption>A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-762d9961bf87317f5327f6b8c1e2e92d.jpg" alt="Photo - A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman " title="A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman "><figcaption>A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-6f93414b56dc839f4bbbeefaa30c2655.jpg" alt="Photo - A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman " title="A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman "><figcaption>A block of N. Robinson Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City is closed to vehicles and pedestrians Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018, after large chunks of masonry fell from the 26th floor of the First National Center Sunday night. Fire crews were called out to the area near Robinson and Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. and discovered the chunks of concrete on the sidewalk on Robinson. The First National Center is currently undergoing extensive renovation. Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman </figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-06148922091e09b8f2fe80dfe657f106.jpg" alt="Photo - Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman" title="Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-69814ae42004ff1e797eba57d1d1c1fe.jpg" alt="Photo - Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman" title="Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-a5aecdfc6e95193a9027664ed6fdfa2d.jpg" alt="Photo - Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman" title="Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-5a84846b39a52b9e31044904b815ee88.jpg" alt="Photo - Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman" title="Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-4ed209bbf6b6fd8a54144050e7829683.jpg" alt="Photo - Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman" title="Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Gary Brooks, president and owner, Cornerstone Development, talks about the debris that fell from the First National Center over the weekend, Monday, January 8, 2018. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure>
Steve Lackmeyer
Steve Lackmeyer is a reporter, columnist and author who started his career at The Oklahoman in 1990. Since then, he has won numerous awards for his coverage, which included the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the city's...
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