Architect Has Designs on Wind Power

By Ben Johnson

Cutting-edge ideas often come from the strangest places. In November 2008, Oklahoma City architect Rand Elliott stumbled across an international skyscraper design competition sponsored by eVolo magazine, an architecture and design journal.

“I was looking for opportunities, and this type of project is something I always wanted to do,” says Elliott.

The upshot is that after two months of daily cogitation and drawings in his sketchbook, the genesis of a cutting-edge idea developed, which Elliott has dubbed “Turbinomics.”

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Oklahoma City is one of the windiest cities in North America with an average wind speed of 12.2 mph. Elliott's plan is to harness the natural wind draft that occurs around buildings “and make something out of it, transform it into energy.”

His final building design, which integrates a series of vertical axis turbines between each office floor, looks strikingly similar to a whirling top. But at 794 feet high and 300 feet in diameter, this one is king size.

Earlier this year, Elliott met with fellow Oklahoman, T. Boone Pickens, one of today's leading advocates of the development of alternative energy sources, including wind power. According to Elliott, the meeting went well. “Boone is fascinated with the energy produced by the building and believes this can be done.”

For now, Elliott's turbinomics concept is in the development phase. He is directing Oklahoma State University engineering school professor Jamey Jacob to refine the turbine blade design through wind tunnel testing, and Elliott expects to produce a feasibility report this year.

While Elliott did not win the design competition, he made a discovery. “One of the things I like about Oklahoma City is that it has always been countercyclical to everything else that goes on. I love the idea that as the rest of the world is pulling back, Oklahoma City is pushing forward. It's a testament to our ever-present optimism and strength of character.”