It's probably more for smokers than anything else.

It's probably more for smokers than anything else.

Of course, all Holiday Inn Express locations have a complimentary morning breakfast bar. It could be a great location to enjoy that also.

It's probably more for smokers than anything else.

That was my thought. Which will be awesome. People will get to go through all the smoke as they walk to the front door. That should really help business.

That was my thought. Which will be awesome. People will get to go through all the smoke as they walk to the front door. That should really help business.

I've been to a number of hotels and people generally smoke out the front door. You're not not going to walk through a line of smoke in some form or fashion unless the business says, "no smoking on our property", so just hold your breath ;-)

July 1 2013

Construction crane running on the site.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/holidayinnexpress7-1-13.jpg

July 1 2013

Construction crane running on the site.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/holidayinnexpress7-1-13.jpg

There really needs to be something developed on that north parking lot.

July 1 2013

Construction crane running on the site.

Yippee! Another one!

I'm amassing a count for this.

There really needs to be something developed on that north parking lot.

How about a parking garage...?

Let the drilling begin!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1052375_585443161476541_1810927336_o.jpg

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=585443161476541&set=a.499387336748791.109966.490618517625673&type=1

Bricktown is about to get even noisier, methinks.

Lot of activity going on here. Looked like a full crew doing the underground piping and such. Just passed by and didn't stop.

This is from a few days ago:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/wikiphotos/holidayinnexpress71913.jpg

Yep pretty much, just imagine a bunch of workers.

Anybody got an update on this? This one always gets neglected

I took this picture from Vast on Friday.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/9492412357_21e6fb83c6_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/9492412357/)
Bricktown (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/9492412357/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

Lazio85, very nice shot of Bricktown and its ugly lil' cousin EFISville

We need a big building in that Uhaul parking lot.

The Devon tower shadow is cast nearly to TAFB!

Slab poured (photo courtesy Downtown Development Twitter feed):

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/hiexpress9613.jpg

Steel going up! (photo courtesy of Metro):

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/hiexpress91313.jpg

I can tell already it will be open before Aloft.:)

Holiday Inn Express (October 3 2013) - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157636160882163/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/10074170156_101136d373_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/10074174346_bc506698d5_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/10074139845_0b681b65ed_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/10074143095_1b2920a7f2_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2815/10074176976_67c834361e_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/10074146265_3fccd96057_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/10074244343_3e26d09f09_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/10074149125_cba95bd3cf_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/10074182776_9580bb4836_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/10074110204_c40788a8c8_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/10074185396_7aae616575_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2828/10074252253_056e35c7e9_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3676/10074156335_22d0312055_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3719/10074234516_5b523307bc_h.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/10074239896_8b5477d6a1_h.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/10074002794_1c1ea0d54e_b.jpg

Awesome progress. That guy working without a hardhat... Big nono!

NewcrestImage finally posted an updated pic from their construction cam:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BV132SPCIAAiziH.jpg:large

Taken a couple of days ago (Sat. Oct. 5)

Source: https://twitter.com/NewcrestImage/status/386596917511069696/photo/1

Photo update:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BXNPJkOCQAAIPV_.jpg:large

Source: https://twitter.com/dtOKCbuilds/status/392744618451693569/photo/1

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/10439795365_fc107b7cbc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/10439795365/)
Holiday Inn Express (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/10439795365/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/10439935773_1d4e8234ce_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/10439935773/)
Holiday Inn Express (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/10439935773/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/10439769956_3f3e79ddbd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/10439769956/)
Holiday Inn Express (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/10439769956/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

Thanks Lazio!

It's jammin. Great to see a project moving along at a good pace. What are the chances that this is finished before Aloft? (very high, methinks)

Cue the site resident lumber-haters...

I have never seen lumber with steel. I have always seen steel with another metal material (not sure exactly what they use). I wonder why we don't see that more often? I would assume the lumber would cost less.

Thanks Lazio!

It's jammin. Great to see a project moving along at a good pace. What are the chances that this is finished before Aloft? (very high, methinks)

Aloft's exterior is almost complete. The last windows are going in and they're taking construction fences down. Unless they haven't been working under roof, I expect it will be completed sooner.

From Downtown Development's Twitter feed:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BXmbVRRCUAAYyh_.jpg

Cue the site resident lumber-haters...

In terms of life safety, what would you rather be in? All steel - all concrete - all wood - or a combination therein? I know what I prefer.

Cue the site resident lumber-haters...

Lol

Cue the site resident lumber-haters...


Are those the folks with a stick up their assets?

No termites with concrete and steel, but I still went to the Underground during the last tornado.

In terms of life safety, what would you rather be in? All steel - all concrete - all wood - or a combination therein? I know what I prefer.
Depends upon what my relationship is with the property. That said, I have zero problem with lumber/wood construction, and know that it can be done in such a way that minimizes storm damage, if that is what you are alluding to. I don't disagree that hurricane tie-down straps, bolted trusses, starter bars, laminated I-beams on commercial, and like innovations should be added to wood-frame construction in Oklahoma. If that were done, the wind resistance approaches that of a steel structure. In fact, pound for pound wood is stronger than steel.

All I can tell you is that even for price-is-no object home building in places like Gaillardia, Nichols Hills and elsewhere, wood frame construction is still the preferred method. People get their panties in a bunch around here a little too much when they see wood framing.

That's such a cool shot of downtown. Here's a zoomed in version:

http://dl.dropbox.com/s/op778q280mthuiq/hie_zoom.jpg

Walnut Street Bridge is going to be such a great vantage point for downtown views. Well, it already is. But even better as the area continues to build up.

Now, imagine all the activity here when the hotel is finished and the Mideke is filled up with residents across the street.

Working in Vast was probably boring yesterday...

November 8 2013

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/IMG_7469.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/IMG_7470.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/IMG_7471.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/IMG_7472.jpg

Found this on the ADG website and had not seen this perspective before:

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/urban-development-buildings/4989d1384199058-holiday-inn-express-holiday-inn-1.jpg

Please tell me they are going to bury those power lines.

Found this on the ADG website and had not seen this perspective before:

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/urban-development-buildings/4989d1384199058-holiday-inn-express-holiday-inn-1.jpg

I remember seeing that rendering somewhere.

Anyone want to pay odds that is opens before Aloft?

Please tell me they are going to bury those power lines.I hope so. Above ground power utility lines are my biggest pet peeve. They are so ugly and are a huge burden. It is much more cost effective long term to bury the damn things and get them out of peoples sight.

In terms of life safety, what would you rather be in? All steel - all concrete - all wood - or a combination therein? I know what I prefer.

If we asked real nice, would ya tell us?

I know everyone likes really simple answers for complex issues. Steel vs concrete vs wood is one of those. There are many variables that lead to the choice of one vs the other. Cost, material availability, structural shape, building use, fire safety, earthquake safety, etc. There isn't a universal truth.

Here is a pretty good and succinct concrete vs. steel article. Concrete vs. Steel (http://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/2511/viewall/true.aspx?title=concrete%20vs.%20steel)

To narrow it down to life safety, all things being equal, I'd take concrete in a fire event or steel in a seismic event.

I hope so. Above ground power utility lines are my biggest pet peeve. They are so ugly and are a huge burden. It is much more cost effective long term to bury the damn things and get them out of peoples sight.

Plus they seem like a safety hazard with strong Oklahoma winds

Plus they seem like a safety hazard with strong Oklahoma windsYeah, that is what I mean. Plus our freak ice storms, sever weather, random high wind days, people driving and smashing into them etc. They just suck lol :)

For anyone with the having to relocate them for street projects and such, they can placed further out so they won't have to be disturbed when a street is widened. I just look around Edmond and think how much better the town would be if they would bury those things.

I hope so. Above ground power utility lines are my biggest pet peeve. They are so ugly and are a huge burden. It is much more cost effective long term to bury the damn things and get them out of peoples sight.

So you're in that crowd that doesn't want overhead wires for the streetcar, huh? I like power lines downtown, like in the back alleys. As stated before, they add grit. I agree with you in the sense of right out in front of a business between it and the street but if they're anywhere else, why would it matter?

So you're in that crowd that doesn't want overhead wires for the streetcar, huh?If it is up to me, I would choose no overhead wires, but that's just me. Not a big deal, but if I had option A. Overhead wires or option B. No overhead wires; I would choose option B.
I like power lines downtown, like in the back alleys. As stated before, they add grit. I agree with you in the sense of right out in front of a business between it and the street but if they're anywhere else, why would it matter?Well, I guess we just disagree. I don't like grit added to the downtown scene. Maybe Auto Alley, but I wish 99% of the city was the utility lines underground. They are a nuisance and a burden to the city. There would likely be a huge reduction in power outages as no worries of ice storms, wind events, people hitting them with cars or other accidents. They are extremely ugly and one of my biggest pet peeves.

From today courtesy catch22:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/hiexpress112113a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/hiexpress112113b.jpg

Seems to be coming along very quickly! In the description a Christmas finish date is listed. Is this still accurate? They will have to haul it!

Yeah, need to change that finish date. I would guess early spring next year.

Looks like a blizzard is about to descend upon downtown in that first shot.

Great pics, catch22! Thanks.

Holiday Inn Express (December 2 2013) - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157638311972035/)

Still another view of this project:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/hiexpress12313.jpg

Courtesy catch22:

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5725d1388707820-holiday-inn-express-hiexpress1214b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5724d1388707819-holiday-inn-express-hiexpress1214a.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/11802374455_7ff3160431_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/11802374455/)
East Downtown OKC (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/11802374455/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6201d1389906843-holiday-inn-express-hi11314c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6202d1389906844-holiday-inn-express-hi11314d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6200d1389906842-holiday-inn-express-hi11314b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6199d1389906841-holiday-inn-express-hi11314a.jpg

That last photo really shows how it stitches BT back to DD! Definitely would love to see that Oklahoma Ave pedestrian connection formalized and enhanced.