New Oklahoma River tower planned
by Associated Press
May 20, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY – Chesapeake Energy Corp. is planning to give more than $5 million to Oklahoma City to build a four-story tower along the Oklahoma River.

Plans for the so-called Finish Line Tower are to be unveiled at a news conference at the Chesapeake Boathouse on Thursday that will include Chesapeake founder Aubrey McClendon and architect Rand Elliott. Elliott designed the Chesapeake Boathouse. A row of college boathouses are also planned along the river.

http://journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recID=98818

Sweet! That's a big part of the Boathouse Row master plan (see the original post for renderings).

Must be close to getting started on the OU and OCU boathouses, too.

Those are not renderings. That is a rough video they put together. You can't even tell how big they will be. They have not released any of the construction details or renderings. Look at how specifice the Devon Tower design is and you will see what I mean.

I've seen the renderings and it looks pretty good. There will also be some "sound towers" and other features along the river shore. I'm not sure if it's part of the Chesapeake donation or funded seperately.

Must be close to getting started on the OU and OCU boathouses, too.

I was working at the triathalon Sunday and saw that they had already started dirt work on the OCU boathouse. There is also a large sign with the OCU boathouse renderings facing west toward the bridge.

yeah, they've broken ground several weeks back. I took pics with my phone, I will try and post some soon for those interested.

Those are not renderings. That is a rough video they put together.

Just meant the conceptual plan, I (and I think everyone else) realize those aren't construction drawings.

I was working at the triathalon Sunday and saw that they had already started dirt work on the OCU boathouse. There is also a large sign with the OCU boathouse renderings facing west toward the bridge.

Sorry if this obvious for people in OKC, but is the OCU boathouse the same building as the Devon boathouse?

I understand all of the launch-area cutouts have been excavated...other photos?

Anything started on the OU boathouse yet?

Sorry if this obvious for people in OKC, but is the OCU boathouse the same building as the Devon boathouse?

I understand all of the launch-area cutouts have been excavated...other photos?

Anything started on the OU boathouse yet?

Devon donated $5 million to OCU to sponsor their boathouse so it will be the Devon OCU boathouse. The OU boathouse got a $2 million gift from Aubrey McClendon. So it will probably be the Aubrey McClendon OU boathouse.

Was McClendon's gift on margin? He may have to give take it back. Bwahaha.

Chesapeake backs $5 million finish line tower on Oklahoma River
BY STEVE LACKMEYER
Published: May 21, 2009

Chesapeake Energy is backing construction of a $5 million finish line tower as part of a push to turn the Oklahoma River into one of the country’s top rowing venues.

The announcement Thursday at the Chesapeake Boathouse included a presentation of a framed rendering of the tower from McClendon to Mayor Mick Cornett.

“On this 20th anniversary of the founding of our company, we wanted to recognize the incredible role this city and state have played in our success for the past 20 years,” McClendon said. “While our company has expanded its reach and opportunity to become the nation’s largest independent producer of clean-burning natural gas, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to our Oklahoma values of hard work, creativity, integrity and service.”

McClendon said the company has contributed more than $80 million to non-profit organizations across the country and wanted to make a gift to its hometown that would bring it closer to “becoming a truly world-class venue for rowing, canoeing and kayaking training and competition.”

Elliott, who won national recognition for his design of the boathouse, said he anticipates the tower will be seen as an icon along the river.

“This is a remarkable gesture from one of the most exceptional corporations in our city. Chesapeake is an Oklahoma business success story,” Mayor Mick Cornett said. “While we celebrate this milestone in the young history of the company, we look forward with increased excitement as natural gas plays a much bigger role in America’s new energy future, a future built on the greater use of alternative and renewable energy sources.”

Construction is expected to start within six months and will last one year.

The Chesapeake Finish Line Tower is designed to meet guidelines established by FISA, the international governing body for the sport of rowing. The tower will be used throughout the year for both race events and community activities.

http://newsok.com/chesapeake-backs-5-million-finish-line-tower-on-oklahoma-river/article/3371497?custom_click=lead_story_title

pretty cool!

Sweet!

http://photos.newsok.com/2/showimage/570880/gallery_photo

Chesapeake Finish Line plan rows into sight after gift

BY STEVE LACKMEYER
Published: May 22, 2009

Chesapeake Energy is backing construction of a $5 million finish line tower as part of a push to turn the Oklahoma River into one of the country’s top rowing venues.

The structure, designed by architect Rand Elliott, will be named the Chesapeake Finish Line Tower. Aubrey McClendon, co-founder and chief executive officer of Chesapeake, said the tower is being presented as a gift to Oklahoma City in recognition of the significant role the community has played in the company’s success the past two decades.

The announcement Thursday at the Chesapeake Boathouse included a presentation of a framed rendering of the tower from McClendon to Mayor Mick Cornett.

"On this 20th anniversary of the founding of our company, we wanted to recognize the incredible role this city and state have played in our success for the past 20 years,” McClendon said. "While our company has expanded its reach and opportunity to become the nation’s largest independent producer of clean-burning natural gas, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to our Oklahoma values of hard work, creativity, integrity and service.”

McClendon said the company has contributed more than $80 million to nonprofit organizations across the country and wanted to make a gift to its hometown that would bring it closer to "becoming a truly world-class venue for rowing, canoeing and kayaking training and competition.”

Elliott, who won national recognition for his design of the boathouse, said he anticipates the tower will be seen as an icon along the river.

"This is a remarkable gesture from one of the most exceptional corporations in our city. Chesapeake is an Oklahoma business success story,” Mayor Mick Cornett said. "While we celebrate this milestone in the young history of the company, we look forward with increased excitement as natural gas plays a much bigger role in America’s new energy future, a future built on the greater use of alternative and renewable energy sources.”

Construction is expected to start within six months and will last one year.
World competition

The Chesapeake Finish Line Tower is designed to meet guidelines established by FISA, the international governing body for the sport of rowing. The tower will be used throughout the year for both race events and community activities.

"We currently have a world-class 2000 meter race course which has attracted a great deal of attention both nationally and internationally,” said Mike Knopp, executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation.

"Adding this incredible finish line tower, which will meet international competition standards, will significantly strengthen the Oklahoma River race course as a world-class venue. It will be, without question, among the best regatta venue facilities in the world.”

http://newsok.com/chesapeake-finish-line-plan-rows-into-sight-after-gift/article/3371697?custom_click=lead_story_title

Very cool and detailed video from Newsok.com:

Inline Article Video Player (http://feeds.newsok.tv/services/player/bcpid4659235001?bctid=23962690001)

I hate it! It is too cold and uninviting. Just think how hot it will be along it. Rand Elliott's aesthetic is not good for the river. I think all of the new boathouses are boring and cold. They take away the entire appeal of the natural setting of a river.

The river should be developed with buildings that are more organic. I like the first Chesapeake Boathouse, but he is trying to be too modern with the rest, and they look like a piece of paper folded in half. BORING and COLD! The landscaping disgusts me. Where are all the trees. Are they trying to accent the rocks along the edge of the river?

I like Rand Elliott, just not for the river.

Design is the most subjective subject there is but I really like the plan for this area -- and I'm not generally a fan of modern architecture.

OKC has tons of traditional and organic buildings but the boathouse area has the opportunity to be truly unique and iconic and I love the idea of neon... I've said before that the entire rowing complex lit up at night with the skyline in the background will provide a real signature image.

Also, Rand's designs always look a little stark and cold in the renderings but the end results are usually much more warm and soft. I would expect he will tie these structures into the water and the landscape much in the way he did the CHK Boathouse, which I think everyone will agree is a smasher.

I think this is one area where we should go bold and accept the risk involved.

And it seems the whole river area is headed in the direction of more modern design, based on the pedestrian bridge, Grant Humphreys' proposed development and what was shown on the Core to Shore conceptual plan.

I'm very excited about how this area could develop from a stylistic perspective.

Modern design for the boat houses makes a lot more sense than some faux disney themed plan. Would a New England boat house really fit on the Oklahoma River? Oklahoma has always had some progressive architecture.... often times it has been beat down due to "conservative market" mentalities.

This is just beautiful. I've had my nose buried in Capitol Hill stuff lately and I missed this when the news broke. I'm proud of Chesapeake and McClendon for doing this, and for the choice of architect. This project, a gift to you you and me, the city, will be a beautiful shining diamond on the river.

I'm not a mega fan of the design, but I am rather happy it doesn't have either a bison outline or a lil' covered wagon look to it.

There are many other ways to design a tower and not look so stark and cold. I can just imagine how hot it will be without trees and having the metal white/metallic buildings reflecting all that light. It will be blinding. This is a bad design for the river development.

There are many other ways to design a tower and not look so stark and cold. I can just imagine how hot it will be without trees and having the metal white/metallic buildings reflecting all that light. It will be blinding. This is a bad design for the river development.

I think it's too early to tell any of that - the 3D model is a rendering of the building only. Landscaping and further development will really change the area.

The new tower and the boathouse designs display a world class sense of design and presence. Elliot is excellent at dragging OKC kicking and screaming into the modern architectural world. Trust me, his designs will help change OKC's image every time one of the events are broadcast or shown on ESPN, Sky Sports, CNN International, etc.

Good work Rand!

This is a bad design for the river development.

I can't say that I agree at all. The only thing I'm concerned about is lighting. Rand Elliott likes to use lots of colored lights... but tends to us flouresent tubes wrapped in some sort of colored plastic that ends up fading over a very short period of time (the Underground)... I hope for LEDs instead.

When you say 'organic' what is your idea? Modern can be organic... And I'd say the design is as organic as architechture on a man-made river should be.

PS.... why would you think it wouldn't have trees???

I can't say that I agree at all. The only thing I'm concerned about is lighting. Rand Elliott likes to use lots of colored lights... but tends to us flouresent tubes wrapped in some sort of colored plastic that ends up fading over a very short period of time (the Underground)... I hope for LEDs instead.

When you say 'organic' what is your idea? Modern can be organic... And I'd say the design is as organic as architechture on a man-made river should be.
Color LED's have improved greatly in recent years. LED's are getting to a point where they can emit more light with about the same initial cost and much lower life cycle costs, so they will soon overtake fluorescent lighting in use. Especially under the coming energy code that is being adopted, incandescent lights are pretty much going to be pushed out the door since they would eat up so much of the allowable wattage. I know that it is rapidly changing how we do lighting on our projects as The City of Austin has already adopted the new energy code.

That's so cool. Rand is truly visionary. Bravo Rand!

Whether something is good or bad design can always be debated, but in my opinion there is always some value on just being different. Never hurts to be one of a kind.

As someone who has recently started to learn to row out there, I am looking forward to seeing this tower and the rest of the boathouses finished. It will make for a very cool and unique atmosphere on that stretch of the river.

The new tower and the boathouse designs display a world class sense of design and presence. Elliot is excellent at dragging OKC kicking and screaming into the modern architectural world. Trust me, his designs will help change OKC's image every time one of the events are broadcast or shown on ESPN, Sky Sports, CNN International, etc.

Good work Rand!

I couldn't agree more. I personally love the modern direction it's taking. For OKC to do the faux-Disney theme or faux-Philly boathouse row would look out of place and that we're trying to be something we're not. We're not an elitist Ivy-League rowing town. We are a modern progressive city and the attitude of the boathouse row is reflecting that! Way to kick those stereotypes of our city.

I've not heard of any kind of dangerous microbes in Oklahoma waters except for stagnant ponds.

It looks like a bunch of the athletes that competed in the triathalon have gotten sick. They don't know the cause yet, but it made me think of this thread when I read it.

Sick Triathletes (http://newsok.com/about-20-triathletes-sickened-after-oklahoma-city-event/article/3372688?custom_click=lead_story_title)

Don't get me started! If they would have tried to remediate the problems of the river and add more natural settings, the plants would have absorbed some of the waste/chemicals. The rocks along the sides need to be replaced with plants. You would be surprised how much that will help clean the river!!!

There is already another thread discussing the triathalon sickness. This thread is more about the master plan/ design for the boathouses and the area.

A good design can help filter that toxins in the water.

drove by the other day and a lot of dirt work is taking place... look to be getting everything ready to start some boathouses!!!

The finish line tower i think will be an iconic symbol of the river much like the Chesapeake boathouse has been for the last 3 years

drove by the other day and a lot of dirt work is taking place... look to be getting everything ready to start some boathouses!!!


"boathouses"? - I though they were concentrating on the Devon/OCU boathouse first. However, I have a particular interest in the OU boathouse, which I think is the 3rd one over. Has that broken ground yet?

yeah devon first but they are doing a lot of dirt work much for a long distance down the river so i'm thinkin they mite be preparing the grounds and landscaping for all the boathouses, whenever they mite be built

"boathouses"? - I though they were concentrating on the Devon/OCU boathouse first. However, I have a particular interest in the OU boathouse, which I think is the 3rd one over. Has that broken ground yet?

Don't think it has broken ground, but it will be called the Aubrey McClendon OU Boathouse due to his $2 million donation. I think all the dirt work is for the OCU boathouse, the Finishline Tower should be finished by the end of next year and all three of the others will probably be done by 2013 or so. Not bad for what once was simply a creek. Now if we can just get all that contamination under control...

Question: For that fourth boathouse (fifth if you consider the Chesapeake boathouse,) do you think Tulsa or OSU would be wanting a permanent space on the river? Tulsa has a pretty good rowing team and I think OSU's is just starting, but I know distance is a factor. Thoughts?

OSU has Carl Blackwell...OSU actually has some sort of ownership of the lake.

warreng are you being sarcastic? I can't tell. Tulsa will never have a place on the river. They have their own river to row.

No, I am not being sarcastic. I was trying to figure out if there was a state college that has a good rowing team that would want to occupy the last boathouse. I guess it could be a visitor's boathouse for the larger events. I know Tulsa has the Arkansas River, but I didn't think it was "row-able." Every time I drive over it, it is very low. Maybe I am at the wrong part of it.

There is a partial dam and the rowing is done upstream of the dam closer to downtown.

Here is a link for you. They are actually adding onto their boathouse that the Tulsa Rowing Club and Tulsa University share, at a fraction of the cost of the sterile blinding overpriced Rand Elliott folded pieces of paper.

Tulsa Rowing Club | Home Page (http://www.tulsarowingclub.org/default.aspx)

yeah devon first but they are doing a lot of dirt work much for a long distance down the river so i'm thinkin they mite be preparing the grounds and landscaping for all the boathouses, whenever they mite be built

if you scroll back a page or two, this is for utilities and city easements I believe someone said

..the sterile blinding overpriced Rand Elliott folded pieces of paper.



LOL.... wow... keep saying it maybe someone will agree with you. ;) j/k

and how would l/a know anything about Elliott's pricing? back it up if you make that type of statement

I do agree with la on the trees. What happened to the "reforestation" that was promised with MAPS? We seriously need vegetation along the river.

There is a partial dam and the rowing is done upstream of the dam closer to downtown.

Here is a link for you. They are actually adding onto their boathouse that the Tulsa Rowing Club and Tulsa University share, at a fraction of the cost of the sterile blinding overpriced Rand Elliott folded pieces of paper.

Tulsa Rowing Club | Home Page (http://www.tulsarowingclub.org/default.aspx)


That boathouse looks like a barn. I'm much happier with Elliot's designs.

can you provide a link to TU boathouse? I can't find it on that webpage, most of the links are broken or programming errors.

This is what Tulsa is TRYING to build as an upgrade to their existing facilities:

http://www.tulsarowingclub.org/fundraising/ELEV8.5x11_web.jpg

^^^ Wow!!! Talk about state of the art boathouse!! That boathouse looks absolutely amazing!! Haha obviously I'm kidding.

According to this memo from the OKC Riverfront Development Authority from February of this year:


The Devon Boathouse (OCU) is expected to cover some 31,000 square feet. Similarly, programming for the University of Oklahoma Boathouse has been completed and the project is well into the detailed design phase. University of Oklahoma officials have established a design footprint for approximately 16,000 square feet for their facility. A DVD-based architectural walkthrough video of the University of Central Oklahoma Boathouse has been produced and presented to University officials and major project stakeholders. The UCO boathouse, which incorporates a small art gallery and UCO Jazz Lab annex, will cover approximately 27,000 square feet. By comparison, the size of the existing Chesapeake Community Boathouse is approximately 14,000 square feet.


A series of large, national and international events is being planned, beginning in Fall 2010, when the Devon Boathouse should be nearing completion.


It is expected that the OU facility will begin construction within 60-90 days of the Devon boathouse groundbreaking, with both projects expected to be wrapped up by October 2010.

http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/cache/2/st0py1rdo0rxi145iha52fus/48485405292009040624378.PDF

Well, when I was in Philadelphia I was VERY impressed and wowed by their Boathouse Row, to already consider us in the same league as them (with only one boathouse thus far), is perplexing, but I'm still proud of OKC's honor! I would say OKC is just a refreshing twist for the sport.

Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia (http://www.boathouserow.org/)

It sounds like the finish line tower, OCU and OU boathouses will all be under construction in the next six months and take about a year to finish.

Not only will this be great rowing venue, looks like all those facilities will be available for a variety of events as well.

Soonerfan1 read some articles!

All the articles I have read say $10 million for the Devon OCU boathouse. The Finish Line tower is $5 million. Don't think that Rand is not getting a big chunk of that. It doesn't take more than a million to do all of the dirt work.

I didn't say I liked the Tulsa design. It is just a fraction of the cost. Like the one in Philadelphia, there are tons of different designs that blend into the environment better.

Rand's design is good for anywhere but the river! It belongs in a parking lot void of nature. Plants would take away from its design, so I don't see them incorporating more than a few trees here and there.

It's not supposed to "blend" in, it is meant to be an iconic element along a man made canal, which is what that section of the river has always been in that location. It's a river in the middle of the city, it's not supposed to look like an idyllic river in The River Runs Through It. Yes they could do a better job of landscaping it but it will never look like a "natural" because it isn't and I don't think it should. Rivers in cities never look "natural", the Charles in Boston, the Chicago River in Chicago, neither of those are "natural" but yet they seem to work.

What would you consider a "big chunk" because I bet his fee is much less than you think it is, it almost always is much lower than what the movies make it look like what architects make. The only "rich" architects that I have known had family money, a spouse that made stupid amounts of money or got into the development business themselves and had some successful projects.

don't need to read articles (although have done plenty) to know arch. fees are usually based on % of cost. the amount of time he will spend in design will correspond on the project size. anyone else gonna do a crap load of work for pennies?

You'd be surprised.

don't need to read articles (although have done plenty) to know arch. fees are usually based on % of cost. the amount of time he will spend in design will correspond on the project size.
What do you think his percentage would be?


anyone else gonna do a crap load of work for pennies?
It seems like we are every month, I think we are taking work too cheap but it isn't my decision.

You can blow by your projected hours very quickly when dealing with a "design" project with constant owner changes and then value engineering/phasing. I am living through it right now on an inherited project, we are 900 hours over (which is more than double what was projected) and still have to issue CD's and the owner doesn't feel he owes anymore to us on a project that was well under what the standard percentage was, even before the bids came back double of what the original preliminary design estimate was. Based on the latest bids, our fee was less than a quarter of standard.

Blue,

Are you local?

I hear you on project fees, I am on the structural engineering side.



What do you think his percentage would be?


It seems like we are every month, I think we are taking work too cheap but it isn't my decision.

You can blow by your projected hours very quickly when dealing with a "design" project with constant owner changes and then value engineering/phasing. I am living through it right now on an inherited project, we are 900 hours over (which is more than double what was projected) and still have to issue CD's and the owner doesn't feel he owes anymore to us on a project that was well under what the standard percentage was, even before the bids came back double of what the original preliminary design estimate was. Based on the latest bids, our fee was less than a quarter of standard.

Blue,

Are you local?

I hear you on project fees, I am on the structural engineering side.

I was until 2003 when I moved to Austin.

Ground broken for Devon Boathouse:

http://newsok.com/ground-broken-for-devon-boathouse-on-oklahoma-river/article/3374240?custom_click=headlines_widget