There will be at least three buildings, which will house 5,000 other Dell staff members including me. Each building is to house aprox 1,500 employees. As I see it and heard it, only the first building is being built now. The others to follow as needed.

Nothing new to report on construction progress. However, it was reported at yesterday's city council meeting that Dell is spending over 60 million in Oklahoma City.

I drove by last night, not much more progress since last week, are they not doing 3 construction shifts now? I didnt see any lights up the last few nights.

The walls are being raised. It will not be long before it looks like a Dell Dimention computer.

I have added three photos (so far) of the progress of the Dell building. You may go to my gallery and see them. IT is moving faster than I predicted.

Anderson, did you see where Dell won "Company of the Year" from a prestigious publication (I forget which). Congratulations to your company. That is a really unique and huge honor.

I sincerely hope that they expand their operations here in Oklahoma City. I can only imagine that they will once they see what a great place it will be to grow with.

Here are the construction progress pictures.

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/55dell_3.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/55dell_2.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/55dell_31.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/552005_0410Image0005.JPG

Yesterday, Dell relased the blueprints for the new call center.

The buidlings will be connected by a hallway, and will be in a "U" configuration. There are a lot of desks in that place. Plus parking for I think they said 11,000 cars, but I am not sure about that one.

As you may know, Karried's husband is the project manager, so some information is courtesy of her and I thank her. Building two will be to the left as you face the front. It will be started in the near future, and three is still in the bid process.

After every few stages, I will release some pictures in this thread, but will have them in my gallery as well.

Hey Mr A, Let me clarify - hubby is A project manager, one of many I'm sure - he is running quite a few jobs here in OK - one of which is Incredible Pizza - so he is not THE project manager of the whole enchilada, just a portion.

He is a construction estimator as well so that is why he has the prints, he bid the Dell job and his company won the contract so that is how we are connected.

And all I can say is public knowledge anyway so I hope no one thinks I'm giving classified info away before I'm supposed to! :gossip:

Mr. A, Dell offered me a job again, this time I accepted. To lay down any rumors, apparently there are quite a few actual salaried positions although there are alot of hourly positions. There benefits are excellent. Anyhow, for the rest of you Dell's first building will be open in August and the second building will be completed by October! Dell confirmed this with me today, exciting news for OKC

First I would like to offer a public congradulations to Metro on his job at Dell.

More information on the facility and on my involvment with it.

I learned that over a course of two to five years, we may have as many as eight buildings. These will house several departments including customer care, tech support and numerous sales departments. Oklahoma City may be the largest campus in the nation with the possible exception of Round Rock.

My involvement. My manager told me today, the upper management plan on using me to give presentations to teams, the entire departments on my floor, and she is thinking presentations to board of directors in Round Rock. I have the only set of pictures and Dell wants to use them for many reasons. I am giving them a set that as far as I am concerned, they can do as they wish.

This is the first time an employer has taken such an interest in an outside activity of mine. Thanks, Dell.

Dell work turns eyes to future

From Staff Reports
Ongoing construction of the 120,000-square-foot Dell Inc. sales and service center along the Oklahoma River has given rise to speculation about future development in the area.
City officials and real estate professionals recently suggested the area is ripe for the type of business development that often comes with a business that will employ up to 1,500 people.

For example, the Dell center likely will prompt developers to build retail centers that would house such support businesses as dry cleaners, movie rental locations and pharmacies in the area, Cathy O'Conner, assistant city manager said.

And the usual collection of fast-food restaurants would be expected to build in the area, although the restaurant-row on nearby Meridian Ave. is only a short drive away.

Others forecast even more industrial development in the area in the form of other high tech companies doing complementary work to that of Dell.

The city council recently approved two tax increment financing districts that will use anticipated growth in property and sales taxes in the area to provide money for creating more development along the river.

I just looked in Dell's website and learned Dell will open a Dell store in Penn Square on May 1.

These stores are carts or stands that will enable people to see and try the computers. The people working there will answer questions and guide the customer through an internet order.

It is internet because Dell builds computers to custom order instead of the "assembally line" type computer.

There will be at least three buildings, which will house 5,000 other Dell staff members including me. Each building is to house aprox 1,500 employees. As I see it and heard it, only the first building is being built now. The others to follow as needed.

Wow. Looks like Dell is going to have more of a presence in our city than I thought. :congrats:

guess you havent followed this story much, the campus may eventually house 7-8 buildings depending on how the economy stays, OKC will be one of the largest campuses

I will post the latest pictures soon, however, here is the latest on the construction.

Windows are being installed, and it looks like brickwork will follow shortly. The parking lots are still being built, and building two is about to have a foundation.

Opening should be between August 15 and August 22.

I've got fresh pics, I'll post them soon!

I read today in the MidCity Advocate that among the river taxi stops will be the Dell campus.

Interesting news. Is Dell perhaps planning some sort of off-campus parking using the river taxi as the link? The boats seem sort of small to me for them to be doing that.

I know there was a mini park/parking lot there prior to dell so I wonder if they will somehow restore it after construction and tie it in with the stop. Anyhow here are a few fresh pics in my gallery, I also have several other metro area update pics and will be adding more:

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/showgallery.php/ppuser/204/cat/500

I read today in the MidCity Advocate that among the river taxi stops will be the Dell campus.

Interesting news. Is Dell perhaps planning some sort of off-campus parking using the river taxi as the link? The boats seem sort of small to me for them to be doing that.

The boats they will be using for the river are larger than those currently serving the canal.

Go to http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLHome.Asp , and I believe those are the type of vessel that will be used. They seat about 70.

The building is totally sealed now. Work is now progressing on building two and the parking lot.

In my gallery, I have added severl new Dell pictures.

We are still planning on moving into the new building two months from today. I shpuld have interior shots before that time.

The Building isn't sealed.. it has plastic over many openings. but the A/C was turned on today.. to help with humity control.. still a long ways to go.. the 3rd floor is about ready to be turned over along with the server room along with many other area's


I like the idea of Dell comming to OKC.. I just wish they would have picked a better site.

Sparkieokc: how do you know all this? I admit, it looked sealed to me when I saw it a couple of weeks ago, however, I am a Dell employee and have had a great deal of information on this building. Even the upper management trusts what I tell them.

I have opened a can of worms. is all I say. right now.

Come and take a look.. go see the guys digging and look at those ditches.. walk around the building.. look around.

Come and take a look.. go see the guys digging and look at those ditches.. walk around the building.. look around.

We get a tour as soon as the building is safe. By the way. My office happens to be the third floor.

Hopefully u get the office with a window.. those other offices aren't much..LOLOLOL..

Hey guys, I'll drive by this afternoon and get a good look.

I hate to give too much away. I am working on the job. on the ground "in the trenches" so I get a closer view of the building.. after all I in it or just outside of it all day. so I see a lot. I am not trying to pick a fight or discredit anyone.. I just have a closer view is all. and from the road.. it looks all closed up. from 20' away.. there is a lot of work left before the building is sealed. the front entry way on the first floor does not have any glass as of 4:30 today. along with the doors to the east and west.
it's just a matter of perpective. is all.

the only thing that bothers me.. is you'll get a tour as soon as the building is safe? it isn't safe and I am working in there?LOLOLOLOLOL typical.. noone thinks of the poor guy who has to make it safe LOLOLOL..

"the only thing that bothers me.. is you'll get a tour as soon as the building is safe? it isn't safe and I am working in there?LOLOLOLOLOL typical.. noone thinks of the poor guy who has to make it safe LOLOLOL.."

Since I am a Dell employee (and so are the other people that will get a tour) they would have one big problem if they let us in there before the building is declaired safe. The people who are on the consturction crew are paid to take that risk. we are not. That is why we will not see the inside until Fkintco declairs it safe.

and to be honest with you.. it's safer for everyone to wait.. there are many hazards on site. ppl moving materail and things on the floor and such. tractors and equipment. and "Non-construction" types usually don't have good footwear on.
I intened that comment as a joke.
and your right we are paid and trained in the hazards on site. the job I do isn't for everyone. but I am not the type to go to the same place everyday.. be it shop type work.. or desk work..
mranderson I do belive we have gotten off to a bad start is all.
but the ppl who contact your ppl are not in contact with my ppl.. it's like playing telephone. so what you hear from Flintco is filtered as not to upset you. and I jumped in and layed out exacully what I saw..with out even saying hi.
Sorry.. it's the type of work I do... Say what's on your mind and say it quick. otherwise you'll get left behind.

Hey Sparkieokc! I just wanted to let you know we're so pleased to have you here. Thanks for all of the info. you've provided. Having an actual electrician from the site will be a great asset to this thread, I think. It will give us both the persepctive on the field, in addition to the perspective we already have from mranderson, an employee at Dell. Thanks for your contributions now and in the future. Please continue to keep us up to date.

Thank you sir. I like this forum.

Now for todays update.
On the 3rd floor we installed the floor boxes in the computer floor.. and those other electricans<OESCO the ppl pulling the computer cable> ran cable tray under the floor. the floor under the cubicles is a raised floor with 1' x 1' removeable panels.
the second set of doors at the front entry was framed up today..and the energy managment system is 50% complete. Flitco is finishing up the piers for building #2 and starting the stem wall. plumbers have started there trim out.. and tomorrow we move to the second floor to start electrical trim.
parking lot is moving slowly.. the curbs are being poured. asphalt comming soon.

Oh if your working in that building.. as a employee of Dell. and don't like your carpet.. pull up a square and trade it with the person down the hall or next door. it's restickable because of the access for the raised floor. pretty strange colors.. green blue and brown in the offices. the other areas have a combo of those colors in a pattern.. that random.

let's see today... the glass went into the front entry was along with the doors on the east and west side of it.
a whole batch of change orders come thru today..we started sorting thru them.. and some of them are pretty major changes.. i guess that goes with rule #6 of construction... the number of change orders is all ways greater when you don't have time to complete them. Flintco wants 99% by july 4th.

Athough having been under construction for at least a month, Dell today formally announced the consturction of building two. Except for position, it should nearly mirror building one... Except for the tower foyer.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of this year, for occupancy in late January or early February. Building three should follow shortly thereafter.

Still No paving as of today... pole lights went up.. the guys doing the paving in the parking lot will have nite lights LOLOLOLOLOL.. we are 99% complete on building one as of today execpt for the change orders... the main hold ups right now..is the painting and drywall contractors.. the dry wall is up... and Mudding and taping is taking place.. SLOWLY the word we got the other day is Dell wants to be able to answer phones on Aug 8th.. and our turn over date for building 2 is end of Dec.. building 3 is still being drawn and all the details worked out...building 2 don't have as many systems building one..with a looser deadline. that'll make my life easier.. I am looking forward to having my weekends back.

Who is the company paving the parking lot?? from OKC??

I donno.. as soon as I know..I'll let you know..

Actually, the contractual completion date is August 8. We expect to move August 24, and move into building two in February.

I am quite anxious as I am tired of not being able to leave for lunch because of parking (or lack there of) and having to drive twice as far to work.

does anyone know any detailed specifics as far as the job titles go?? I applied for a tech job (which i should have gotten since I have done call center computer tech for 9 years) and live voice response agent.. I am just wondering if this Live Voice Response Agent is gonna be a slave like job or?!?!

does anyone know any detailed specifics as far as the job titles go?? I applied for a tech job (which i should have gotten since I have done call center computer tech for 9 years) and live voice response agent.. I am just wondering if this Live Voice Response Agent is gonna be a slave like job or?!?!

It depends on your definition of "slave." Live Voice Response is usually the entry point to Dell. What the job consists of is screening calls and transfering them to the correct department. If you are not patient enough to handle rude and inpolite people, then it is not the job for you. Granted, most people are nice, however, there are several who are rude, and I find most will inturupt you (very bad manners). I am being blunt.

Dell as a company is very good. They treat people with dignity and respect and have great benefits. Example. I get a total of 12 weeks a year off with personal, hoildays and vacation combined.

It depends on your definition of "slave." Live Voice Response is usually the entry point to Dell. What the job consists of is screening calls and transfering them to the correct department. If you are not patient enough to handle rude and inpolite people, then it is not the job for you. Granted, most people are nice, however, there are several who are rude, and I find most will inturupt you (very bad manners). I am being blunt.

Dell as a company is very good. They treat people with dignity and respect and have great benefits. Example. I get a total of 12 weeks a year off with personal, hoildays and vacation combined.

Well I love dealing with rude and inpolite people.. It does not bother me much.. I work for Cingular Wireless and that is a daily thing.. I am just wondering how different Dell would be as a company vs Cingular.. I am ready to give something new a try and Dell sounds very nice...

I fear some might be getting the idea that Dell is this picture perfect company that will "save" Oklahoma. My experience with Dell hasn't been as pleasurable as some of the other posters in this forum.

First of all, I think the hiring process was horrendous. I applied back in October of 2004. At that time they told me they were very interested etc etc and told me they wanted to hire me for one of the sales positions. I didn't hear back until March when I actually got called for my interview. My interview went excellent and I was hired. But not until the end of May. Luckily I got a temporary position until it opened up.

Another friend of mine has been dealing with Dell's crap since September. He was a coach at another major OKC call center and applied at Dell. He went on three different interviews from September to December. Then at the beginning of the year they called him in for another interview as just a regular sales position. He was offered this position but then asked keep interviewing for coach positions. He did this for two months before he got frustrated and told the recruiters he would just accept the position he was offered and work his way up. And what did they tell him? That the class had already started (which he could have gotten into if Dell representatives would return calls and repeated messages) and that the next class(if there would be one) wouldn't start until August. Though they tried to make it seem that the classes in August weren't known yet, friends who work for the company let us know the classes were going to happy. So either the recruiters have no idea what is going on or just don't want to deal with people. They send almost all their calls to voicemail and when they do anwser they have no idea to any questions you might ask. So almost a year of this and still no position. I'm sorry but that is ridiculous. And no it isn't Workforce Oklahoma that is not returning the calls or giving him the run around. It is actual recruiters that are Dell badged.

If you can get through that terrible process or are lucky enough to be a recent applicant who didn't have to wait so long, Dell can either work for you or against you. I personally didn't fit well into the enviroment there (I was in the sales position) because it seemed that the job was made harder than it had to be due to the many departments offering the many different deals that people would call and want but you couldn't sell due to it being a different program resulting in frustration for both you and the consumer. Also you must have great patience and not mind sitting in one place on the phone for anywhere to 10-12 hours a day depending on the season. The pay, commission, and benefits are generous if you are the type who can thrive in this kind of workplace. Also the training is adequate if not redundant, but you do learn most of what you will be doing.

Overall I would say the managment staff is great. Standards are high and I didn't have any problems meeting these, but you must be aware before you apply for a position like this of call center standards. If you are the type who have to get up and walk around, can't take back to back calls, or don't feel comfortable in a selling role then this type of position wouldn't be for you. Just take to heart what you are looking for in a career and then take the step. Just remember if you have a negative experience with the recruiters they are nothing like the actual staff you will work with!! The staff are really great people!

I was in a meeting earlier today inwhich several updates were released. Here are the details.

1. Dell will take posession of building one on August 6, and start moving. Various departments will move each weekend that month, with mine August 22. Several will stay at Hertz temporarly.

2. Building two is to be occupied in February and the remaining departments will move then. Some departments will relocate from building one to building two.

3. Dell-Oklahoma City will have the tightest security of any Dell facility due to the projects across SW 15.

4. Dell will have a riverboat dock and be a trolly stop, with private access for Dell employees.

5. Dedication is slated for September 12, with our own Mick Cornett and others in attendance.

6. Employees will enjoy a full line caffateria and other shops, plus a free fitness center (building two).

7. Building three was not formally announced, but is at the archetect.

8. Expenses were not spared in decorating the buildings.

More information as I receive it. :bow:

We have officially started moving into the new building. Our data center moved last Friday morning, and trucks are delivering furniture and computers now.

Finally!

Definitely sounds like Dell is building their new Flagship Call Center. :)

Good luck to all involved and working there. Call centers can be fun...enjoy it! I've been in the industry for almost 6 years now and its addicting...as long as you have the right people around you.

The first of the departments officially move into the building this weekend. Others will follow over the next two weekends, with mine being last. We will be totally full by August 22.

It is now officially the home of Dell.

Except for a very rare report on the status of building two and beyond, and a report on the dedication, this will be the last of the updates.

I will answer any question I am allowed and that I know the answer. Just ask.

It has been my pleasure to keep you informed of the progress of what will become Oklahoma City's largest employer in one single location.

I have just learned the following. So, knowing this now, I am releasing the following official statement from Dell.

Providing proprietary Dell information to the public is in direct conflict with Dell's Employee Code of Conduct and is in violation of Dell's Corporate Media Relations Policy, therefore I will no longer be supplying Dell information and updates. Dell's spokesperson and Corporate Communication Manager for Oklahoma City is Kathy Oden-Hall. She can be reached at 405-713-7290.

NOTE: Due to this information from Dell, I have closed this thread...Thanks for all of your participation.......Keith, Moderator, OKCTalk.