I only saw one broken window.

Yeah, I was walking out of century center to go to the game last night and a security guard told to to go the long way because the crane had hit the building and broken some glass. I tried to see it as i walked out, but i couldn't tell exactly where it was. So, I don't think it was a massive hole or anything. Crane was totally intact.

It's about 2-3 floors above where the crane's boom is currently located, on the back side of the boom. Looks like the window frames on the edge were pretty beat up, but doesn't look like damage extends beyond the glass curtain wall. They have obviously brought the crane down a section or two since the incident.

I am sure they have a lot of extra windows laying around, just for that reason. Should get replaced fairly quickly.

Won't they also need to replace the damaged window frame or frames?

The windows were built, shipped and installed as modular units. I don't recall whether the damage is above or below the beginning of the building taper, but if it is above, the frame/glass unit is probably a different size than the one above and the one below. This is especially true on the edge, where the damage occurred.

They'll probably have to order a new unit custom-built for that location on the building. Shouldn't be a problem, they'll just plug the dimensions in and the fabricator will spit out a window. But I doubt that it is fixed immediately. Who knows? If they rush the job it may only be a few days. But it's unlikely that they have extra glass/units sitting around in case of random eventualities like this.

Plus, these windows are extreme stout and hard to break so they probably don't plan on it happening very often.

I'm sure they have a contract with the manufacturer to create new ones when needed because although many of those panels look the same, I'm there there are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of different sizes and shapes.

I honestly don't believe a project this grand with that many windows, that they didn't order extra for different circumstances that may arise. I doubt they ordered just enough windows. I wouldn't be surprised if they had surplus of more than 100 windows being stored until the construction job is completely finished.

I honestly don't believe a project this grand with that many windows, that they didn't order extra for different circumstances that may arise. I doubt they ordered just enough windows. I wouldn't be surprised if they had surplus of more than 100 windows being stored until the construction job is completely finished.

I know very little about construction, but this seems horribly inefficient. I would imagine as Pete said that they have hundreds of different sizes as the building goes up and couldn't simply just "pop" a new, generic one into place. Why would Devon wan't to pay to store these windows? I can't imagine that they plan on them breaking all that often, even with the Oklahoma weather at play. Which brings me to a side question....anyone know examples of windows breaking in skyscrapers after they have been constructed and people have been moved in? Just doesn't seem that common.

There was a tornado in Downtown Atlanta (I think?) that wiped out some glass off of some skyscrapers.

Also, notice how when they were putting up the glass, it seemed to go up in random places at first? That tells me they have it very organized as to where each pane goes which also tells me the glass isn't uniform throughout the building in terms of design. So I'd say this will be a custom order to replace. I'm sure the glass manufacturer will be able to handle it, don't worry guys!

Got to see a little up close and personal, but couldn't get a good shot with IPhone. At least two windows broken - one of our cleaning people got a picture of the crane embedded into the building. The wind was brutal, so every movement to get the crane out caused even more damage. According to the maintenence guy, glass was everywhere - on top of IRS building and Colcord, plus all over sidewalks as far as Main Street. The glass is tempered, of course, but some of the chunks were 2-3 inches across and about 1 1/2 inches thick. Because of the holiday, few people were around the IRS building.
At 3 PM, the windows were still un-repaired. Glad no one got hurt - but what a mess. Although they had crews cleaning up immediately, there was still glass all around the area this afternoon. Even found some on top of the Century Center roof!

Wow, that's amazing Lauri.

When it was said there was glass on Robinson I couldn't believe that would have anything to do with Devon, as the tower is a good distance from that street. Just goes to show how windy it was...

This is one of the reasons I was very sure they would not be moving people in until both those cranes were down. Just too many things that can go wrong. As it happened, just a couple of broken windows to be fixed.

I picked up a couple of the larger chunks of glass and they had some heft to them. Falling from 30+ stories and landing on a vehicle - or worse, a head - would have caused damage and pain. Let's hope they take the OK winds into account before moving the crane out completely.
The wind gusts in OKC were 50 mph yesterday - hell, they close marinas in Florida when winds hit 35 mph!

I know very little about construction, but this seems horribly inefficient. I would imagine as Pete said that they have hundreds of different sizes as the building goes up and couldn't simply just "pop" a new, generic one into place. Why would Devon wan't to pay to store these windows? I can't imagine that they plan on them breaking all that often, even with the Oklahoma weather at play. Which brings me to a side question....anyone know examples of windows breaking in skyscrapers after they have been constructed and people have been moved in? Just doesn't seem that common.

As Catch 22 pointed out - a tornado took out a lot of glass at the Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta. It took almost 2 years to replace it because the plans for how it was manufactured and installed was lost over time. They had to re-engineer the whole manufacturing process. Of course, that was due to a natural disaster. You might find something like the John Hancock building in Boston more interesting. A design flaw literally caused giant panes of glass to fall off the 50 story building at random.

Here is a picture of how much plywood they had to install where windows just fell off.

http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbig4h8Jcg1qzpyndo1_500.jpg

http://www.architectureweek.com/2001/0404/images/11356_image_7.jpg

Fort Worth and Salt Lake are other major cities that have taken direct hits from tornadoes in their CBDs.

I picked up a couple of the larger chunks of glass and they had some heft to them. Falling from 30+ stories and landing on a vehicle - or worse, a head - would have caused damage and pain. Let's hope they take the OK winds into account before moving the crane out completely.
The wind gusts in OKC were 50 mph yesterday - hell, they close marinas in Florida when winds hit 35 mph!
Did you take any pics of damage or the glass you picked up?

No more construction/cranes on the Construction Cam. We've come a long way. Just standing there on its own.

Good to see you Troypin! It's been a while.
yea it has been. i've been to lazy to post anything

There is not a whole lot of need of making lots of extra windows with a solid company, even if they were all uniform. The company that made the glass for the state capital still had it's original specks on file, pushing near 90 years after it was built when they were replaced. With computers it is now even easier to manage/access long term histories.

Thanks for the info guys

Surely, Permasteelisa, the company who manufactures and installs the windows has some kind of numbering system for each of the windows? That way, they can just plug a # into their system and the specs are already stored for easy manufacture.

Its usually straight forward replacing glass unless the building is so old that particular manufacturing system isn't used anymore.

Its usually straight forward replacing glass unless the building is so old that particular manufacturing system isn't used anymore.

In this case, the building would not be so old that the manufacturing system is no longer used. [/sarcasm] LOL

Did you take any pics of damage or the glass you picked up?

No - I wish I had 'cause I knew someone would ask! I was more focussed on getting out of the office and getting home. Leaving today for short hop to NOLA, but will get some pics when I go back to work Monday. They are sitting on the building maintenence guys desk, next to the box of all the debris Devon has donated to our parking lot in past two years.

No - I wish I had 'cause I knew someone would ask! I was more focussed on getting out of the office and getting home. Leaving today for short hop to NOLA, but will get some pics when I go back to work Monday. They are sitting on the building maintenence guys desk, next to the box of all the debris Devon has donated to our parking lot in past two years.

OK sounds good. Remember, the answer to anything on this site is always pictures. As they say, a picture is worth a 1000 words.

Here ya go...

http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Devon%20Tower/February%202012/Canon%207D/February%2017/

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Devon%20Tower/February%202012/Canon%207D/February%2017/DPP_0053.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Devon%20Tower/February%202012/Canon%207D/February%2017/DPP_0063.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Devon%20Tower/February%202012/Canon%207D/February%2017/DPP_0073.jpg

Any chance of repositioning the camera so we can see the boom disassembled?

There's more... I just don't know whether I should post them without my name on them...

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Devon%20Tower/February%202012/Canon%207D/February%2017/DPP_0073.jpg[/QUOTE]

This one is my favorite! It has the grittiness of Bricktown and the sleakness of the Devon Tower!

There's more... I just don't know whether I should post them without my name on them...

Slap your name on them, you deserve it!

The webcam is pointed down to try and catch the final dis-assembly of the east crane.

Also, you can see the I-40 in the background... Very weird to see it completely abandoned.

I believe you can see half of the skydance bridge if you look closely.

they need to hurry up and blow up the old i 40, its now just an eye sore taking up space, and i feel like once you take down i 40 it will connect more of the south side of okc to the urban core.

I think it will come down pretty quickly now, as they have already made good progress on the east end.

They need the steel for other state bridge projects and that seems to have them motivated.

Since they are trying to reuse as much as possible, they have to take the time to take it apart section by section rather than just ripping it down or blowing it up.

I'm supposed to attend meeting with contractors and City in next couple of weeks outlining removal schedule. Will update then if appropriate for me to do so.

Ah, its good to see the white van again. (In the reflection off the new podium building)

Ah, its good to see the white van again. (In the reflection off the new podium building)

I noticed that too, lol.

Went down there just now from about 3-4pm. Not a lot to see as far as damage. The windows are boarded up and look the same as the attachment points for the crane. It'll just go into the long queue of footage I have to edit.

I imagine once that east crane is completely removed -- likely in the next couple of days -- they will really kick into gear with all the ground level work, such as finishing the reflecting pool and most the park / entrance.

I'm sure they'll want that substantially complete before they start moving people in about three weeks from now.

Do you guys think that when the devon tower is fully opened and project 180 is complete it will bring more pedestrians to downtown okc?

Yes! Plus the downtown workforce is really growing...

SandRidge is adding tons of people and Continental is moving hundreds in a couple of months.


The improvements to the parks, crosswalks and sidewalks will certainly be more inviting and we'll just have more people down there in general.

I think the east crane is gone. I saw the mobile crane when I got off work with the east crane still there. I cant see it now on the construction cam but still see the mobile one.

ESPN is using old footage for the Boston game cause there's traffic both ways on the old I-40 alignment :-(

ESPN is using old footage for the Boston game cause there's traffic both ways on the old I-40 alignment :-(

seen that!ohh well,great pr tho!

Does anyone know why 3/4 of the building isn't lit up, like at all??

Does anyone know why 3/4 of the building isn't lit up, like at all??

I noticed that too driving home tonight. It looks really strange. From a distance, the lighted area is about the same height as the Chase Tower making it look like a 30 or so story building. There are no lights at all on above about 25 or so. I guess there is no inside finish work going on at night any more.

is there a chance that the devon building could open earlier than planned?

I noticed that too driving home tonight. It looks really strange. From a distance, the lighted area is about the same height as the Chase Tower making it look like a 30 or so story building. There are no lights at all on above about 25 or so. I guess there is no inside finish work going on at night any more.

Probably a power outage. Whether it was planned or unplanned is anyone's guess. They normally leave the lights on all the time.

They had said the first employees will move in around March 15th and I can't see how they can possibly do it sooner.

The lobby, rotunda, south entrance and most ground level elements are still a total mess.

Does anyone know why 3/4 of the building isn't lit up, like at all??

I got off work at 8 o'clock and the NW side of the tower had floors lit all the way to the mechanical floors so I have no clue what you're talking about.

when will it be fully opened and cmplete?

Next year

Are they going to have a grand opening where residents can take a full tour?

Are they going to have a grand opening where residents can take a full tour?

No

The only access non employees will have to the area is the grounds, auditorium, rotunda and eventually the restaurant at the top.

Why not a grand opening?

Why not a grand opening?

I would imagine because they're not finishing the building all at once and moving everyone in during the same week period. There will be people in the tower for close to or over a year before everything is "finished" (ie, everyone that currently has a spot is fully functional). In other words, the tower will already be in use.

Can you imagine the thousands of people that would want to trek through the building? I would be wary of that in my workplace...

I'm sure at some point they'll do a walk-through for media but it's such a massive project there will be lots of separate completion dates: when the first employees move in, when the lasts ones move in, when they open restaurants and/or retail in the Garden Wing, when the auditorium is complete, when they open the 50th-floor restaurant, when the LED lighting is finished, when the connection to the Colcord is complete, when the Colcord renovations are finalized, etc.

All these things will be happening over the next nine months or so.

When does the skydeck open?

If you mean the observation deck on the roof, Devon hasn't even spoken about this... I just came across those drawings because they were sent for admin approval to the Downtown Design Review Committee.

They will have the facilities for letting people up there but I doubt it will be very public. Probably just for their special guests, which the restaurant will be open to everyone.