The image provided by the still pic is not very good. I hope someone that is on the site can answer Troypin's question cause I doubt the rest of us can.

When I left work today, it appeared that they were pumping concrete into the form.

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/ContextModel-Scheme1b.jpg

Are they finally pouring the elevator core on the south side?

From the photo it appears that all 3 the elevator cores are upto the second floor.

BTW - did you mean the "north" elevator core.

From what I can see it looks like they have to do 3 pours for each core in order to reach the second floor slab. The first pour is about 5 ft which you can see in the video frame from metro below. After that they lift the inner forms 5 feet (which you can see on the south core in the photo below) and pour the full length. After that they'll raise the forms again and do a full pour. I'm guessing it will be 2-3 weeks before all 3 cores reach the 2nd level.

Does anyone know if/when they'll be installing a satellite concrete pumper onto one of the cores?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1348/4603994792_c2f56f47f8_o.jpg

In that photo kinggober you are looking at the second level. A few more pours (as you described) and they will reach the third level (unless we are in England where they don't count the first level as a level).

Keep in mind the "1st level" is actually the basement.

Anyone know if Devon will plan a huge celebration for the opening or completion of the tower? (i'm sure they will...) On November 16, 2012, it will be the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma State Capitol Dome fireworks celebration. That would be pretty neat to have a similar celebration that night (plus it's a Friday, so it works out). Fireworks above downtown/devon tower would make for some spectacular photos.

A question for those who know--do the three 'elevator core' structures continue at the same size and position all the way to the top of this building? And, do they form an important central part of the design to strengthen the tower as a whole?

More pictures from the site today:


http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/9466/kdk0226.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/kdk0226.jpg/)

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/449/kdk0220.jpg (http://img188.imageshack.us/i/kdk0220.jpg/)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5936/kdk0221.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/kdk0221.jpg/)

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1572/kdk0224.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/kdk0224.jpg/)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7223/kdk0225.jpg (http://img155.imageshack.us/i/kdk0225.jpg/)

Awesome pics!

Okay, I've been working on getting some videos done and hope to create them on a monthly basis.

These are time lapse videos of the site from January through April during daylight hours using hourly snapshots.

It seems like only yesterday we were watching them dig out the basement!

January
HRkCZYNQKSE

February
WuB_wKLdLUQ

March
oUWX5ZzS2PQ

April
cdXMKHMDr40

Thanks for taking the time to make the time-lapses Madmonk--they are fascinating and I downloaded them from YouTube...great to have them to study. Another great benefit from this forum.

A question for those who know--do the three 'elevator core' structures continue at the same size and position all the way to the top of this building? And, do they form an important central part of the design to strengthen the tower as a whole?

They do as far as I know, I have not seen the remote uppermost floor plans to confirm this.

The elevator cores are a key structural element as they act as shear walls that resist lateral loads on the building such as wind loads as well as acting as the central load distribution mechanism other than the exterior columns.

Great pictures and videos!

MaMonk - as always - fun to watch videos - need to watch again as I get fixated on garage and forget to look at other stuff!

vandy - thanks for taking time to take super pictures!

sigh - I'll try to get some next week - my days have been flying by and I keep forgetting my camera.

In that photo kinggober you are looking at the second level. A few more pours (as you described) and they will reach the third level (unless we are in England where they don't count the first level as a level).

Were not in England but that is the 1st level Kerry. lol... As Metro said, the "1st level" they did was the basement/heated parking.. The one they're working on in that picture IS the "2nd level" but will actually be the 1st level @ street level..

FYI- YOU CAN SEE THE TOWER FROM I-40!!!! Kinda... for a split second... If your headed East down I-40, you can see it approx. an 1/8th of a mile before the Harvey exit.. only for a second tho! (Over some buildings and through some trees) :tiphat:

When will they take the scaffolding from the sublevel/basement & use it on the next level? I just imagine this whole warehouse, like in Indiana Jones, that's just full of scaffolding--all destined for downtown OKC ;)

When will they take the scaffolding from the sublevel/basement & use it on the next level? I just imagine this whole warehouse, like in Indiana Jones, that's just full of scaffolding--all destined for downtown OKC ;)

It usually takes concrete approx. 28 days to reach its design strength without any additives. They may be able to remove them prior to that point though because of the structure not having the loads that they are designed to carry because of the lack of structure above it.

If there is a structural engineer on the forum they could give you more detailed information.

For the pre-described "one floor per week and a half" that's gonna be a lot of scaffolding!

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's equivalent to our Independence Day.

Not at all. I just got back from a trip to Mexico and arrived on May 5th. You couldn't tell it was a holiday at all.

And, Pete, I wasn't trying to change the subject or get it off track. That was just a quick "aside" comment.

Anyone know why they didnt pour the very bottom level of concrete?? It seems like a waste to have to shore up the scaffolding on dirt just to remove it later and try to get the concrete in there.

Probably so they don't tear it up too badly. Plus I'm sure they wanted to start going vertical as soon as possible.

Anyone know why they didnt pour the very bottom level of concrete?? It seems like a waste to have to shore up the scaffolding on dirt just to remove it later and try to get the concrete in there.

My WAG is that they need the area for staging until the dock ramp is built and if it can take up to 28 days to cure, they wouldn't be able to run heavy equipment on it, etc.

Can anyone tell me if the building that is located directly north of the Colcord Building is a newer building or a renovation of one that has been there a long time. I remember the Cooper Theater being in that spot long ago...(I think!)

These were taken this afternoon. There was a lot of activity happening.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4609290475_c46e66594d_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/4609901072_fc66e3831a_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1414/4609907334_3fb6a20914_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1229/4609905440_a07b95c9e1_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1238/4609903246_ebd18e8a6d_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1011/4609303161_44a69be357_b.jpg

Awesome pics! These really show the scale of how big this building is going to be. Those workers look tiny!

Has anybody got any pictures on the podium construction? I,ve been wondering whats happening over there.

Can anyone tell me if the building that is located directly north of the Colcord Building is a newer building or a renovation of one that has been there a long time. I remember the Cooper Theater being in that spot long ago...(I think!)

It is a newer building and houses the local offices of the Internal Revenue Service. And yes it is in the location of the former Cooper Theater, with the State Theater right across the street.

It is a newer building and houses the local offices of the Internal Revenue Service. And yes it is in the location of the former Cooper Theater, with the State Theater right across the street.

It was originally built for only the IRS in 1991, but now has other government agencies as well as a private insurance company. The building is leased through GSA and is privately owned.

Those of us in the building would love to know who the actual owner(s) is/are!

Thanks Redland for the verification...I have been trying to remember things from that area and the Colcord Bldg. since I worked there back in 1969 for OCURA. Interesting how many of the dreams of those with foresight and the plan of I.M. Pei have come to fruition, these many years later.

Thanks Redland for the verification...I have been trying to remember things from that area and the Colcord Bldg. since I worked there back in 1969 for OCURA. Interesting how many of the dreams of those with foresight and the plan of I.M. Pei have come to fruition, these many years later.

When you worked at OCURA did you know Susan Hughes?

It looks like the two highest cores are at a mezzanine level that doesn't extend all the way out to the columns (on the east side anyway). If you notice the area where the utilitity rooms, stairwells, and service elevators are located the shoring system is lower. On the interior atrium renderings you can actually see this level.

Ohhh My God..

???

???
Sorry, I wasn't very clear with my post

There's a mezzanine floor that will be poured first before the second floor is poured.


481

This mezzanine floor you see in the background starts within the core of the tower and connects the atrium and podium building.

I think the mezzanine floor is actually the second floor of the podium building.

I guess you could consider this "mezzanine" level to be the second floor of the tower and the outer columns go up to the third floor.

I'm sure thats what the button on the elevators will say, especially if it is the second floor of the podium building.

When you worked at OCURA did you know Susan Hughes?

If she was the marvelous secretary/assistant to the Executive Director, Robert White--yes I did.

If she was the marvelous secretary/assistant to the Executive Director, Robert White--yes I did.

Look in your mailbox for a PM.

Guys since I don't live in OKC and don't get downtown much, help me out here...it appears that the structure is now a good 45 or 50 feet AGL? Thats pretty exciting, perhaps when I'm down in mid July it will be 100 or so ft tall at that point, something we can actually see clearly from the various roads in the area.

Based on what I've heard, by July you should see the first few floors. They've stated that the first 8-10 floors or so will take a little longer than the others, but once they are built we should see a floor built every 8 days.

I've got an update in today's Oklahoman.

Good work Steve, thanks for the update!

Great article, Steve - thank you!

Devon tower construction rises above street level
BY STEVE LACKMEYER
Published: May 16, 2010

Construction on Devon Energys new corporate headquarters is on schedule, on budget, and the tower should begin rising into the air this summer. All Devon employees, meanwhile, should complete their move to the expanded former City Center West garage by July 1.

The future Devon Energy tower is starting to rise above street level, and project officials predict the structure will gain speed and climb about one floor a week within the next month.

Read the rest of Steve's article at:
NewsOK (http://newsok.com/devon-tower-construction-rises-above-street-level/article/3461646?custom_click=headlines_widget)

My (very) rough estimate of the Devon Tower's height in comparison to the Dallas skyline.

http://i44.tinypic.com/9k3vat.jpg

Thanks OUrulz2000...very nice diagram on height. I wonder--what do people here think of the vertical line lighting on the building shown in Big D? Dallas has always been obsessesed with "bigness" and glitz...has begun to look like a giant State Fair, one should be careful. The Devon Tower has the type of structure that might lend itself to some nice, more subtle vertical lighting in the recessed areas of the triangular shape. What do the rest of you here think? Myself--always a fan of the giant vertical beam--like on the apex of that big pyramid "thing" in Las Vegas...can be seen from far away.

Thanks OUrulz2000...very nice diagram on height. I wonder--what do people here think of the vertical line lighting on the building shown in Big D? Dallas has always been obsessesed with "bigness" and glitz...has begun to look like a giant State Fair, one should be careful. The Devon Tower has the type of structure that might lend itself to some nice, more subtle vertical lighting in the recessed areas of the triangular shape. What do the rest of you here think? Myself--always a fan of the giant vertical beam--like on the apex of that big pyramid "thing" in Las Vegas...can be seen from far away.

I am not the biggest fan of this. Maybe on one or two buildings but not all. Fort Worth does this on EVERY building in its skyline, way overdone. I do feel like the Bank One Building in OKC is not lit up like it should be though.

I am not the biggest fan of this. Maybe on one or two buildings but not all. Fort Worth does this on EVERY building in its skyline, way overdone. I do feel like the Bank One Building in OKC is not lit up like it should be though.

I agree...Ft. Worth looks silly...like a big version of a child's toy box, but that is the least of the problems in that burg. I have not seen Bank One in years (at night)...I remember long ago when it was built as Fidelity National...it had nice outdoor lighting...

I think if they put white or blue (natural gas color) led lights around the triangles at the top it would look pretty good

Ft. Worth

I think Dallas looks awesome with the lights. I would love it if they were to do the same here.

I went down to the site today and only managed to snap one picture before being asked to leave the parking garage by a man in a Holder Contruction hardhat and vest. He shooed at least 10 people away that were up against the screen in the garage. Bummer.

Here is the height of the tower seen from Harvey, looking south.

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3796/kdk0260.jpg (http://img684.imageshack.us/i/kdk0260.jpg/)

Can they even shoo people away? It's public property, the City owns that garage, unless you were in the west garage that Devon owns.

Can they even shoo people away? It's public property, the City owns that garage, unless you were in the west garage that Devon owns.

I was in the east garage, the one shown in the picture that I posted. I thought that was a public garage as well.

Welcome to the world we live in. Aviation photography is legal, yet I had the military called on me to have me removed from the airport. (Was on public property, wasn't removed by force, but they were called as the first "responders")

I was in the east garage, the one shown in the picture that I posted. I thought that was a public garage as well.

I wonder if they realized that this website forum existed--would they still want to shoo people away...I am not sure any trade secrets are being revealed. Must be some way to get a dispensation or permission that could be generally understood. Maybe some contact with Devon by someone--hell--this place gives them tons of good--and deserved--press. :closed:

I wonder if they realized that this website forum existed--would they still want to shoo people away...I am not sure any trade secrets are being revealed. Must be some way to get a dispensation or permission that could be generally understood. Maybe some contact with Devon by someone--hell--this place gives them tons of good--and deserved--press. :closed:

Could be an insurance issue.