I am happy for anything over 5 stories in the urban core. Height is nice but I prefer street level density. Give me Westminster, UK over Midtown Manhattan anytime. I would have rather seen 8 100' building out of Devon then one 800' tower.

I know it's monday morning and I haven't had my coffee yet.......but there is definitely something wrong with this picture. Thank you to my browser for giving me a reality check this morning.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk28/s_wilki/DevonConstructionCam.jpg


p.s. why do people have to be so ungrateful regarding the gifts (aka Devon Tower, the TIF Funding, etc.) that Devon is giving OKC? Let's be thankful they decided to stay here and invest in the city.

Just look who the poster was and that explains it all.........

View the other topic. :-)

I have been viewing thqat tread since it's beginning, and all I have seen is speculation and no concrete evidence of anything.

Remember the tallest building in Dallas is 921ft., that's only 71ft. taller than ours. I'm disapointed it didn't end up being 925ft., but I'm really proud of the of the height it's going to be. It will be the 31st tallest in the U.S. when finished! Going to look great in the skyline! Hopefully more new buildings are coming in the future (convention hotel, etc.)

The Devon Tower will be the same height as the GE Building in NYC and the Chase Tower in Chicago. (I'm impressed!)

I love quoting myself too!

6.7.10
3rd Floor
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5052551817_3808821b32_b.jpg

7.6.10
5th Floor
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5053172186_68d24c538c_b.jpg

8.4.10
8th Floor
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5052552849_a23e0bde4d_b.jpg

9.7.10
11th Floor
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5053170796_34b615665a_b.jpg

10.4.10
14th Floor
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5053171152_3a2a10ba4e_b.jpg

Can't wait til' it's taller than the Chase Tower!!!

For those interested, you can see a 30, 60, 120, 180, 300 (http://www.halescamvideo.com/mosaic/) frame time lapse of the tower cam. These images are also archived via the "menu" option in the upper left corner.

The Devon Tower will be the same height as the GE Building in NYC and the Chase Tower in Chicago. (I'm impressed!)

Not only that, but Devon will be more impressive than either of those buildings, Im sure most people might think. ...

But I do see Thunder's point to a bit - maybe embarrassing was the wrong word, but 'somewhat' dissappointing due to the reduction might be a better way to put it. I wanted another city in america to get a supertall and AM really hoping OKC can join that exclusive club. It doesn't even need to be 1000', just 300 metres is good enough (which is slightly lower than 1000'). If we had a supertall, we would be in the club of cities as Chicago, New York, LA, Houston, and Atlanta; that is why I have a little bit of dissappointment - and since this tower is so beautiful and iconic, I think it deservedly so needs that supertall status. ....

But I am very happy for Oklahoma City and think the 850 foot tower will be impressive and hopefully lead to more (ala Charlotte). I am one of the speculators who is holding out hope that Devon will add 8-10 floors to the tower and make it 300 metres to the fins. ....

Did Devon pay all the constructions, or at least most of it, already or are they going to wait until later when the costs may go up? I find it conflicting while the cost of constructions went way down for Devon to not really take full advantage of it. They relocated the data centers out of this tower, fine, but was it really necessary to subtract floors? No. Those floors could have been put to use for other things.

How tall must a tower be to qualify as a super-tall structure?

I know it is still possible to add more floors before the final top floors is touched. Is there any way to get inside sources/access to latest changes to the construction layout/plan?

OKC should really try to compete with Dubai.

Also, it would be nice if Devon really want to give back to the community is by building another tower at least 1,000' for residential living and to not charge insane amount of rent. Devon can afford it and they can afford leasing out units for reasonable prices that will actually compare with other regular apartments around the metro.

What will Devon plan to use for their current mini tower?

Thunder, despite the scope of the project, building a tower is still a business-based decision based on Devon's needs. Height is never the single cornerstone of any office building development. Height is the end result of the needs of the company (or developer who builds multi-tenant office towers). One of Devon's strengths is that they do not overshoot their goals. That keeps them prudent and stable.

Devon could have forgone the garden wing and shoved all of that square footage into the tower, but they didn't just want a tower. They are building a quality environment for their employees that will be enjoyed by both the company and the city. The tower itself is indeed an icon, as was intended by Larry Nichols. However, the rotunda, the podium, garden wing and auditorium are all pieces of the puzzle for a quality environment. It is being done this way so that attracting a highly talented workforce for Devon is easy. That in turn is good for both Devon and Oklahoma City, and that can't be argued.

Devon's original estimate for the tower was 37 floors. 50 floors is a decent increase from their original estimate. Based on how many people they plan to hire in the future combined with the square footage needed to accomodate X number of employees, 50 floors was the end result. The engineering decision to spread the floor heights more than normal for very specific purposes yielded 850 feet.

Companies and architects do not determine the height of the tower from the start to satisfy a lofty goal unless you are a risky real estate developer with deep pockets, but even then prudent business decisions must still be made. Companies go with what makes the most economic sense. In the long run, Devon's new tower will shape the skyline in ways we can't imagine. There is only so much you can see on paper or computer screen. It isn't disporportionate, and opens doors for another tower to be built (again, based on demand) that may or may not fill in the gap between the Chase Tower and Devon.

BTW, Devon is searching for a new tenant for the current 19-floor Mid America Tower they occupy so that a hole isn't punched in downtown Oklahoma City's office space occupancy rate. Companies don't do that every day.

Did Devon pay all the constructions, or at least most of it, already or are they going to wait until later when the costs may go up? I find it conflicting while the cost of constructions went way down for Devon to not really take full advantage of it. They relocated the data centers out of this tower, fine, but was it really necessary to subtract floors? No. Those floors could have been put to use for other things.

I think Devon will be doing the smart thing on this. They didn't get this far by being taken advantage of.



How tall must a tower be to qualify as a super-tall structure?

TALL



I know it is still possible to add more floors before the final top floors is touched. Is there any way to get inside sources/access to latest changes to the construction layout/plan?

There are NO PLANS to change the building height to higher than 850'. Be happy it is being built! Devon would've announced this if they were to change it. Approvals would have to have been made through the city and it would've eventually leaked by now. So don't get your hopes up!



OKC should really try to compete with Dubai.


REALLY!?!?!


Also, it would be nice if Devon really want to give back to the community is by building another tower at least 1,000' for residential living and to not charge insane amount of rent. Devon can afford it and they can afford leasing out units for reasonable prices that will actually compare with other regular apartments around the metro.

Is this a joke? Devon is not in the Hotel/Apartment business. Giving to the community is not all about building towers.

Devon bought the Colcord to be a good neighbor, and will be selling it back to the original owners when the building is complete. This was announced when the transaction took place.



What will Devon plan to use for their current mini tower?

Read other post and look online at newsok.com, there are articles about this.

Do some research! Its called Google/Bing or whatever you use/Don't Use!

BTW...Forms are being placed on the SE side for the 15th Floor.

Yes Thunder, please use Google. Dubai? Seriously? You do realize they are building buildings 2,000-3,000 ft tall don't you? That is insane compared to even places like New York and Tokyo, etc. They are even working on a building a MILE high. No one can compete with Dubai's monsterous towers and it doesn't make sense to either.

Yes Thunder, please use Google. Dubai? Seriously? You do realize they are building buildings 2,000-3,000 ft tall don't you? That is insane compared to even places like New York and Tokyo, etc. They are even working on a building a MILE high. No one can compete with Dubai's monsterous towers and it doesn't make sense to either.

Dubai currently has 48 buildings that were stopped mid-construction. I'll bet there are more cranes working in downtown OKC today than there are in Dubai.

I'll bet there are more cranes working in downtown OKC today than there are in Dubai.

Taken last Monday. All still moving forward.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=64424293&postcount=810

Yeah we got them beat all right :doh:

Taken last Monday. All still moving forward.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=64424293&postcount=810

Yeah we got them beat all right :doh:

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think all those cranes are in the stored position. If you look close you can see the area where items would be attached for lifting are all the way up (i.e. nothing is being lifted).

http://i52.tinypic.com/2vboi6q.jpg

According to SSP, 19 are still U/C, 4 are on-hold, 6 are stale proposals, and 3 are still proposed.

I was just saying that to say OKC has more cranes in operation in Dubai is silly, even though it appears that thier constuction boom is winding down.

Why would we want to beat Dubai? That city is a wasteful scar on the planet's face, built out of fantasy and dreams, not real-world economics. They can keep their mile high towers because they'll all be below sea level in a century.

While we are all living in reality, Thunder is living in some sort of pipe dream. The reality is that Devon is financially responsible, therefore although they are building a new corporate headquarters, they are doing it responsibly without all the extra hoopla. This was never a race to beat other cities, in my opinion, they are showing that they are committed to the future of OKC. This is a reinvestment in their hometown, not a competition with Dallas or Dubai. We can all wish the building was taller or speculate that there is some hidden agenda, but in reality, Devon is making sound business decisions so that they can continue to strive in the future.

First plate of glass going in on the north face of the building - floor 6!

The obvious answer to all of our problems is that Thunder go to work for Devon to help w/ these searing dilemmas.

First plate of glass going in on the north face of the building - floor 6!

Yup they have made quite a bit of progress this afternoon on that and have it almost completed on that face!

I have been wondering if there was going to be any access from the tower onto this level, for use as kind of a rooftop garden area. I haven't seen the plans at this level to know, but if I had been the architect I would have wanted to, because it creates its own unique kind of space with the Atrium that will frame the space on the NW side. It could have been a cool outdoor space! A place for employees to get out and eat a quick lunch & get some fresh air...of course they will have the entire myriad gardens to do that in also so probably not needed.

I'd think that that would be at least taken into consideration since this building is suppose to be LEED certified. A roof garden or at least just green grass would totally cut down on electricity bills...

Sometimes I feel like Thunder is a 3rd grader. His logic is, "Mommy, build it it bigger so we can have the biggest one!" it's kind of baffling. Compete with Dubai? Devon build a 1,000 foot apartment tower after this one? These really are amazingly silly suggestions that derail the thread from real discussions.

Sometimes I feel like Thunder is a 3rd grader. His logic is, "Mommy, build it it bigger so we can have the biggest one!" it's kind of baffling. Compete with Dubai? Devon build a 1,000 foot apartment tower after this one? These really are amazingly silly suggestions that derail the thread from real discussions.

Maybe he is a 3rd grader? His mom drives him around I think?? Twould explain a few things.

Sometimes I feel like Thunder is a 3rd grader. His logic is, "Mommy, build it it bigger so we can have the biggest one!" it's kind of baffling. Compete with Dubai? Devon build a 1,000 foot apartment tower after this one? These really are amazingly silly suggestions that derail the thread from real discussions.

After I wrote this I felt bad. I didn't mean to insult, Thunder, but maybe think through your ideas before you post them.

After I wrote this I felt bad. I didn't mean to insult, Thunder, but maybe think through your ideas before you post them.

I am not insulted at all. This is simply a message board where we can just simply express our ideas and dreams. That what makes a discussion interesting. It'd be very boring if we only discuss facts and typical things.

How tall must a tower be to qualify as a super-tall structure?



300 metres, just under 1000 feet.

Can someone (moderators?) superimpose the progress of the Devon town on the skyline image on OKCTalk's top banner. Not every new beam of-course, but maybe at 15, 30, 45 and 50 stories. Would be great for creating enthusiasm about the changes in OKC. Steve?

It'd be very boring if we only discuss facts and typical things.

Are you a politician? ; )

Yes Thunder, please use Google. Dubai? Seriously? You do realize they are building buildings 2,000-3,000 ft tall don't you? That is insane compared to even places like New York and Tokyo, etc. They are even working on a building a MILE high. No one can compete with Dubai's monsterous towers and it doesn't make sense to either.

We'll see if what thier ego's have built will remain standing after the next big shake.

Wow, okc is growing!
moonwolfie

i was at the Devon/OCU Boathouse christening this evening and Mike Knopp referred to the Devon tower as a "50 story lighthouse." In the context, it was pretty funny.

I have noticed from the night time tower cam shot that the 6th floor tower windows facing north are completely blacked out. They have an appearance of clear glass during the day time with the exception of the row that lines up with the floor.

You can't tell from the webcam, but they have started installing the stairs on the backside of the 'annex' as I call it.They already have two flights installed.

I like this image from KSBI-52's NW Expressway Cam:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r170/OkStateBBall78/worksite.jpg

To compare OKC to Dubai is insanity. Obviously anyone who knows anything about the Emirates, their history, their world position, or anything about the ruling family, etc., wouldn't make any comparison at all. OKC is not in their league and doesn't really want to be. They will have monstrous booms and busts, but will be world players for a long time. I love OKC, but it is not realistic to compare the two, at all. I have been involved in construction projects there and here, and OKC will NEVER build on the scale they have for the past two decades.

While looking at the KSBI site, I found this on a video clip from yesterday... I love this view of the skyline and think it will line up really well if the perspective is slightly shifted to the east:

http://www.tnttri.com/OKCTalk/devon100709.jpg

I have noticed from the night time tower cam shot that the 6th floor tower windows facing north are completely blacked out. They have an appearance of clear glass during the day time with the exception of the row that lines up with the floor.

Yeah that is likely spandrel glass (glass with a coating on the inside layer to prevent visibility from the inside) often this will be used at the floor slab edges to conceal the slabs from view as well as other unsightly areas such as mechanical areas or rooftops that will house mechanical equipment...etc...

That said I don't know what will be the end result of the roof condition on the North Podium Bldg, but assume that it is either just a roof or will house mechanical equiptment that they did not want visible from the inside.

BTW, now that the 14th floor is relatively complete, the tower is already about 240 feet tall, not counting the elevator core for the 15th floor, cranes, etc.

That means the structure is all ready half the height of Chase Tower... By my calculations (just over 15' per floor, one floor every 8 days) it will pass Chase near the end of February 2011; and it will become the tallest in the state around floor 42 in May next year.

BTW, now that the 14th floor is relatively complete, the tower is already about 240 feet tall, not counting the elevator core for the 15th floor, cranes, etc.

That means the structure is all ready half the height of Chase Tower... By my calculations (just over 15' per floor, one floor every 8 days) it will pass Chase near the end of February 2011; and it will become the tallest in the state around floor 42 in May next year.

So it's probably just a bit over half the height of FNB or City Place now?

Based off the pics I took today, the windows on the north side of the tower on the 6th floor are actually vents for the most part. Doesn't look like any access to the roof of the podium. Would have been a nice idea.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/okcmomentum/ceb6c92e.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/okcmomentum/dd7ea06b.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/okcmomentum/203cf0f3.jpg
Looks like they are setting up another temporary track crane.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/okcmomentum/bdd64543.jpg

While looking at the KSBI site, I found this on a video clip from yesterday... I love this view of the skyline and think it will line up really well if the perspective is slightly shifted to the east:

http://www.tnttri.com/OKCTalk/devon100709.jpg

Someone should post this pic on skyscraperpage.com. I only say this because I was on there recently catching up on posts I missed and some of the national guys were saying that the tower seemed really small (girth wise) but the height would make up for lack of girth. I think that this picture shows that it's actually pretty thick compared to Sandridge, Cotter, and the Oklahoma Tower.

Great shot of this area Okcmomentum! Yeah that confirms that the space behind the vents is going to be a large mechanical room, to corect what I surmised previously based on the view that I had which was the web cam. Your photos cleared that up for me thanks!

great! now i can add ksbi's website to my check-daily list. :) i don't mind though. it is a great view

Hey everyone, my seven year old son and I have been following the Devon Tower construction on OKCTalk.com and NEWSOK.com. We are taking a field trip to downtown OKC this weekend in order to see it up close and personal, my son wants to take some photos and post them on his facebook page. Therefore I have turned to the experts for a ?, where would be the best place to photograph the site and where can we park ? Thank you all so much for any help.

I normally parallel park near the building and then go in to the Devon Center garage (west garage) or walk the streets to get a view. Good place to park is Sheridan and Hudson or by the City Hall.

Hey everyone, my seven year old son and I have been following the Devon Tower construction on OKCTalk.com and NEWSOK.com. We are taking a field trip to downtown OKC this weekend in order to see it up close and personal, my son wants to take some photos and post them on his facebook page. Therefore I have turned to the experts for a ?, where would be the best place to photograph the site and where can we park ? Thank you all so much for any help.

Park somewhere near Park/Harvey intersection. Go up to the 10th floor of the Devon Parking Garage and walk outside. This will give you a good look of the entire construction site.

If you really want to get up close to it, go over by the Colcord building, there is a driveway that goes in between the IRS building and the Colcord, walk back there and there is a hole in the fence where he can look out and see it really up close, this is by Crane number 1.

Hey everyone, my seven year old son and I have been following the Devon Tower construction on OKCTalk.com and NEWSOK.com. We are taking a field trip to downtown OKC this weekend in order to see it up close and personal, my son wants to take some photos and post them on his facebook page. Therefore I have turned to the experts for a ?, where would be the best place to photograph the site and where can we park ? Thank you all so much for any help.

Get up on BOTH garages by the site. You may have to walk or take the elevator, but trust me it's worth it. The experience of your son getting to see the massive scale of this can't be bought. Also walk over to the Colcord's south side, that will give you another great angle. Then the west side of the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Also why you are downtown, swing over to boathouse row and take in the Oklahoma Regatta (FREE), about 50,000 or so will be in attendance. There is also another great view of the skyline from the river.

Park somewhere near Park/Harvey intersection. Go up to the 10th floor of the Devon Parking Garage and walk outside. This will give you a good look of the entire construction site.

If you really want to get up close to it, go over by the Colcord building, there is a driveway that goes in between the IRS building and the Colcord, walk back there and there is a hole in the fence where he can look out and see it really up close, this is by Crane number 1.

If you drive down that driveway (while going south on Robinson, turn right just before Colcord) you can go in there and park for a bit and walk around from there. On Saturdays, no one is in IRS building, so park just outside gate of IRS parking. Saturday mornings are good for that area and the up close view is awesome.

Just don't park in the fire lanes... you WILL get towed ! LOL

You can find more here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53062852@N00/)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5063238307_74a25887de_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/5063238099_14646f05ab_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5063237761_c2afcb89e0_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5063847338_6188f303c6_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5063848954_81a9d49aa4_b.jpg

You can now see the where the steel is going to bolt in for the rotunda. The three boxes to the right of the circle are for trees
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/5063873354_6c13206e18_b.jpg

In case you forgot what it looks like
http://0.tqn.com/d/okc/1/0/G/E/DevonRotunda2.jpg

I would bet money this crawler is going to fly the steel for the rotunda
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5063849728_5d8b274643_b.jpg

DUDE!!! Your amazing!! Thanx for posting these!! Very cool!

Beautiful pics KG.

Thanks everyone for the pic-taking advice and strategy.

Awesome photos as always! I would venture to say you are correct on the Hugemassive crawler crane that is being built! Wow that is huge! very nice shots of what is taking place on the garden building, so thank you for those fantastic images! Great way to begin the weekend!

Last night, I was driving down I-40 and when I looked at the tower, it looked almost as high was Leadership Square which is about 300 feet.

OKC has KD and OKCTalk has KG. Great pics King!