^

Very nice!

Is that side shown the one that is finished?

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Old lights back from the dead or new lights?

Saw that this weekend, also. It looks to me like new lighting in line with their renderings. A strip of white LEDs at the top, and an illuminated white BancFirst logo.

This is also the first time I have noticed they worked on the windows through the weekend.

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Looks like they are hard at the windows for a few days with the good weather.

^

All that is really left are the 2 floors with the Petroleum Club and even though there aren't nearly as many events this year, they may be waiting until after Christmas so they don't. disrupt things.

Petroleum Club has 3 floors: 34-36

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New signage and cleanup detail work underway.

https://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16635&d=1608664629

^

Thanks very much!

This project is fascinating to watch, especially since they are moving so fast.

No kidding.


https://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16635&d=1608664629

That temporary looking platform sticking out at the bottom of the west side of the tower, is it an indication they'll be switching the glasswork to that side soon?

No kidding.



That temporary looking platform sticking out at the bottom of the west side of the tower, is it an indication they'll be switching the glasswork to that side soon?

They installed that and an identical one on the east side months ago.

Not sure which side they'll do next.

You can't really appreciate what has happened here without before-and-after side-by-side pictures...it's almost unimaginable

It looks like they have finished the plaza apart from the south entrance.

Also, if you look closely, you can see there are tables and chairs in the lobby for the deli and that the main desk has signage that says ' BancFirst Tower'.

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Wow. Strong work BancFirst. I feel like this project just further elevates FNC’s.

Wow. Strong work BancFirst. I feel like this project just further elevates FNC’s.

IMO the two projects will be complementary to an improved and lighted skyline; what an improvement since the completion of the BOK Park Plaza Tower and let's not forget what a lighted Sandridge Center ($100 million in improvements) might do to illuminate the OKC Skyline.

The three projects (BancFirst, FNC and Sandridge Tower) if lighted with LED's will vastly improve OKC's night skyline.

From the appearance of things it seems as though this project has exceeded most expectations AND the speed of construction in light of its complexity has been remarkable. I tip my hat to Bancfirst, the contractor and architect!

IMO the two projects will be complementary to an improved and lighted skyline; what an improvement since the completion of the BOK Park Plaza Tower and let's not forget what a lighted Sandridge Center ($100 million in improvements) might do to illuminate the OKC Skyline.

The three projects (BancFirst, FNC and Sandridge Tower) if lighted with LED's will vastly improve OKC's night skyline.

I may be in the minority, but I like how the Sandridge Tower is currently lit up. The rest I definitely agree with.

I may be in the minority, but I like how the Sandridge Tower is currently lit up. The rest I definitely agree with.

I agree with you on Sandridge, it's unique and fits with the architecture of the building.

I may be in the minority, but I like how the Sandridge Tower is currently lit up. The rest I definitely agree with.

really like how that building looks with the spot lights ..

Took these tonight.

They have removed everything from Broadway which means both north-bound lanes are completely open. South-bound still closed between Main and Park for the FNC garage construction.

The chainlink fence has been removed from the north half of the plaza.

In the lobby, to the right (west) as you enter from the main north entrance will be the bank with offices along Broadway; escalators to and from the basement are located in the NW corner. To the left (east) you can see the Petro Deli with foodservice set back under the mezzanine (in the 5th photo a deli case is visible) and tables and chairs in the northeast corner. There will also be seating outside.

Above that wood wall behind the BancFirst Tower desk is a long row of glass for BancFirst offices on the mezzanine level.

The glass structures along Broadway are lit with multi-color LED lights. The northernmost of these will provide direct access to the Underground and basement where Hot Tamale will reopen.

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Great pics Pete!! Thanks for such great visual reporting!

Has every surface in the lobby been touched...I mean this looks like new construction!

Just awesome! I can't wait for the glass to be finished. Founders is probably the next most impactful from a project like this. I've been hoping for years that something like this would happen, but with the previous owners, it was never going to be in the cards. Hats off to Bancfirst and their commitment!

They really living up to the "loyal to oklahoma" motto aren't they

This is looking good.

They've worked hard to break up the monotony of the plaza. I never understood why in the '70s they liked having huge, dead plazas around buildings. The Myriad was that way too. You had a ten minute walk from the curb before you finally reached the door.

This is looking good.

They've worked hard to break up the monotony of the plaza. I never understood why in the '70s they liked having huge, dead plazas around buildings. The Myriad was that way too. You had a ten minute walk from the curb before you finally reached the door.

The portion of Leadership Square facing Robinson is just as bad as is the south side of the Fidelity Building (now Arvest Tower) directly north and SandRidge Tower (now Oklahoma Commons) to the east.

Absolutely none of these plazas are ever used apart from a few smokers. And I can attest the BancFirst Plaza is often an incredible wind tunnel; I am obviously down there a lot and was actually blown off my feet once; they tried erecting a scaffolding on the south side and it was blown apart in weeks.

Horrific urban planning from the 70's and 80's.

Absolutely none of these plazas are ever used apart from a few smokers.

That's why I'd love to see these plazas developed into mixed use projects that surround these towers instead of trying to fix them up. Hats off to their work here as this about as well as you can fix a plaza, but it'll still be a large, unused space. On the hand, mixed use developments around these towers could really liven up the area and make it a more desirable work location.

The portion of Leadership Square facing Robinson is just as bad as is the south side of the Fidelity Building (now Arvest Tower) directly north and SandRidge Tower (now Oklahoma Commons) to the east.

Absolutely none of these plazas are ever used apart from a few smokers. And I can attest the BancFirst Plaza is often an incredible wind tunnel; I am obviously down there a lot and was actually blown off my feet once; they tried erecting a scaffolding on the south side and it was blown apart in weeks.

Horrific urban planning from the 70's and 80's.

The BancFirst tower is positioned and shaped perfectly to cause massive downdraught. If the building was simply torqued with the corners facing N-S, it would solve the issue. Also if the building had variance in the shape it would also cut down the insane winds produced at the surface. Almost no modern towers are just straight up rectangles anymore, and especially are not built with a flat side facing the most common wind direction.

Shocking to no one that lives here, Oklahoma has south winds 80% of the year, so the south end of the building gets completely battered. I was hoping with the BancFirst refresh, that they would install some sort of material on the skin of the building to break up the wind. Nope, just different glass.


I fear the swimming pool area at the Omni will suffer a similar wind-fate, although the structure is obviously much shorter.

^

Thanks for that perspective.

It is a very bizarre experience to be lifted off your feet by the wind and I wouldn't recommend it.


At least the Plaza is on the 3 sides not facing south and the main entrance is to the north.

Maybe a stupid question but could they not install a windscreen or perhaps come back and do what Anon suggested to mitigate the wind impacts? It seems like that BF is doing such a high caliber job on this they would address it if they knew.

^

I don't think it's a huge issue apart from the south side which doesn't have a plaza.

For the rest of the outside space, the same issues exist for all the other big downtown plazas: too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, etc.

I know on the east side near the pergola they have allowed for the occasional food truck and there will be tables and chairs for the Petro Deli.

^

I don't think it's a huge issue apart from the south side which doesn't have a plaza.

For the rest of the outside space, the same issues exist for all the other big downtown plazas: too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy, etc.

I know on the east side near the pergola they have allowed for the occasional food truck and there will be tables and chairs for the Petro Deli.

Ok so i don't disagree, but it's funny how so many people here say this about downtown plazas but say that the outlet mall being all outside is fine.

Ok so i don't disagree, but it's funny how so many people here say this about downtown plazas but say that the outlet mall being all outside is fine.

The shopping isn't outside, just the walkways between the shops and even those are mostly covered.

The bank lobby and underground is opening Monday and they are flipping the construction fences around to the south side so they can finish the work over there.

The bank lobby and underground is opening Monday and they are flipping the construction fences around to the south side so they can finish the work over there.

Just walked thru the underground lobby and WOW it is amazing. Very well done.

Hot Tamale is back open

Here are some photos of the lobby from late this afternoon:

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really well done

That should age well.

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Simply Fabulous

They knocked that completely out of the park. What a great renovation.

I'm curious about the lighting, are those lights that are set between the ceiling tiles LED strips by any chance? Looks too small a form factor for it to be fluorescent tubes.

^

I think they are LED.

I've gradually been installing them in my house and my electric bill has gone way down.

Gracious, it's so sleek and clean. Can we get a before and after to further appreciate the advances of the architecture of that lobby, Pete?

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From Post 37616672

Remember to click on the image for a larger view

This looks great.

^

I think they are LED.

I've gradually been installing them in my house and my electric bill has gone way down.
IMO, just rip the bandaid off and remove every light that isn’t LED and convert. Your next electric bill will shock you.

IMO, just rip the bandaid off and remove every light that isn’t LED and convert. Your next electric bill will shock you.

Home Depot has leds pretty cheap. When I got mine they had special pricing in place because of an OG&E program.
I did my whole house at once.

Careful what you buy though. I thought, hey ill save a few bucks and buy this cheaper LED bulb. Well that was a mistake. That box of floods only lasted a couple of years (issues with flickering, dull light, etc) whereas id get a maybe 5 out of the same flood of fluorescent or incandescent. So put the extra dollar in to buy the quality brand....you get what you pay for.

They knocked that completely out of the park. What a great renovation.

I'm curious about the lighting, are those lights that are set between the ceiling tiles LED strips by any chance? Looks too small a form factor for it to be fluorescent tubes.

They are actually surface mount LEDs that fit in the channel between the tiles. Very cool. If you want to see them up close, go down in the concourse - they used them extensively down there.

Home Depot has leds pretty cheap. When I got mine they had special pricing in place because of an OG&E program.
I did my whole house at once.
Yeah I did it for mine and my grandparents house. It’s well worth it. The only LEDs that are expensive are the dimmable one or the “smart” LEDS which can change color and connect to WIFI. Otherwise you can get them pretty cheap now and get your money back within 2-3 months easily.

IMO, just rip the bandaid off and remove every light that isn’t LED and convert. Your next electric bill will shock you.

I had 6 four foot fluorescent lights in my garage. For less than $100, I replaced the bulbs with LED. What a difference it made. I also replaced every single incandescent light in the house and my bill practically decreased by half.

They are actually surface mount LEDs that fit in the channel between the tiles. Very cool. If you want to see them up close, go down in the concourse - they used them extensively down there.

That does sound pretty cool. I will try to remember to look the next time I am walking around downtown.

You can see they have started to replace the windows on the top floors occupied by the Petroleum Club.

The very top level -- where they have not converted the mullions -- will be covered by the new crown. I don't believe they'll do any part of the crown until the windows are replaced on all 4 sides.

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They are supposed to work on the east & west sides simultanaeously, so that is good.

With spring approaching, their days of being able to replace windows in safe (no wind) conditions is going to become more rare.

In hindsight, they probably should have left the north to be done in the warmer season and the south be done during winter. But oh well, I am sure they are in no rush.

I think it's a matter of safety. Replace the north while the north plaza is under construction so you don't have anyone not in a hard hat walking under your work. Then do the south while the south plaza is under construction. Then the east and west with the temporary platforms can be done without disrupting too much traffic in and out of the building.

^

Also, the north was the easiest side because they have that huge deck for staging.

As we know, they tried to erect scaffolding on the south side, and winds blew it away within weeks.

Then, they decided to build temporary decks on both the east and west sides because they determined the scaffolding approach wouldn't work.


In an interview with the Oklahoman, the BancFirst CEO said they have learned a lot concerning the glass replacement and it should go faster from here on out. He said they hoped to have the entire project finished by the end of 2022; the south entrance and plaza should be done by this summer.

In an interview with the Oklahoman, the BancFirst CEO said

See, Steve, that's how you give someone credit for their original reporting. You should try it some time.