End of 2022? Why so long? It's like 9 months per side!

End of 2022? Why so long? It's like 9 months per side!

+1

We all want to see this project finished ASAP. Can't wait to see the finished project and its' impact on the Oklahoma City Skyline at night.

They are staging equipment to start the east side glass next. I noticed the people lifts are on the east side platform this morning

East side will be nice for visibility from I-235.

They are staging equipment to start the east side glass next. I noticed the people lifts are on the east side platform this morning

I thought I read somewhere that both east and west sides were to be done simultaneously ? Hope that happens.

I thought I read somewhere that both east and west sides were to be done simultaneously ? Hope that happens.

Yes, that it what I read in Steve's article last week.

The entire tower facade is being redone with 7,936 panes of glass. Glass replacement is nearly complete on the north side. Next will be the east and west sides, which will be worked on simultaneously, followed by the south side.

Oklahoman, Steve Lackmeyer, January 16, 2021

BancFirst making move to new downtown tower: https://oklahoman.com/article/5680425/bancfirst-making-move-to-new-downtown-tower

Hard to tell here but they've started on the west side windows. Couldn't see any evidence of them working on the east side yet.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst021221a.jpg

Hadn't been by at night to see the blue lighting effects in the plaza, it's a nice touch.

There was a ULI tour last night. I know there were others there. They're done (to 35) with N/S and will be starting E/W soon.

Was interesting hearing some of the back story.

Some of the new stuff has already been damaged due to pipe bursts during the cold spell, but repairs are underway.

Bathrooms only got "refreshed", no major changes, possibly in a future year.

Everybody will be out of the old building (and their airport ops center) by July. They will be selling their old building and already have an interested party.

They had to go in on a deal for additional surface parking because the garage was not enough for their ~450 people.

I'm forgetting a lot. Others in attendance please chime in.

^

The additional surface parking is where they plan to build a new garage on what was city property just east of the RR tracks.

^

The additional surface parking is where they plan to build a new garage on what was city property just east of the RR tracks.

not disagreeing but they didn't give any indication of that happening any time soon

not disagreeing but they didn't give any indication of that happening any time soon

Yes, there hasn't been any recent movement. I suspect they'll just use the surface lot for a while.

There was a ULI tour last night. I know there were others there. They're done (to 35) with N/S and will be starting E/W soon.

Was interesting hearing some of the back story.

Some of the new stuff has already been damaged due to pipe bursts during the cold spell, but repairs are underway.

Bathrooms only got "refreshed", no major changes, possibly in a future year.

Everybody will be out of the old building (and their airport ops center) by July. They will be selling their old building and already have an interested party.

They had to go in on a deal for additional surface parking because the garage was not enough for their ~450 people.

I'm forgetting a lot. Others in attendance please chime in.

What is ULI?

What is ULI?

Urban Land Institute. It’s membership based and they do awards/tours.

Urban Land Institute. It’s membership based and they do awards/tours.

I don't agree with some of what they do, but respect the hell out of what they do.

^^^^^^^^^
As a longtime member, I’d be interested in hearing what it is that you don’t care for. Legitimately surprised at the comment, especially if you’re meaning the local chapter. In my experience it’s made up of the people who care about and for this city the utmost from an urban development standpoint.

And I know for a fact that it has brought together teams who have pulled off much of what folks gush about on this forum, complex, difficult, historic, walkable, culturally significant, equitable projects. Genuinely puzzled.

Feel free to DM me.

Couldn't have said it better, Chad.

Kinda hoping someone would use the opportunity to tell about ULI in their own words. What it is, what it does and how it works in Oklahoma City.

I belong to ULI.

First of all, it's a national organization with a local chapter here in OKC.

It's generally a networking group for developers and related industries like architects, engineers, contractors, finance, brokerage, etc. Pretty much all the local players are involved.

Also people like shawnw and urbanized who are just very interested in urban development.

They have periodic meetings and talks on various subjects of interest and often take tours of new projects in OKC and sometimes bus tours to see projects in other cities. They also do online seminars and some national and regional conferences.

I don't go that often but they had one luncheon where they had members from the County Assessors office and they talked about how to use their database to find information, and also described some future upgrades.

https://oklahoma.uli.org/

I'm not a formal member, but attended the latest session of their book club, which they host occasionally. Everyone was friendly, and it was great to hear the perspectives of people heavily involved in local development on things like walkability, biking, etc. I plan on going back for any future rounds.

Installing glass at the south entry.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst030621a.jpg

Haven't been down lately, but have they started installing the new glass on the East and West sides ?

Thanks

^

No, not yet.

It looks like they've started on the mullions on the west side.

And they've been working hard on the south part of the lobby and plaza. That is supposed to wrap up in a couple of months.

Thanks Pete !

I took this Saturday of the west facade.

Looks like they are covering the mullions, then the windows will come next.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst040321a.jpg

drove by and the lobby IS very impressive. This is going to be awesome once construction in this part of downtown is finished.

They are just now starting to cover the mullions on the west side.

They still have a very long way to go on the facade.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst042921a.jpg

Both E and W sides being done simultaneously will be a really cool transformation to watch. The amount of construction happening in these two blocks with FNC is exhausting.

First photo is the plaza on the south side of the building; I believe the schedule is for it to be completed in June.

2nd photo is the east facade.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst050121a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst050121b.jpg

Getting the vibe that they may be taking the mullions all the way up before starting on the glass this round. The mullions are already about half way up on the east elevation and not too far behind on the west side. They’re hauling on them right now that’s for sure.

New mullions about halfway up the west facade.

At this pace, completing this project is going to take forever.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst052321a.jpg

Window replacement has started on the east side:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst052621a.jpg

Progress on the mullions and glass on the eastside:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst052921a.jpg

Progress on the mullions and glass on the eastside:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst052921a.jpg
It's amazing how different the mullions make the tower look by themselves. It makes even the old black glass look seamless to an extent. Too bad this project will be a whole three years out with they way they're working.

This project is changing the building from one particular International style high-rise into another. The building as it was, while it needed a refresh, was still a really good example of the era. What it's being converted into is just a different example, also good, of the same era and style. Transforming the glass of what was already a good looking example of the era seems a but pointless.

This project is changing the building from one particular International style high-rise into another. The building as it was, while it needed a refresh, was still a really good example of the era. What it's being converted into is just a different example, also good, of the same era and style. Transforming the glass of what was already a good looking example of the era seems a but pointless.

The changing of glass wasn’t really based on looks but the efficiently of heating and cooling the building if I recall correctly.

There was a ton of prep work but they now seem to be rolling on both the east and west facades.

They had said that they have learned a lot and work should move more quickly than it did on the north side.

Also, the plaza and lobby on the south side are very close to being finished.

This project is changing the building from one particular International style high-rise into another. The building as it was, while it needed a refresh, was still a really good example of the era. What it's being converted into is just a different example, also good, of the same era and style. Transforming the glass of what was already a good looking example of the era seems a but pointless.
I’ve kind of been noticing that as well and I’m really starting to like the outcome after having been critical of this project in the past.

The changing of glass wasn’t really based on looks but the efficiently of heating and cooling the building if I recall correctly.

Correct. The glass had to be changed. It leaked terribly and did not insulate well. The HVAC units inside could not handle the thermal loads from the outside.

The south plaza and lobby is almost complete.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst060621a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst060621b.jpg

I was told the last employees for BancFirst will be moving from across the street by the end of the month, which is also the timeframe for finishing the south plaza and lobby.

Still only one row of new glass on the west and east facades.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst061321a.jpg

They started the next row of glass this morning. They have been getting really lucky with lower wind speed days.

West facade from yesterday morning:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst061421a.jpg

South plaza and lobby wrapping up.

East facade is shown; west side is still only one row of new glass.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst062021a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst062021b.jpg

Are they planning on keeping the area "construction zoned up" while they finish the other windows? Or will the plaza all be opened up for normal use during that?

The Plaza is open; they just have wooden construction tunnels to protect the entrances on the east and west sides.

Once they start on the south, I'm sure they'll building something similar.

The south plaza is pretty much finished. They were putting the finishing touches of the south lobby this afternoon.

The new glass is about 1/3rd of the way up on the east side; still only one row on the west.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst070221a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst070221b.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst070221c.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst070221d.jpg

East side before west side is going to be nice for visibility from 235.

I believe the south doors are set to open on Tuesday. I’m sure they will eventually add a wood covering when they start working above. Also there appears they built some foundations which are currently boxed off in the landscaping making me think they are going to put some more temporary scaffolding that is secured to ground in order to have a platform on that side while they do those windows later this year.

The first photo is of the west side, which is getting into gear.

The other two are the east side, which is about halfway finished.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst071821c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst071821a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bancfirst071821b.jpg

It looks so much better!

Wow, they are cooking now. At this rate, they should have the East & West sides done in the next few months.

The antenna farm on top of this building is something else.

well when you have line-of-sight to Tulsa....

(j/k obvs)

Yes this is really looking great. Do we know if they're going to add any sort of LED lighting around the top or anywhere on the building?

Yes this is really looking great. Do we know if they're going to add any sort of LED lighting around the top or anywhere on the building?

LED at the top.

^^

Yay! I think this is fab.

The LED lighting with the crown on this project will be the game changer. Like putting the cherry on top.

Crown with LED on the top.

Basically a brand new skyscraper.