Not to mention the bad design for Kerr Park. Kerr Park was really nice before. It was dated but could have easily been restored instead of destroyed and will also be replanted with cedar trees.

Not to mention the bad design for Kerr Park. Kerr Park was really nice before. It was dated but could have easily been restored instead of destroyed and will also be replanted with cedar trees.

Kerr park really nice? You are losing credibility.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7223187316_ac63a86489_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7223187316/)
SandRidge Commons (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7223187316/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

Thanks for that photo!

Looks like the cantilevered horizontal arms are getting ready to go up on that massive steel canopy.

Don’t worry about his uneducated and petty attacks on SandRidge. OKC is lucky to have a corporation that is willing to be downtown, improve downtown and generally be a good corporate citizen by giving to causes that directly affect downtown.

I deleted a bunch of posts that were way too personal.

Let's please get back to discussing this project instead of posters.

I think this is a project which needs to be finished now before a fair assessment of its style and impact on this part of downtown can be fairly measured. It has destroyed some sentimental favorites, but is also adding life. The worth of the project has to be take in total. Once the canopy, the Branniff building, the amenities building are all complete, the vegetation has a year or two to start maturing, and the usage patterns start becoming clear, THEN we can objectively measure.

Is there any updated estimate of total investment SR is making on this project, at least through this current phase? Someone suggested the new Hilton Garden is the second most important project for downtown, but I think this eclipses it by multiple times.

Any new rumblings on the next tower they plan?

They estimated a total cost of $100 million for renovating the tower, the Braniff Building, building the amenities building and general landscaping.

Add to that the purchase and future renovation/expansion of the Broadway Kerr Parking garage, building another tower, plus any development they do on the vacant lots along Broadway. In addition, they will be teaming with Chesapeake to redevelop Kerr Park.

I'd say all this is at least another $100 million.

I would say easily $100 million. The actual square footage that they're putting up, and not counting any chickens that haven't yet hatched in that department (ie., new tower), is all top-notch. I'm quite sure they're going for the higher LEED certifications, for example. If they actually do complete their vision along Broadway it will be very impressive.

I would almost even hope for no tower, just build huge linear buildings (a la CHK) that line Broadway and overwhelm the passerby with a sense of STREET rather than a sense of SKY. I think that having something shiny and sleek that funnels downtown up into A-Alley would create an excellent environmental impression (ie., sense of place).


Is there any updated estimate of total investment SR is making on this project, at least through this current phase? Someone suggested the new Hilton Garden is the second most important project for downtown, but I think this eclipses it by multiple times.

Any new rumblings on the next tower they plan?

Rover, why do you keep trying to get some kind of confrontation out of me?? Demolitions, 1 renovation, and 1 6-story... vs. 11 story (bulky) infill. I will just say that the past is the past, and now I just like others, am anxiously awaiting the next round of building announcements from SR but I'm not counting on them. I'm counting what we know.

I would say easily $100 million. The actual square footage that they're putting up, and not counting any chickens that haven't yet hatched in that department (ie., new tower), is all top-notch. I'm quite sure they're going for the higher LEED certifications, for example. If they actually do complete their vision along Broadway it will be very impressive.

I would almost even hope for no tower, just build huge linear buildings (a la CHK) that line Broadway and overwhelm the passerby with a sense of STREET rather than a sense of SKY. I think that having something shiny and sleek that funnels downtown up into A-Alley would create an excellent environmental impression (ie., sense of place).



Rover, why do you keep trying to get some kind of confrontation out of me?? Demolitions, 1 renovation, and 1 6-story... vs. 11 story (bulky) infill. I will just say that the past is the past, and now I just like others, am anxiously awaiting the next round of building announcements from SR but I'm not counting on them. I'm counting what we know.

I totally agree with the first part. I actually think their lots on Broadway that are separate from the headquarters are the most important. Bottom line is the Tower is in the CBD that is always going to be a struggle to have it be mixed use and get retail.

A-Alley, on the other hand, has the potential to be the best street in all of OKC. I'm hoping that each of SD's lots get at minimum a 5 story building that fills the entire street face with retail/restaurant on the bottom, offices above, with apartments on the top floors. That would be HUGE for street life there and creating another vibrant downtown neighborhood.

The thing that is so positive here is that SR has great potential to keep adding mass to the inner city, not only in what they themselves build, but in the complementary requirements in the proximity. Growth in corporate space means more employees and more requirements for quality housing, markets, etc. When I look at projects like this and Devon, I envision a much more robust midtown, Bricktown, et al. In the end, when a greater mass is achieved and the scale is changed, every small plaza is less significant. There is a lot of plaza area in NYC for example, but streets like Ave of the Americas is a great urban canyon whose mass of buildings still create intimacy including the plazas. I think the scale of our downtown is still so small that the plazas like at SR seem exaggerated.

I agree with Spartan that a big 10 story building at SR would be preferable to a thin tall building. We need street level mass, not skyscrapers.

The heavy machinery is finally out - lots of progress today

1747
Click to enlarge

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7297616832_9f74e6bcd7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7297616832/) SandRidge Amenities building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7297616832/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

Thanks guys!


Holly heck they are getting busy now.

I suppose now that all the work is done to the east side of the Dowell Center, they can let 'er rip. They had said it should all be down sometime in June, and now it looks like they'll meet that goal.

Certainly didn't take long to tear up all of Kerr Park.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7304224802_8d41094d3d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7304224802/) SandRidge Amentities building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7304224802/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

Wow! Thanks so much Lazio.

If it's not too much to ask, could you get a photo of the metal canopy going up between SR Tower and the Braniff Building?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7309036452_c6790bf7c3_b.jpg

Thanks so much.

Wow, that's a big structure... Surprised it's being assembled on the ground first. Will be very interesting to see how they raise it.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7074/7309358080_65295185d6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7309358080/)
SandRidge Canopy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7309358080/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/7309365306_cfc3987522_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7309365306/)
Braniff building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7309365306/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

Brackets are installed on the Northeast corner of Braniff building.

Brackets for the glass that will cover that face?

Thanks guys!

Here's a zoomed view of that last photo showing the mentioned brackets. I'm sure they are to hold the glass panels that will be installed on the east and south facades:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/braniff53112.jpg

Thanks so much.

Wow, that's a big structure... Surprised it's being assembled on the ground first. Will be very interesting to see how they raise it.

That was my impression, but I definitely underestimated the scale of the canopy structure.

From yesterday courtesy of Urban Pioneer:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61121.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61122.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61123.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61124.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8010/7310684584_29bbbfd16a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7310684584/)
SandRidge Amentities building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7310684584/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

Windows in on the 3rd floor and going in on the 4th. Looks Killer.

Windows in on the 3rd floor and going in on the 4th. Looks Killer.

You mean on the Braniff Building?

On the old facades or on the next all-glass sides?

You mean on the Braniff Building?

On the old facades or on the next all-glass sides?

The old facade. Just like that test window.

Photos please! :)

Has the metal canopy gone up yet?

Photos please! :)

Has the metal canopy gone up yet?

Not sure if much has happened lately, been raining like crazy off and on the last few days.

Im going back down there this afternoon. I will try to take my camera.

Here are some picture of the Braniff Building

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/wschnitt/IMG_0106.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/wschnitt/IMG_0105-1.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/wschnitt/IMG_0102-1.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/wschnitt/IMG_0103-1.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/wschnitt/IMG_0104-1.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/wschnitt/IMG_0107-1.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/wschnitt/IMG_0108-1.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/wschnitt/IMG_0110-1.jpg

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa408/wschnitt/IMG_0107-1.jpg

Shoot. I did not realize there is a different thread for the braniff building.

Took this today. They are really going at the demolition now.
1795

These are from today...

Horizontal pieces of metal canopy going up and demo work is really progressing on the old Globe Life building. The last photo shows what's left of the old Kerr Park.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61212a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61212b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61212c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7366624786_107368bc89_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7366624786/)
SandRidge Commons (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7366624786/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

Thanks as always Lazio!

Look at the scale of that thing compared to the workers.

From yesterday:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61312.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61312b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61312c.jpg

From two days ago (more on the Braniff Building thread):



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61912a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61912b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61912c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61912d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61912e.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge61912f.jpg

The landscape diversification is a big improvement. I don't know if they've removed some of the cedars, but last few times I've gone by I was actually not overwhelmed by the out of place cedars.

By the way, have you guys seen this?
http://www.skylineink.com/#projects/project&project_id=27&project_subtype_id=37

They may have just had all those trees massed there as a hold until they could spread them out on the site.

Judgement is best made at the end of the project. These guys might not be as stupid as accused.

For regular buffoons with no understanding of planning, architecture, and construction, I would agree that they should hold their judgment until the finished product. In hindsight, they were likely anticipating a winter blast at some point even if it was late, that just never came - so the landscaping was all evergreens to begin and they staged the deciduous varieties later just to be safe, not that landscaping sequencing is that important.

My concern is still that cedars in general are more appropriate for rural interstage frontage than downtown, and kinda concedes (or con-cedars?) the point that after they tore those buildings, they realized they needed wind-breaks, massing, etc.

Instead of getting piled on (before anything more is said), I just wanted to pass along the positive compliment on the work that's happened more recently, that is all.

For regular buffoons with no understanding of planning, architecture, and construction, I would agree that they should hold their judgment until the finished product. In hindsight, they were likely anticipating a winter blast at some point even if it was late, that just never came - so the landscaping was all evergreens to begin and they staged the deciduous varieties later just to be safe, not that landscaping sequencing is that important.

My concern is still that cedars in general are more appropriate for rural interstage frontage than downtown, and kinda concedes (or con-cedars?) the point that after they tore those buildings, they realized they needed wind-breaks, massing, etc.

Instead of getting piled on (before anything more is said), I just wanted to pass along the positive compliment on the work that's happened more recently, that is all.

Wow. And you wonder why you have a hard time getting you're point across? Here's a tip, insulting people rarely helps.:hammer:

Another classic response.

Wow. And you wonder why you have a hard time getting you're point across? Here's a tip, insulting people rarely helps.:hammer:

I thought it was hilarious how he told people to hold their judgement until the finished project, when earlier in this thread he was saying how awful this project currently looks. So I guess, he called himself a buffoon with no understanding of planning, architecture, and construction?

Well, at least he's honest.

Well consistency and pointant discussion has never been a strength displayed here by certain folks.

I'm curious what some of you are smoking. I compliment SR, and the SR goons attack even harder. You folks are trolls, but that's all I'm saying in response.

If you can construe what I said into a pointed attack against someone in particular, good job. You must have graduated from the best troll academy. Sometimes us normal people need to just let things go.. this thread needs a troll warning

Wow. And you wonder why you have a hard time getting you're point across? Here's a tip, insulting people rarely helps.:hammer:

Well said. Think if 4+ people are saying it, it might be worth at least meditating on.

Well said. Think if 4+ people are saying it, it might be worth at least meditating on.

Exactly. Self-awareness is a tough one to develop.

I'm curious what some of you are smoking. I compliment SR, and the SR goons attack even harder. You folks are trolls, but that's all I'm saying in response.

If you can construe what I said into a pointed attack against someone in particular, good job. You must have graduated from the best troll academy. Sometimes us normal people need to just let things go.. this thread needs a troll warning

Just because someone disagrees with what you say and proves you wrong, that means they're a troll? I guess 90% of this board is trolling then. You tried to act like you were better than people with the "for regular buffoons with no understanding...etc." comment. When earlier in this thread you said:

"Er yeah.... not surprised to see this project looking awful. If the renders had accurately reflected how ugly the landscaping was to be, I can only wonder if those buildings would still be standing and if SR would have compromised and allowed for a deal with some apartment redevelopers." (Post #3284)

So therefore, using your own words, you're a regular buffoon since you didn't wait until the project was finished to form an opinion of how it looked.

You're going to continue to spin this comment just like everything else. Somehow, you will try to prove you were meaning to say something else. Then you'll play the "why does everyone always attack me" card and say the people who call you out on stupid comments work for Sandridge. Same song, different verse.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7544167634_85a6ac2464_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7544167634/)
SandRidge Commons (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/7544167634/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

Recent photo:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge8312a.jpg

While I appreciate the investments Sandridge has made in restoring their areas and breathing new life into their campus, that vacant gap south of the Braniff Building is ugly as **** and it's unfortunate that corner sits empty right in the middle of downtown.

While I appreciate the investments Sandridge has made in restoring their areas and breathing new life into their campus, that vacant gap south of the Braniff Building is ugly as **** and it's unfortunate that corner sits empty right in the middle of downtown.

Don't worry, just thing about the future money they will need to spend to fix it when they realize they made a mistake (which will be in about 4 years).

Don't worry, just thing about the future money they will need to spend to fix it when they realize they made a mistake (which will be in about 4 years).

Don't you know that's for future expansion.....? JK, but it really could be some year, or a great place for another resturant.

Don't you know that's for future expansion.....? JK, but it really could be some year, or a great place for another resturant.

When the streetcar goes by there and the Sandridge Execs see that no one is using their suburban style garden except homeless people taking a wiz (wearing or not wearing Greek togas) they will realize their mistake. Until then it will make a great Zuccotti Park.

But they are planting thousands of trees to replace the historic buildings. They are a green company that cares about the city! LOL