You'll still have a 2 story streetwall against Reno.

Uh...there are hundreds if not thousands of 2-4 story buildings in MANHATTAN. They exist the world over in great urban environments that we could only dream of copying. Not every building that fronts the street has to be a tower for it to be good urban development that encourages walkability. The only portions of the primary and secondary façades that DON'T touch the sidewalk are the "in" and "out" driveways, which are standard for hotels. Even the dropoff shelter is built to the street. This building is a straightup winner, at least from the standpoint of how it is laid out.

Uh...there are hundreds if not thousands of 2-4 story buildings in MANHATTAN. They exist the world over in great urban environments that we could only dream of copying. Not every building that fronts the street has to be a tower for it to be good urban development that encourages walkability. The only portions of the primary and secondary façades that DON'T touch the sidewalk are the "in" and "out" driveways, which are standard for hotels. Even the dropoff shelter is built to the street. This building is a straightup winner, at least from the standpoint of how it is laid out.

This.

Plus I think this will continue to make our ballpark have one of the cooler minor league stadiums to watch a game in. Have a dramatic background for sure.

One thing, this building isn't along Reno.

**Sheridan.

Happy?

**Sheridan.

Happy?

Yep :)

I just kept thinking I was missing something because you were the second person to say Reno.

Looking good... keep up the good work OKC!

Not to belabor the tower/frontage issue, but there is an entire stand of low, warehouse-type buildings (some historic) directly across the street from this hotel ranging from a single story to three, with most being 1-2, and extending to the west for a couple of blocks. A number of good urban planners would tell you that the 11 story tower borders on being insensitive to the district. I don't believe that for a minute, but the two stories fronting a portion of the primary façade with the larger tower being set back could actually be defended as being more district-sensitive and less visually jarring. Creating a place that "feels right" is an important part of creating a sense of place and making a good, walkable urban area. I will promise you that if you read the OKC Planning Department's design guidelines for Bricktown it will contain the words "emphasis on the horizontal." A two-story structure in Bricktown is entirely appropriate.

Interesting and entirely reasonable. That is why the new design for the Holiday Inn Express looks "right" farther west.

I think the setback at upper levels helps break it up and not just be a big box.

I don't like the setback, but on the bright side, it does frame the ballpark extremely well!

I don't like the setback, but on the bright side, it does frame the ballpark extremely well!

I think that is what they were going for, which is why I asked.

I think that is what they were going for, which is why I asked.

But yet, no balconies overlooking the ballpark.

I agree about that part being less-than-optimal. Seems like a great opportunity was missed.

I drove by this site today and I noticed two things:

-- I thought this building would be closer to the Hampton Inn to the west. It's actually not that close, and the gap is kind of startling at first glance. Maybe the conference center will extend into that space between the two hotels. If not, I think it has the potential to look very awkward.

-- As they continue upward, it's becoming more and more clear what an amazing opportunity seems wasted by not installing balconies on the south side of the building. Those would have been some terrific views.

Maybe there will be a little greenspace between the two buildings? Yeah, wasted opportunity of the Cleveland Indians come here, lol.

The buildings will actually touch (or come very close) at the base, but there will be a gap above the 2nd floor so rooms in each won't be looking directly into the other project.

You can see it here in this view from the southeast:

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/urban-development-buildings/2994d1354290354-hilton-garden-inn-homewood-suites-homewood3.jpg

Maybe there will be a little greenspace between the two buildings? Yeah, wasted opportunity of the Cleveland Indians come here, lol.

What do you mean? There is a kinda cool plaza between Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena..problem is it leads to an old industrial river bank.

What do you mean? There is a kinda cool plaza between Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena..problem is it leads to an old industrial river bank.

Which part are you asking of ? and if its the latte...are you serious. Come on now...

Which part are you asking of ? and if its the latte...are you serious. Come on now...

Wasted opportunity of the Indians? Besides last week's trade lol

yeah, of...if...sometimes I type too fast, lol.

Oooh, okay. That would be interesting. Cleveland has an insatiable appetite for losing athletic teams. The problem is that the Browns could lose every game for the next ten years and the die-hards would still sell out the stadium and all wear Weeden jerseys around town. The Indians actually have to be at least mediocre to garner fan support. The Indians do horrible in attendance but they actually still do quite well, amazingly, on merchandising around town. They still have several chains of All-Indians fan shops, more than the Browns for some reason. That's because they "used to be" a bigger deal around town.

I think San Antonio or Portland are leading cities for a franchise relocation. Then there's the problem that a competitor would have to build a nicer, larger ballpark. So 50,000+ seats. Portland wouldn't do that.

Photo from Sid... This shows the gap between the new hotels and the Hampton Inn, but there will be a base structure that will result in the buildings almost touching:

http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/v/565891_312385582211880_1900098537_n.jpg?oh=40829f9 b4272d29838c8e7e82023b282&oe=50D2E344&__gda__=1356073706_30b09f9dae700f55e481d39046361d5 2

Here's a few photos photo from this morning. 312731283129

Wow...I don't remember foundation work happening on this at all. This thing is flying up.

Thanks for the pics Jared!

I drove past the site today, already a lot more progress that's shown in the photos from above! Two weeks they'll be down with the fourth floor!

From I-235, this structure is visually emerging. It looks very large and somewhat dominating for what I can count as about the 4th floor going up.

pic?

Just took a picture3258 of the hotel from inside our office.

Thanks Sid!

They are really moving along.

Here is one from today... From Liquid Fish's FB page:

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/408388_530723473626070_1712044140_n.jpg

It is starting to peek through on the skyline. Took this yesterday.

It is kind of neat to see it rise up out of the urban fabric, which in turn make the urban fabric thicker.

It is kind of neat to see it rise up out of the urban fabric, which in turn make the urban fabric thicker.

Good urban development spurs more good urban development.

I think San Antonio or Portland are leading cities for a franchise relocation. Then there's the problem that a competitor would have to build a nicer, larger ballpark. So 50,000+ seats. Portland wouldn't do that.

Do you have any sources? First of all where is this Cleveland Indians to OKC talk coming from? Sure CLE is in the middle of a prolonged franchise slump but historically they've been very successful. And if anything, MLB is shifting toward smaller stadiums to keep supply low and ticket prices high. Look at the most recent ballparks opened - 41K (Citi Field - NYM), 39K (Target - MIN), 36K (MIA - Marlins). Based on these figures there's no way in hell Portland would build a 50K seat stadium. Very few franchises (read: the Yankees and maybe the Rangers if they're going to the world series) can profitably fill a 50K seat stadium.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8415569344_ddb25365a4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/8415569344/)
Bricktown Skyline (http://www.flickr.com/photos/77483833@N04/8415569344/) by lazio85 (http://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

From Today (02/11/2013)
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nice...they are only on floor 7 and its almost as tall as the Hampton Inn.

The steel frame for the meeting space between the two hotels is now up as well

From yesterday:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8247/8487265098_01276d9869_c.jpg

Thanks for all these pictures. Just curious, I'll probably look this up on google again anyways, but how do unzip a picture on here? I've tried it and I can't get it to expand on the page.

I upload pics to flickr, view them, right click em to get size choices and then a copy the static flickr address in the address bar and paste that code between these two symbols:



-and-

Oh, okay. I have a tumblr, I don't know if that will do the same thing. But, I'll start up a flickr account and try it. Thanks for the info! :)

Yeah...I used to use photobucket but flickr seems to work the best on here fRom my experience. Im sure others probably use other services. You're welcome.

Screen capture from this morning showing about 8 levels have now been completed:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bricktown3113.jpg

Looks like Sandridge cleans their camera lens with oil. Thanks for the pic.
Great view of Bass Pro too.

Looks like Sandridge cleans their camera lens with oil. Thanks for the pic.
Great view of Bass Pro too.

Even better view of the sweet massive parking lots in Bricktown.

From I-235, this hotel looks to be taller than the Hampton.

From I-235, this hotel looks to be taller than the Hampton.

It is taller than the Hampton Inn.

Here's a nice pic I took of the hotel looking SW from Sheridan & Carter/Perry today.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8579367698_6f45d41b4d_c.jpg

And another from today... Looks like they have pretty much topped out the 11th floor:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/hiltongarden32913.jpg

That looks REALLY good. Another grand slam for J. Pittman.

Just wished they were smart enough to put south facing balconies on it

Just wished they were smart enough to put south facing balconies on it

Smart is a relative term. What is smart for Bricktown as a whole is not smart for Hilton Hotels bottom line.

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Today, by me

sweet parking lot

Love this building. What a great addition to the skyline.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8637845067_425b2e4d24_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8257/8638949230_e8122d5c10_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8540/8638948832_58a7f8dfc0_b.jpg
Why are some of the pieces from the traffic lights broken off like that? It looks tacky and to me, it seems like it's just a result of cheap materials. Wind I guess, maybe people shooting it with some kind kind a projectile?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8546/8637844297_4a44bb71b0_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8638948410_30c9bcee92_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8638948182_9891278c37_b.jpg

Wow, they are not messing around on this project.

They are almost at the same place as the Aloft which started almost a year earlier.

Thanks for sharing!! It's now topped out, niiiicee