well I think what folks are saying is OKC is more well known now given what it has accomplished prior to 2015 AND that we're all 'expecting' another jolt in growth as the economy picks up from the oil slump. This growth should be much more 'mature' and likely to be larger growth than what has been experienced (just due to OKC being more 'acceptable' to move to than the prior boom when people were still getting exposed to the new OKC).

I think Josh is correct that OKC will see at LEAST 1.46m metro by 2020; but I suspect it could be larger than that to maybe 1.5+m with a year or two of 30,000+ net in migration as the economy continues to diversify and OKC continues to be an attractive place to move to. ... But one thing to remember is USUALLY estimates and projections are conservative; actual census usually proves to always beat projections/estiamtes.

If OKC could land a few corporate locations and/or consolidations and new back office ops; 1.6m+ could become much more feasible.

My estimate was based off the census data I linked to earlier.

There is no realistic way that OKC will reach 1.5 or 1.6 million by 2020.

City Council will vote tomorrow on a proposal to pay OG&E to relocate their substation from the 1.6 acres within the convention center boundaries and move to a city-owned 17.4 acre tract on the Oklahoma River.

The city will also reimburse them for their actual relocation costs not to exceed $29.2 million.

The new site would be directly east of the Pull-a-Part property.

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

Where is the vision? We are moving it from one area that we are trying to develop, in 20 years when the city has grown to the point of wanting to redevelop the Pull-A-Part area, and especially the river frontage--will we pay to move it again? Is there not somewhere else we can move this?

We need long term thinking so we don't go through this again in 20 years.

It's because it is nearby property the City already owns and it's the only way they can do it without blowing the CC budget, although it's just exploiting a loophole because they are still trading a valuable asset that should be charged against that project.

I don't fully understand how this works. If Joe Sixpack had a house there, the city would be telling him to pack his bags, here's an offer we find 'fair' but you certainly don't, and if you don't take this offer the next one won't be as good, assuming it even exists. But because it is OG&E, the city is paying them TO move, as well as paying FOR the move? Again, I don't understand eminent domain law in the first place, and I definitely don't understand how it works with public utilities, but how is it an option to tell a citizen where to go (literally) but not tell OG&E hey, we need you to move? And giving them waterfront property to boot.

I don't fully understand how this works. If Joe Sixpack had a house there, the city would be telling him to pack his bags, here's an offer we find 'fair' but you certainly don't, and if you don't take this offer the next one won't be as good, assuming it even exists. But because it is OG&E, the city is paying them TO move, as well as paying FOR the move? Again, I don't understand eminent domain law in the first place, and I definitely don't understand how it works with public utilities, but how is it an option to tell a citizen where to go (literally) but not tell OG&E hey, we need you to move? And giving them waterfront property to boot.

When the city took the residential properties along the river where the Boathouse District is now, they paid fair market value (as determined by the court-appointed appraisers), as well as moving expenses. Similar situation for OG&E, except they're avoiding the eminent domain aspect.

Hopefully the substation in the new location will butt up against the northwest corner of the new lot, it would be a shame to waste that stretch of the river.

Again, I don't understand eminent domain law in the first place.

Well, at least you had one correct sentence. Here, this will give you some help.

https://www.oag.ok.gov/oagweb.nsf/0/cb5855b85b956c0b86257aad007efc3e/$FILE/Oklahoma%20Landowners%20Bill%20of%20Rights.pdf

Where is the vision? We are moving it from one area that we are trying to develop, in 20 years when the city has grown to the point of wanting to redevelop the Pull-A-Part area, and especially the river frontage--will we pay to move it again? Is there not somewhere else we can move this?

We need long term thinking so we don't go through this again in 20 years.

My thoughts exactly. Nice stretch of river, let's throw the substation there.

My thoughts exactly. Nice stretch of river, let's throw the substation there.


Ditto,

We're going to give/trade OG&E for its undeveloped OG&E Springs some prime riverfront property to relocate its substation.

Deez nuts, do we need to crack these pecans...

1.6 to 17.4.... As long as the station takes 1.6 acres of the new tract and is more easily ready to be moved in 20 years. Then I am okay with it. I don't see that pull-a-part going anywhere anytime soon. Might as well throw this 1.6 acre junk next to it.

I'd hope they would put closer to I40 and not riverfront. I think that would be out of the way enough and not too big of an issue. But that's just my guess.

I'd hope they would put closer to I40 and not riverfront. I think that would be out of the way enough and not too big of an issue. But that's just my guess.

Good point!

Well, at least you had one correct sentence. Here, this will give you some help.

https://www.oag.ok.gov/oagweb.nsf/0/cb5855b85b956c0b86257aad007efc3e/$FILE/Oklahoma%20Landowners%20Bill%20of%20Rights.pdf

Unfortunately I couldn't find anything in there comparing and contrasting the process with public utilities, but thank you.

When the city took the residential properties along the river where the Boathouse District is now, they paid fair market value (as determined by the court-appointed appraisers), as well as moving expenses. Similar situation for OG&E, except they're avoiding the eminent domain aspect.

Thank you. I had never heard of moving expenses being paid, but I guess maybe that is something that comes with accepting an offer, rather than fighting it? I have no direct experience with eminent domain and most of my knowledge comes from other discussions about the turnpike with people mostly saying their land is going for pennies on the dollar. Seems to be a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm sure it has happened in some cases.

Thank you. I had never heard of moving expenses being paid, but I guess maybe that is something that comes with accepting an offer, rather than fighting it? I have no direct experience with eminent domain and most of my knowledge comes from other discussions about the turnpike with people mostly saying their land is going for pennies on the dollar. Seems to be a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm sure it has happened in some cases.

It's a very difficult situation, regardless. Usually, a City asks to buy it for what it deems market value. If the owner refuses the offer, the City will counter. If refused again, City Council will file Eminent Domain proceedings. Then the Court appoints a 3 member panel to evaluate the market value. The court then approves the value, or the owner can ask for a jury trial in order to convince the court it's worth more. The final outcome is a final price, plus moving expenses. Sometimes the moving expenses are part of the court-decided value, if I recall correctly. The City, and the court, can't/won't place value on the emotional connection to a home/property, so that often clouds the perception of the eminent domain proceeding from the owner's perspective. See the OK Turnpike expansion for some current angst, particularly the eastern OK County one.

comes from other discussions about the turnpike with people mostly saying their land is going for pennies on the dollar. Seems to be a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm sure it has happened in some cases.

There is a difference between what someone THINKS or HOPES their property is worth, and what fair market value is. Lots of people think they have leverage by holding out and that somehow their property is worth lots more because of the plans that were announced. Emotional opinion and reality aren't usually the same.

See the OK Turnpike expansion for some current angst, particularly the eastern OK County one.

Yeah, that's the topic the other discussions have been about, and I guess with it being an emotional issue, people make that pennies on the dollar claim. If the land is valued at X, then X should be offered, and the extra for moving expenses and such is a rather nice gesture actually. In the document Jerry posted, it discusses fees for early mortgage payoff and such, yeah, I would call it fair to include those. But "my great great grandpappy built this house with his own two hands" doesn't change the value of X. Actually, I always imagined it should be fairly easy to assess value, isn't that done every couple of years anyway for tax purposes?

I wonder why the papers don't discuss the truth of the matter. One of the local Mustang papers (they are both so bad I honestly can't tell which is which) is running a series about the big bad people stealing land for the turnpike...and that's just this side of it, I understand the Eastern portion is even worse. They're really spinning it as a David vs Goliath, we were offered less than market value, blah blah blah story. Serves me right for believing anything either of those papers prints, I suppose. Not to sidetrack too much, but one of them had an article last week talking about how they won awards for being the best newspaper, and even received a plague to commemorate. I double and triple checked, it definitely said plague.

OKC, OG&E Negotiating Land Trade Along The Oklahoma River

Jun 21, 2016 5:57 PM
BY KARL TORP

OKLAHOMA CITY - The City has reached a deal to relocate the old downtown OG&E substation at SW 5 Street and Robinson Avenue.
The property is where the MAPS 3 convention center will eventually sit.

The City had $30 million budgeted to remove the substation and rebuild it elsewhere.

On Tuesday, the Alliance for Economic Development announced it can do the job for just over $29 million because it will have to acquire new land for the relocation.

Instead, the substation will go at 900 S Santa Fe, the site of the City’s river yard storage area.

The 17.4 acres are wedged between an auto salvage yard and the Oklahoma River.

“Seventeen acres of land along the river looks pretty valuable,” Oklahoma City Councilman Pete White said.

White questions why the cost of the river yard was never determined. He thinks it should be added to the overall cost of the convention center project.

“This is the only case I know that we didn’t appraise the value of the land in the transaction. It’s riverfront property. We just don’t know how much its worth, but we are giving away 17.4 acres in the transaction,” Oklahoma City Councilman Ed Shadid said.

The Alliance for Economic Development of OKC President Cathy O’Connor said the river yard site is not attractive to developers because there’s limited access and it’s in a flood plain.

“You need to build it up out of the flood plan and OG&E may have to do that,” said O’Connor.

O'Connor said the new substation site has to still be close to downtown.

That property at SW 5 Street and Robinson Avenue is very valuable to the city and the MAPS 3 convention center, O'Connor said.

The City Council unanimously voted through the transaction, but both councilmen Shadid and White said the value of the river yard should be determined, so the true cost of the MAPS convention center is known to taxpayers.

“It may not be land that is easily accessible or developable, but it’s in a prime location,” White said.

After this latest transaction, the Alliance for Economic Development told News 9, the city has acquired about 85 percent of the land needed for a new convention center.

Relocate an electrical sub-station to land in the flood plain.
Sounds like a plan.
Uncertain if it's a good plan, but it's a plan.

Relocate an electrical sub-station to land in the flood plain.
Sounds like a plan.
Uncertain if it's a good plan, but it's a plan.

It's a pretty shocking development.


So when is the new CC going to be started and finished? It seems that it's been start and stop for several years just to decide where to put it.

^

They can't even start until that substation is completely out of there.

The irony is that the convention center committee used the power and influence of its members to force this project to the front of the MAPS 3 timeline, and it will certainly end up being the last to start by a fair measure.

Similar service: SMG submits only bid to run new convention center

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record July 19, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three of the four companies that initially expressed interest in managing the MAPS 3 downtown convention center opted out, leaving the contract open for SMG, city officials said.

The Oklahoma City branch of Pennsylvania-based SMG currently manages the Cox Convention Center. The City Council on Tuesday authorized staff to negotiate a contract with the company for pre-opening consultation as well as management and operations once the new center opens in a little more than a year. SMG held a similar position almost 20 years ago when it was chosen to manage the Cox Center, which was then called the Myriad Convention Center, said Tom Anderson, special projects manager for the Oklahoma City municipal government.

In April, the Oklahoma City Public Property Authority and City Council approved a request for proposals to provide services at the new site once it’s completed. Work on the $252 million project is expected to kick off this year. Before then, the chosen management company has the opportunity to work with architects and engineers to improve functionality on details such as staff corridors, kitchen layouts and loading docks, Anderson said.

To that end, city staff held a conference call with SMG and three other businesses to discuss expectations such as day-to-day operations, demand for trade shows and other events. Anderson did not identify the other parties; he said more than four parties may have called in but did not reveal their presence.

City Hall followed up with questions to those parties about why they did not pursue the job, but no one responded, he said. Based on his knowledge of local players in the industry, Anderson discussed a few possible explanations.

“One of them doesn’t specialize in facilities management,” Anderson said. “They’re more of a subcontractor for food and beverages. They probably never intended to provide a proposal for overall management.”

“As for the other two, what I’ve heard is that one is reorganizing internally and now might not be the best timing for a new proposal,” he said. “And the other may not have felt they had the portfolio appropriate for convention centers at or above our market size.”

Gregg Caren, executive vice president for SMG’s convention center division, said he’s proud of the company’s long-standing relationship with the city and its buildings, which are now handled by SMG’s stadiums and arenas division. The new convention center will be managed separately through SMG’s convention center division.

“This is the most exciting time for us to be engaged,” he said. “Companies like ours get hired at many points in the life cycle of a convention center, sometimes at 20 or 30 years after it’s been built; sometimes we’re handed the keys literally at the last minute as the construction crew is finishing.”

“So for us, this is the real case study in terms of how we can impact the operation and design in a positive way,” he said.

It’s too early to discuss the specific details SMG will provide, although Caren said it will probably include a lot of details that might seem esoteric to anyone else, such as how to move equipment into the building to replace light fixtures.

“It’s a heck of a lot easier to do it on paper than after something’s built,” he said.

Pete... Know this isn't the right thread but couldn't find where else to put it. Any word on what the plan for the piece of land just south myriad garden where the old car dealership was? It's obviously one of the more valuable spots and find it hard to believe it's going to stay in its current state leading up to the complete of the park in a few year.

Personally, I'd like to see that land become of the central park so the park goes all the way up to the botanical gardens.

Pete... Know this isn't the right thread but couldn't find where else to put it. Any word on what the plan for the piece of land just south myriad garden where the old car dealership was? It's obviously one of the more valuable spots and find it hard to believe it's going to stay in its current state leading up to the complete of the park in a few year.

I don't think there are any immediate plans.

I haven't heard any rumblings that it will be developed any time soon.

Old International Harvester building, which is about to be demolished in favor of the convention center:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/harvester081216.jpg

Old International Harvester building, which is about to be demolished in favor of the convention center:

It's a shame OKC has never learned to hold on to these gems and incorporate them somehow.

https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1862/5123?backlist=%2fgovernment%2fmaps-3%2fprojects%2fdowntown-convention-center



MAPS 3 Downtown Convention Center’s first preliminary design images released
Post Date:08/23/2016 4:09 PM
The first preliminary design images of the MAPS 3 Downtown Convention Center reveal plans for a sleek and modern building maximizing natural light and views of downtown.

City staff and consultants revealed the first preliminary design images Tuesday to the MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board’s convention center subcommittee. A presentation to the full advisory board is Thursday.

The preliminary design images don’t show plans for colors, materials and other elements of the convention center’s ultimate look. Elements of the design itself can also change as the process moves forward.

You can see the images on the MAPS 3 Downtown Convention Center’s website.

“We know everyone is excited to see what the convention center will look like,” MAPS 3 Program Manager David Todd said. “These images give you a sneak peek, but this isn’t a finished product. You’ll see more design elements as our staff and consultants finish the plans with the input of the subcommittee, advisory board and City Council.”

Plans call for design elements and construction materials that maximize energy efficiency and resilience against weather conditions. The convention center has a project budget of $288 million and will be built along the eastern edge of the future MAPS 3 Downtown Public Park’s north section.

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Well, we definitely should not try for the mannequin convention, that's all sorts of creepy.

But in all seriousness, I like it.

I like it so far. Want to see more. Interesting about the hotel. Seems too short for what the floor projection was?

I like it! Certainly a far more modern looking building than Cox. I especially dig the size. It will be very imposing looking. Which I like! But as stated above, I find it curious about the hotel. Or is that not the hotel?

Has the hotel been decided yet? I think these are just preliminary designs for the convention center.

Whatever hotel gets it, I hope it will focus more on modern features than design. I'm not saying completely forget the design, that's important of course. What I mean is what would you remember most about your stay at the hotel? That it had self-checkin kiosks? Maybe a pre-checkin tied with an app, and your phone is the keycard? Or that the lobby had a fractal design in the tiles? (Ok, I admit, that would be pretty cool too).

Agree with what has been stated, the centre looks fantastic and should be a huge boon for the civic park area and the city itself given these preliminary conceptual designs. The elements look fantastic as do the size and intended features.

My first response was, gosh that isn't going to be the 'high rise' hotel we all were expecting. Not sure this will be true here but my observation is that conceptual renderings end-up becoming final in OKC for other projects. I don't understand why they'd low-ball the hotel when other cities (mine/Seattle here) have no problem to draft full or at least more realistic plans.

I say this because like it or not this is the master plan for the CC and 'again' my observation is OKC usually doesn't venture too much farther than conceptual rendering when it comes to development. I hope this changes and is NOT the case here but I am a bit worried that the hotel was not at least 25 floors in this master plan.

Hope the hotel is taller than what is shown even though this is conceptual is does point as to what we could see.

Don't get so hung up on the hotel. These conceptual designs are for the convention center, not the hotel. Heck, the hotel literally isn't even mentioned on either the press release or the accompanying website.

It's pictured because they need to fill in the view to the north, not because they're accidentally sneaking in exactly what the hotel will look like.

They have to figure out how to pay for the hotel first. That's not a part of MAPS 3. This rendering looks like another megablock structure designed by wishful starchitects. The convention center in Columbus is built more on a human scale.

They have to figure out how to pay for the hotel first. That's not a part of MAPS 3. This rendering looks like another megablock structure designed by wishful starchitects. The convention center in Columbus is built more on a human scale.

This rendering has nothing to do with hotel funding Ed, please post what you think is a better alternative.

They have to figure out how to pay for the hotel first. That's not a part of MAPS 3. This rendering looks like another megablock structure designed by wishful starchitects. The convention center in Columbus is built more on a human scale.

Human scale. I love that. I like the scale, and I'm a human. What does that make me then?

Human scale. I love that. I like the scale, and I'm a human. What does that make me then?

It's just vernacular that people trained to hate this use.

Steve's update.

http://m.newsok.com/article/5515163

Just don't see the early rush on the convention center & adjoining conference hotel as we did when it was initially pushed.

We'll have this one chance to get it right. The MAPS III sales tax collections are currently taking a hit. Anything we can save on some of the projects under construction without sabotaging the intended project & design will help with the completion of the conference hotel.

The Skirvin-Hilton (Marcus Hotels & Resorts) recent announcement of a $4.3 million dollar renovation will put them in a position to continue to be a major player.

Our key to the size of the conference hotel will be the number of rooms--with a conference hotel of more than 600 rooms. So we're looking at 625, 650, 675 to possibly 700 rooms. A previous study recommended up to 735 rooms.

The four experienced candidates who have developed conference hotels of this size are:

1. Omni Hotels (operates 60 properties in North America): https://www.cpexecutive.com/post/omni-hotels-lands-in-kentucky-with-signature-mixed-use-development/

Louisville's 30 story mixed use development (will feature 612 finely appointed guestrooms and suites topped by 225 luxury apartments) is probably what you will see duplicated in OKC without the luxury apartments; probably anywhere from 20-23 stories if Omni is selected.

2. Marcus Hotels and Resorts (manages 20 hotels and resorts in 11 states, including downtown’s Skirvin Hilton hotel): http://www.marcushotels.com/portfolio/stay

3. Matthews Southwest (projects including the Dallas Omni conference hotel; Altera Development and 5G Architects): http://www.matthewssouthwest.com/

4. Mortenson (developed convention hotels in Boston, Denver and Kansas City; Merriman Associates/Architects, whose work includes redevelopment of the historic Statler-Hilton Hotel in Dallas; and Swerdling & Associates, a development underwriter): http://www.nextportland.com/category/mortenson/

The above 4 hotel groups were selected to submit formal development proposals.

They have to figure out how to pay for the hotel first. That's not a part of MAPS 3. This rendering looks like another megablock structure designed by wishful starchitects. The convention center in Columbus is built more on a human scale.

This rendering looks more or less like every modern convention center I have been too, and better than some of them.

Here are larger version of the images.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention082316a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention082316b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention082316c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention082316d.jpg

I like how the massing is broken up. I think it makes it feel much less imposing than the Cox Center.

As for the hotel, I was told by a very good source that they have narrowed down the choice to Omni and Marcus (Hitlon) and Mortensen (Hyatt) have combined forces to become the 2nd finalist.

That means the other remaining applicant from the 4 finalists, Matthew group (Westin), has been cut.

I am really pulling for Omni as they just started a beautiful convention hotel in Louisville (see below), but my money has always been on Marcus due to the relationship that group formed with Cathy O'Connor through the Skrivin, which it still operates.

Whichever group is selected will bring their own design... The hotel shown in the renderings above is just a placeholder.

http://www.wlky.com/image/view/-/33384488/highRes/2/-/maxh/630/maxw/1200/-/ibtjcv/-/omni-hotel-JPG.jpg

As much as I like the renderings of the west side of the CC, I am more interested to see how they are going to break up loading docks and that sort of thing on the east side, facing Gaylord.

I've stayed in the Omni down in Dallas a few times. That's my only experience with the brand, but those two visits impressed me.

As for me, I'm not totally in love with the convention center design. It looks too modern for my taste. I think it would be great to stretch down some of the art deco architecture from the civic center/city hall area and incorporate that into the new convention center. I think that would really tie in the "civic" nature of the project...not to mention it would look immensely better.

If you look at the street level on the second picture in Pete's post (#3824), you'd be walking next to blank, dark walls with imposing columns. And to me, it seems that this corner is the MOST important corner of the convention center since it faces towards the CBD and where most people would be approaching the convention center. That part of the structure really seems like an afterthought to me.

Failed to post this when I put it out yesterday but OG&E has also filed for their demo permit for the substation and the docs say they won't be finished until Oct. 31, 2017:

http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=318-Convention-Center-preliminary-design-revealed-OG-E-to-begin-demo-of-substation

This rendering has nothing to do with hotel funding Ed, please post what you think is a better alternative. Have I offended you somehow? I was responding to the questions about the hotel design as if they were a part of the same project, which they are not. And I mentioned an alternative, Columbus. It looks more like a city block than a superblock structure. Can I not have an opinion? Everyone else on here does. There are many smart people who prefer traditional architecture on a smaller scale over mega structures designed to impress and overpower. This is the fundamental design challenge with convention centers and why many of them are built on the outskirts of downtown rather than within the urban fabric itself.

http://downtownontherange.blogspot.com/2010/01/starchitecture-and-superblock-madness.html

As for me, I'm not totally in love with the convention center design. It looks too modern for my taste. I think it would be great to stretch down some of the art deco architecture from the civic center/city hall area and incorporate that into the new convention center. I think that would really tie in the "civic" nature of the project...not to mention it would look immensely better.

If you look at the street level on the second picture in Pete's post (#3824), you'd be walking next to blank, dark walls with imposing columns. And to me, it seems that this corner is the MOST important corner of the convention center since it faces towards the CBD and where most people would be approaching the convention center. That part of the structure really seems like an afterthought to me.

Well said and I agree with you 100%.

http://downtownontherange.blogspot.com/2010/01/starchitecture-and-superblock-madness.html

Shoutout to Spartan!

They have to figure out how to pay for the hotel first. That's not a part of MAPS 3. This rendering looks like another megablock structure designed by wishful starchitects. The convention center in Columbus is built more on a human scale.

Hey what do your know, Kris is complaining again about funding directed at uses other than elaborate bus stops.

I've stayed in the Omni down in Dallas a few times. That's my only experience with the brand, but those two visits impressed me.

The Omni Fort Worth is great too.

This rendering looks like another megablock structure designed by wishful starchitects. The convention center in Columbus is built more on a human scale.

Have you been to the Columbus convention center? I have, and while I think I know what you're talking about, I fail to see how OKC's proposed one is any less human-scaled...?

As for me, I'm not totally in love with the convention center design. It looks too modern for my taste. I think it would be great to stretch down some of the art deco architecture from the civic center/city hall area and incorporate that into the new convention center. I think that would really tie in the "civic" nature of the project...not to mention it would look immensely better.

If you look at the street level on the second picture in Pete's post (#3824), you'd be walking next to blank, dark walls with imposing columns. And to me, it seems that this corner is the MOST important corner of the convention center since it faces towards the CBD and where most people would be approaching the convention center. That part of the structure really seems like an afterthought to me.

I kind of agree, though I think the hotel will be what most people see from this angle. The enterance could be more open though.

If you like more historic looking convention center designs, check out Fort Worth's. The newer part of it is pretty cool.

They have to figure out how to pay for the hotel first. That's not a part of MAPS 3. This rendering looks like another megablock structure designed by wishful starchitects. The convention center in Columbus is built more on a human scale.

funding separate from maps 3 has already been identified for the hotel ... that is not an issue

I also lean toward preferring the more "classic" or "timeless" look for a convention center (such as the one in Fort Worth referenced by PhiAlpha). While the ultra-modern design looks great right now, I have a concern that it might look dated eventually. These are not super-strong feelings, though. Overall I'm excited about it and am hopeful that someday we might get the street grid back where Cox currently stands.

They have to figure out how to pay for the hotel first. That's not a part of MAPS 3. This rendering looks like another megablock structure designed by wishful starchitects. The convention center in Columbus is built more on a human scale.

I do wish it wasn't a superblock. I just don't know how that happens, while meeting the contiguous space requirements, without having that underground component like before.

I also hope there won't be as much blankness in the real product vs the rendering.

Can someone good at such things put ours along side Columbus' for scale comparison/contrasting?