http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention092219a.jpg

Are they starting on the apartments and parking garage then?

Are they starting on the apartments and parking garage then?

The construction trailer is for the parking garage which is just starting up.

Will be a while before they start on the mixed-use project.

We were a competitive city, back in the 50s & 60s with the 6,000 seat Municipal Auditorium (City's convention venue) that attracted events, we had the hotel support like the 600 room Biltmore, Skirvin, Skirvin Twin, Black, Colcord, Tivoli & the Holiday Inns to bid for conventions. OKC had 'game' back then. We went stagnant from the 70s with the Myriad opening bc of the lack of hotel support with a DT in intensive care.

Large gatherings are a totally different scenario in today's cyber & high tech world; however we do have some alternative hotels to support our 605 room Omni, again like Hot Rod, I wish it were in the 700-1,000 room range. Don't want to bring up the 1,001 room Dallas Omni, because the Big D is in another tier than OKC. Dallas continued to grow into a dynamic city.

The Bennett Event Center at SFP serves much like a trade shows & gathering center with respect to the Meridian Hotel corridor for guest support.

It's difficult to make a read on lost opportunities; there's a lot of information we (posters) don't have on large gatherings. A quality venue combination (CC & hotel) will be needed if you are to bid on conventions, events & trade shows that will attract thousands.

https://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15601&d=1569093742

OKC will have 'walking distance' from the hotel to the cc as a good selling point, along with parking (if needed), restaurants & entertainment in nearby Bricktown. Topped off with a sleek streetcar system in the core.

https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/c_fill,h_807,q_75,w_1076/v1/clients/oklahoma/Pool_Deck_Night_0dbc3baf-947b-4b4b-a6fe-ed36e0e31a90.jpg

Looks dark and depressing from one side. I hope the LEDs don’t disappoint. If the height already doesn’t help this building stand out then the lighting needs to

it is interesting tat the hotel is not that much taller than the CC. I must say the cc is very impressive.

I just wish they made better use of that awful roof. Imagine if they had rooms up there and/or a solar farm. ...

What I hear you saying is pass a permanent 1 cent dedicated capital improvement tax where there is continuous collections and the public vote on the projects.

Great idea on the permanent 1 cent sales tax dedicated for capital improvements; similar to the Zoo's 1/8 cent; also what about safety (police, fire); they will want their own dedicated source of funds that is included IIFC in the budget...

How would you decide projects to be listed on the ballot: How many, who makes the cut?

Also: 1) Piecemeal: Individual stand alone or 2) Bundled: As one Capital Improvement funded item.

Hot Rod, we need a separate thread for this discussion, there are too many variables involved with this on the Convention Center thread.

yep, that's my thought Larry.

Be my guest to start a new thread on MAPS evolution. MAPS EVO lol.

yep, that's my thought Larry.

Be my guest to start a new thread on MAPS evolution. MAPS EVO lol.

You're so creative, my friend. Reminds me of the days of the old Downtown Library, we were ready to take on the world.

Remember that creative slogan, GO-CART long before OKC adopted EMBARK. Greater Oklahoma City Area Rapid Transit.

yes, those were the days. It was only a handfull of us OKC internet posters then and now look!! Very much thanks goes to Pete, other expats, and the vast network of subscribers for enabling OKCTalk!

wow, I'm so enamored even with how people now defend and take pride in OKC; it used to just be the 5 or so of us. lol.

As we used to say, Continue the Renaissance!

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention092419a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention092419b.jpg

That Co-OP site just begging for a big time downtown stadium. Not talking about a minor league stadium but major league. Too bad OKC doesn't have a major league team. That would be a great site for an NFL type stadium with some work.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention100219a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention100219b.jpg

Press release:

***********************

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/conventionlogo1.jpg

MAPS 3 Oklahoma City Convention Center brand unveiled
10/07/2019

Officials unveiled the MAPS 3 Oklahoma City Convention Center’s new brand on Monday, revealing colorful and energetic logo for a new community landmark.

“Everyone has seen the rise of the MAPS 3 Oklahoma City Convention Center on the east side of Scissortail Park, and its completion will be another MAPS game-changer for our City,” said Mayor David Holt. “Today’s logo unveiling is another milestone on that path.”

The logo uses shades of red, orange, blue, green and yellow in a design that evokes the building’s sleek architecture.

“I love watching this city evolve and grow, and I’m beyond honored that my team had the opportunity to be a part of this,” said Sonni Adams, Creative Director for Freestyle Creative, which designed the brand.


More about the convention center

The MAPS 3 Oklahoma City Convention Center’s total project budget is $288 million, including land acquisition and other related expenses. The construction contract is $168.2 million, $20 million under budget.

The state-of-the art building is east of Scissortail Park along Robinson Boulevard. It’s served by MAPS 3’s OKC Streetcar.

The convention center’s modern design features sweeping downtown views, and materials designed for energy efficiency and resiliency against the weather.

The convention center will be 500,000 square feet. A 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall will dominate the ground floor, featuring three operable walls to divide it in up to four flexible spaces. About 45,000 square feet of meeting spaces are on all levels of the building, and many also have operable walls to make the spaces flexible. The rooms can be configured to provide up to 27 individual meeting spaces.

A 30,000-square-foot ballroom is the main space on the fourth level, complemented by 10,000 square feet of pre-function space and a 4,000-square-foot balcony.

Informal meeting spaces, a kitchen, a potential café space, an expansive loading dock and administrative offices are also planned for the convention center.

The gleaming, angular façade has towering glass walls to make maximum use of natural light and takes its design cues from Oklahoma City’s sky, landscape and architectural character.

Landscaping outside the convention center will use native plants and trees well-suited to the local climate, with a focus on sustainability, comfort and beauty. A central plaza and other inviting spaces will help the convention center’s exterior come alive with activity.

Wayfinding stations inside and outside the convention center will be interactive.

The convention center will have multiple public art pieces, including “Virtual Sky” in the glass atriums facing Scissortail Park.

The City is also building a new parking garage to support the convention center and Omni Oklahoma City Hotel next door. Both are also under construction and scheduled to open in late 2020 or early 2021.

The City has a marketing contract with Visit OKC for securing events to be booked at the convention center, and a contract with ASM Global (formerly SMG) for facility management.

Visit OKC and ASM Global fulfill similar roles now for the Cox Convention Center, which will no longer be marketed and operated at the City’s main convention center when the MAPS 3 facility opens.

Pretty cool logo

Pretty cool logo
Agreed.

Knocked it out of the park with the logo

This may have been covered but if not we need an area staffed during conventions. This could be volunteer folks and all costs paid for local businesses. A tourism and local area help desk/counter.

I imagine a lot of conventioners would love to find brochures and local info while attending. Maps, times, events, travel methods and many other items. Some may only be here for convention but this booth/counter would be a way to get info into hands of folks who might just consider coming back some day. And handing out info would be a way to help plus a volunteer to answer questions. For interested folks could also take their email info to send event updates. If even 5% show interest or come back thats a huge amount of people. I would imagine there will be a kiosk with brochures but a live person always helps. I would bet could find plenty of volunteers to man booth. 30 people doing 1 day a month or 15 doing 2. Local business could sponsor and pay for costs. Could provide vouchers to pay for volunteers travel to/from and lunch. Just a thought but during breaks a lot will stay in building and mill around so thats the target. Catch em prior to start, breaks, lunch and afterwards.

Knocked it out of the park with the logo

+1

That's a pretty great logo. I like how it matches up so well with the general theme of the Park's logo design.

That's a pretty great logo. I like how it matches up so well with the general theme of the Park's logo design.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/conventionlogo1.jpg

https://www.okc.gov/Home/ShowPublishedImage/10310/637037240198100000

+1

Not to mention sky dance bridge. Cc logo has sharp crisp lines and angles just like the bridge.

This may have been covered but if not we need an area staffed during conventions. This could be volunteer folks and all costs paid for local businesses. A tourism and local area help desk/counter.

I imagine a lot of conventioners would love to find brochures and local info while attending. Maps, times, events, travel methods and many other items. Some may only be here for convention but this booth/counter would be a way to get info into hands of folks who might just consider coming back some day. And handing out info would be a way to help plus a volunteer to answer questions. For interested folks could also take their email info to send event updates. If even 5% show interest or come back thats a huge amount of people. I would imagine there will be a kiosk with brochures but a live person always helps. I would bet could find plenty of volunteers to man booth. 30 people doing 1 day a month or 15 doing 2. Local business could sponsor and pay for costs. Could provide vouchers to pay for volunteers travel to/from and lunch. Just a thought but during breaks a lot will stay in building and mill around so thats the target. Catch em prior to start, breaks, lunch and afterwards.

Just FYI there's a staffed CVB booth in the Cox CC, so I'd imagine this will continue in the new one.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/conventionlogo1.jpg


Logo inspiration:
15650



(I like the logo, this was just the first thing I thought of when I saw it)

Just FYI there's a staffed CVB booth in the Cox CC, so I'd imagine this will continue in the new one.

Great to hear

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention101319a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention102219a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention102219b.jpg

Looking good! Will look so much different in 1 year.

Here's hoping that the lighted art plan ends up being well visible from the park.

^
The biggest part of that installation will be in that huge glass atrium right in the middle, facing the park.

So it should be highly visible and pretty darn cool.

Thanks for keeping us updated pete. Looks great. I need to visit OKC sometime soon, it's been a while.

Thanks for keeping us updated pete. Looks great. I need to visit OKC sometime soon, it's been a while.

I know you moved back at one time. I didn't realize you were gone again.

I know you moved back at one time. I didn't realize you were gone again.

It was too difficult working in denver but living in OKC, i bought a house up here in co to be closer to work.

It was too difficult working in Denver but living in OKC, I bought a house up here in co to be closer to work.

Congrats! That's not an easy feat anywhere, much less in the expensive Denver market.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention102219a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention102219b.jpg

That looks really awesome.

^
The biggest part of that installation will be in that huge glass atrium right in the middle, facing the park.

So it should be highly visible and pretty darn cool.

Yeah. My only concern is that it just won't work as planned for reasons we're not imagining up front, like treatments on the windows in the way or something similar.

For reference and for those that don't remember:
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/conventionart1.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention111019a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention120319a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention120319b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention120819a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention011220a.jpg

Any idea on what kind of development we can expect in that future development area near Social Capital?

Any idea on what kind of development we can expect in that future development area near Social Capital?

Strawberry Fields group.

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=41983

https://i.imgur.com/zqHcFE2.jpg

This isn’t construction related but a good sign for the convention center: https://kfor.com/2020/01/22/officials-several-national-organizations-book-events-at-oklahoma-city-convention-center/

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/convention012520a.jpg

Is there any overlay for the Cox/Myriad building with the new CC?

^

This was part of a study commissioned by the Alliance:

https://i.imgur.com/kyYK2GU.jpg

^

This was part of a study commissioned by the Alliance:

https://i.imgur.com/kyYK2GU.jpg

Well we know the 40 story towers will never happen. Not one.

The city may decide to keep the Cox Center for a while as there is still tons of office vacancy and we certainly will have plenty of hotel rooms for the foreseeable future.

Not sure there will be much demand to develop that property in the near future, especially since we still have all that empty land east of both the Myriad Gardens and Scissortail Park, the Producers Coop and of course the lots between the two parks.

Barring a major corporation moving their HQ into OKC, or a local company exploding and growing to Fortune 500/1000 levels, we've probably got enough office towers downtown for the foreseeable future (10-20 years). We've also got a ton of new hotels that are under construction, and so far it doesn't appear that high rise residential is economically feasible here.

As a result, I don't see any new towers coming for quite a while.

On the other hand, 4-5 story construction is rolling along just fine. That's a good thing, because we have a huge amount of empty land that needs to fill up. I think demo'ing the Cox Center would be counterproductive. It can still stay in operation as a cheaper option for smaller conventions, and that wouldn't open up 4 city blocks of empty land when we've got nothing to put there. Nobody is going to build tall when you can move over two blocks and get a big parcel of empty land and build short for 1/2 the price per square foot. Seriously this city could spend the next 20 years building nothing downtown except 4-5 story infill and still have plenty of room for skyscrapers.

the long long held rumor is that contintenial will buit a new HQ on part of the COX center

Well that certainly won't happen while oil continues to suffer.

Seems like Bancfirst was close to building a new tower, but decided to renovate and upgrade the current tower, which I think will do wonders for the skyline. But the Ford site is ripe for development, and I wouldn't mind a 10-15 story mixed used development that had a hotel component to help with hotel booking overflow. You have to remember also remember that the CC hotel will get a lot of business, from the Thunder during playoff time.

I don't think BancFirst was close to building new.

The building they bought was in bankruptcy and they saw an opportunity to get a good deal; even with extensive renovations, it's a fraction of the cost of new construction. And of course, they only need about 1/3 of the space (or less) for their own use.

I can't imagine what would be developed on the Cox site for some time to come. Office and hotel are way overbuilt and the city wants to reserve that property for the long-term expansion of the CBD.

My guess is that the Cox Center will stay in operation for the foreseeable future and the Ford site will eventually be developed into a mixed-use project with a hotel or two and maybe some office space. But I don't think they will be in any rush for a while.

I don't think BancFirst was close to building new.

The building they bought was in bankruptcy and they saw an opportunity to get a good deal; even with extensive renovations, it's a fraction of the cost of new construction. And of course, they only need about 1/3 of the space (or less) for their own use.

I can't imagine what would be developed on the Cox site for some time to come. Office and hotel are way overbuilt and the city wants to reserve that property for the long-term expansion of the CBD.

My guess is that the Cox Center will stay in operation for the foreseeable future and the Ford site will eventually be developed into a mixed-use project with a hotel or two and maybe some office space. But I don't think they will be in any rush for a while.

contential has lots of cash and really has a solo decision maker

they could very well decide to build a new HQ building on the cox site

You would think that OG&E could partner with Continental; together they have the resources to construct a 40 story tower on the old Stage Center site.

contential has lots of cash and really has a solo decision maker

they could very well decide to build a new HQ building on the cox site

If they needed more space, they could have bought the former Cotter Tower themselves or at least rent space there. They bought half of the Santa Fe garage, after all.

Harold Hamm bought the present HQ at a highly discounted rate from Devon and he is notoriously frugal. I seriously doubt he would build new construction, especially with so much surplus space downtown. What would they do with their existing building?

A much more logical move and a way better investment would be to buy SandRidge Tower which is virtually empty. Or even BOK Park Plaza.

Let's not forget that Continental is a part owner in the Santa Fe parking garage across the street from their current offices. I think they will stay put.

Let's not forget that Continental is a part owner in the Santa Fe parking garage across the street from their current offices. I think they will stay put.

They just made this purchase last year and have also obligated the city to build a huge new parking structure on the land just east of the tracks on Main owned by Don Karchmer, complete with a tunnel or skybridge connection.

If they needed more space, they could have bought the former Cotter Tower themselves or at least rent space there. They bought half of the Santa Fe garage, after all.

Harold Hamm bought the present HQ at a highly discounted rate from Devon and he is notoriously frugal. I seriously doubt he would build new construction, especially with so much surplus space downtown. What would they do with their existing building?

A much more logical move and a way better investment would be to buy SandRidge Tower which is virtually empty. Or even BOK Park Plaza.

i don't disagree with you at all


just saying all it would take is Harold to change his mind and the rumor that they have been interested in the northwest section of the Cox has been out there a long long time