From today:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7V_m2-CUAE2mYS.jpg:large

January 15 2015

https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157650304033712/

I asked a bike cop who was waiting at the light if he liked the new headquarters. He said it's "not big enough". I told him I thought it was ugly and he grinned and drove off.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7463/16103069048_0d9059b81f_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7566/16289770092_f379927064_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8576/16289770642_49c3d5922c_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8562/15668187254_2008fbb002_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7491/16104747027_e9a9105c99_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7523/16103071768_e43a9f0ecb_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7578/15668190064_8fbde89c95_b.jpg

From today:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7V_m2-CUAE2mYS.jpg:largeIs it just me or does that thing already look like it is outdated and needs a remodel?

Is it just me or does that thing already look like it is outdated and needs a remodel?

You're looking at a picture of a building that is unfinished and is missing half the windows. Judge it once construction is complete and landscaping has been applied.

Personally I wish they had used more of the red brick, but other than that I like it, particularly the detail around the windows.

You're looking at a picture of a building that is unfinished and is missing half the windows. Judge it once construction is complete and landscaping has been applied.

Personally I wish they had used more of the red brick, but other than that I like it, particularly the detail around the windows.I am more than aware of what I am looking at. Thank you. I will wait until construction of this is finished then.

You're looking at a picture of a building that is unfinished and is missing half the windows. Judge it once construction is complete and landscaping has been applied.

Personally I wish they had used more of the red brick, but other than that I like it, particularly the detail around the windows.

Landscaping is not going to make that feel any less out of the 70s

Landscaping is not going to make that feel any less out of the 70s

Yes, but installing all the windows does mean it will have all the windows.

Windows aren't going to change my opinion, buddy! Station reminds me of my old preschool at First Baptist Church in Edmond on the SE corner of Main & Littler. That building still has windows and it's from the 1970s.

Don't want to be redundant, but, that building DOES look mighty small for a major city police department

Windows aren't going to change my opinion, buddy! Station reminds me of my old preschool at First Baptist Church in Edmond on the SE corner of Main & Littler. That building still has windows and it's from the 1970s.

Funny, I wasn't trying to change your opinion since you hadn't posted it yet. All I was addressing was Panda's opinion that it looks in need of renovation already. I simply think that is an unfair judgement to make about a building that hasn't even been finished.

Funny, I wasn't trying to change your opinion since you hadn't posted it yet. All I was addressing was Panda's opinion that it looks in need of renovation already. I simply think that is an unfair judgement to make about a building that hasn't even been finished.I don't know why you're still mad at me. I agreed with you and said I will wait until it finished and give a final opinion then.

I like it. It captures the look of the neighborhood and the red brick ties it all together. As far as the size of the building, I don't have a clue...but...if you are building a new headquarters you would think expected growth over the next few years would be accounted for.

Looks pretty small to me. Is it bigger than the old one that's been there since???? Looks the size of a precinct that should be at 104 & May or somewhere like that. I guess they don't envision Okc growing anymore.

I don't know why you're still mad at me. I agreed with you and said I will wait until it finished and give a final opinion then.

Not mad at you Panda, just responding to someone else.

From https://twitter.com/dtOKCbuilds:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9gNaADCIAAGeUC.jpg:large

I think they are building the Courtrooms, etc. to the north, where the parking lot is. Todays technology; the sub-stations can keep up with the urban sprawl.
BTW I think the West and South side are unappealing to the eye. I'm sure it will be first class inside (for a PDH) and was long over due.

I know it's not done, but has a somewhat uninspired look to it.

I'm not sure why, but it reminds me of a hospital.

I still think it looks like a school. :tongue:

Back ten years or so when we were debating remodel versus building new, I was big on a new headquarters.
Is it just me, or from this direction, does the new headquarters look like a complete renovation of the old?
Obviously, there are major differences, but generally I can see this facade remodeled from the old.

http://i.imgur.com/AEdgbbk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/aFEDcCP.jpg

It looks like it was designed in the '60s or '70s. And in no way do I mean that as a compliment.

There are more unflattering views than others. Its not going to win any awards but its still a pretty cool building. Hopefully it is big enough, OKC already has a shortage of cops & if we ever hire up to what our standards should be this could become a problem.

Looks like the same architect as the AT&T building

hideous! and way too small for a major city's police hq. I just don't understand why OKC refuses to use glass in a modern way when it comes to government buildings. .....

Vancouver Police Department HQ
http://www.emporis.com/images/show/285291-Large.jpg


SPD
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/West_Precinct,_Seattle_Police_Department.jpg

CPD
https://ionechicagodefender.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/n-chicago-police-large570.jpg

bigger cities, I know - but fine examples of police architecture and the use of modern elements in government buildings/grand entrances. Like most things, Vancouver is just in a league of its own; a midrise (wow). ...

I prefer the new police station in Edmond.

There are more unflattering views than others. Its not going to win any awards but its still a pretty cool building. Hopefully it is big enough, OKC already has a shortage of cops & if we ever hire up to what our standards should be this could become a problem.

It is not like they even have all their downtown operations in that building, they have several offices and labs in adjacent or nearby blocks.

hideous! and way too small for a major city's police hq. I just don't understand why OKC refuses to use glass in a modern way when it comes to government buildings. .....


Eh, when it comes to the police department, I don't have any strong feelings one way or the other on how the building looks. I just don't want to spend any significant amount of time there...

Back ten years or so when we were debating remodel versus building new, I was big on a new headquarters.
Is it just me, or from this direction, does the new headquarters look like a complete renovation of the old?
Obviously, there are major differences, but generally I can see this facade remodeled from the old.

http://i.imgur.com/AEdgbbk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/aFEDcCP.jpg

I dig it, I just wish the corner were more inviting.

A tour was conducted today for city council members.

Oklahoma City's new police headquarters is on target | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-new-police-headquarters-is-on-target/article/5400214)

Maybe part of the look is to make it look like a fortress. It is a Police Station and not a Museum. It might have to do with stronger infrastructure, blast resistant walls and the like. I am more of a function over form kind of guy.

The building isn't as bad in person, but it's still not great or impressive like it could have been.

Do they make wraps for buildings? It would be a bit 2-D-ish but you could just hold a hand up over one eye when you drive by.

Do they make wraps for buildings? It would be a bit 2-D-ish but you could just hold a hand up over one eye when you drive by.

Maybe they will plant Ivy and let it grow up the walls.

Walked by here the other day. If they took down the construction fence no one could tell which was the new building and which was the old. I didn't even know they made brick that ugly anymore. Anyhow, I guess they save a fortune by using the original proposed plans from the current building.

Well that was easily one of the most exaggerated comments I've read all day.

Dallas has a really cool police station.
I was originally underwhelmed by the OKC design, but I do like it in person.

Walked by here the other day. If they took down the construction fence no one could tell which was the new building and which was the old. I didn't even know they made brick that ugly anymore. Anyhow, I guess they save a fortune by using the original proposed plans from the current building.

It's called contextual design. They did a fantastic job drawing from the 1940s era architecture surrounding it.

It's called contextual design. They did a fantastic job drawing from the 1940s era architecture surrounding it.

Well they nailed it then - but they should have aimed 10 years earlier. As part of the Civic District they should have copied the Art Deco motif of all the other civic buildings in the area. Anyhow, they didn't so I'll just chalk it up to another ball dropped (or maybe never even picked up in the first place).

BTW - that architecture they copied from, is going to be torn down as soon as the new building opens... so, so much for contextual design.

Valid point about art deco versus mid century mod. The latter is just more in vogue right now.

Whichever they did it would be wrong.

More Gargoyles. Everything looks better with Gargoyles. Give it a real Gotham look.

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/police041515.jpg

The are planning to move in on Sept. 1:

https://scontent-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11167959_10153290934239169_8117315055418059022_n.j pg?oh=b63ce70040d9114ed372e4f4686a403e&oe=55DBFECF

This building is way cooler than anybody here gives it credit for.

This building is way cooler than anybody here gives it credit for.

I thought the exact same thing when I went by the other day.

The are planning to move in on Sept. 1:

https://scontent-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11167959_10153290934239169_8117315055418059022_n.j pg?oh=b63ce70040d9114ed372e4f4686a403e&oe=55DBFECF

Personally I love this view of the building.

I keep viewing it from the SW side. Looks good from the North. I take back any negative comments I made about the curb appeal in earlier comments.

I too really like the building, which I think is super-easy on the eyes. The only real quibble I have with it is how unfriendly it is to Main Street, with no engagement of any type whatsoever (in fact the opposite of engagement) which creates a bit of a walkability barrier for an important and emerging neighborhood. That said, I understand the challenge that is dictated by its use and the inherent security requirements.

I don't think the purpose of this building is to "engage" with the street. It's pretty good considering.

There is no question that is correct. The purpose of the building and the idea of street engagement are at odds. And yet I will bet that somewhere somebody has built a police headquarters that manages to do it. The issue is not the function of the building, or even getting people to interact with it.

The issue is that when you put a building with blank walls on a street, it creates a walkability disconnect between points on either side of it. People innately don't want to walk past it, no does it draw them further down the street. These are not inconsequential issues in an urban setting. Especially in an emerging neighborhood like that stretch of Main. Do this too often and you create dead zones, and areas that are disconnected from one another.

It's neither here nor there at this point. The building is a done deal, and just like most people here I like it a lot, overall.

I agree. It's challenging with the use to be completely engaging with the street, but here is an example of a new police station in Fort Worth. It's in the Near Southside neighborhood right off of Magnolia St, a very active pedestrian/bicycle street. I think they've done a great job with this building and its attention to and acknowledgement of the street and surrounding context, considering the use of the building.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.730855,-97.331569,3a,75y,58.77h,89.41t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sKgVkBCxfONISpLd5rdpXQg!2e0!6m1 !1e1

Sarasota Florida...they have better urbanism, but OKC's got a better BUILDING. Interestingly also designed by a firm called ADG.

http://www.archdaily.com/146219/sarasota-police-department-headquarters-architects-design-group/

http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/1308944207-mg-1197-1000x666.jpg

The issue is that when you put a building with blank walls on a street, it creates a walkability disconnect between points on either side of it. People innately don't want to walk past it, no does it draw them further down the street. These are not inconsequential issues in an urban setting. Especially in an emerging neighborhood like that stretch of Main. Do this too often and you create dead zones, and areas that are disconnected from one another.

Maybe they can line the south and west walls with benches and reserve the streetside parking there for food trucks. That might make the corner at least somewhat inviting.

I agree. It's challenging with the use to be completely engaging with the street, but here is an example of a new police station in Fort Worth. It's in the Near Southside neighborhood right off of Magnolia St, a very active pedestrian/bicycle street. I think they've done a great job with this building and its attention to and acknowledgement of the street and surrounding context, considering the use of the building.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.730855,-97.331569,3a,75y,58.77h,89.41t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sKgVkBCxfONISpLd5rdpXQg!2e0!6m1 !1e1
I guess but, for me personally, I don't find that building to be the least bit attractive. It looks like a low budget motel.

10799

Yeah... those are the same.

10799

Yeah... those are the same.

ljbab728 was referring to the Fort Worth PD building that Geographer mentioned, which can be viewed by following the link he posted... https://www.google.com/maps/@32.730855,-97.331569,3a,75y,58.77h,89.41t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sKgVkBCxfONISpLd5rdpXQg!2e0!6m1 !1e1

Oh... well that does look like a cheap motel.

Yall...look beyond the building materials and look at how the building addresses the street (which was my point of sharing that building)..

Pushing a building to the street really only makes it urban in the context of land-use. It doesn't mean it activates the street, or encourages pedestrians to want to venture pass it. For what it's worth, that Fort Worth [Pun!] PD has a parking lot between it and the more urban street Magnolia. The orientation of the building should have addressed that intersection corner instead of creating a parking lot.

While the materials are not the point at hand, I can't help but cringe when looking at that building's aesthetic when considering the historic structures surrounding it. Looks completely out of place, while our new PD really considers and blends surrounding architectural styles into its design. Which I appreciate.