Well a couple weeks ago my brother (who works for chesapeke)told me that that there is a big oil company that is looking to build its headquarter here, I wish I would've paid attention to the name!

A guy in my Sunday School class that works at Chesapeake said the same thing. He said he couldn't remember the name of the company. I guess Chesapeake people are in the know! I am having dinner with a few of them tomorrow night and will see the guy again on Sunday! Hopefully I can get some info then.

I hope, if the Preftakes block goes, that they can somehow preserve the stonework on the city building. It's really beautiful and I hate to see it end up in a landfill somewhere. I was thinking Sandridge had bought the 5th and Broadway parking lot, so I don't know why that would be the location of a MidContinent tower, but I suppose I could be thinking of a different lot.

MidContinent?

I hope, if the Preftakes block goes, that they can somehow preserve the stonework on the city building. It's really beautiful and I hate to see it end up in a landfill somewhere. I was thinking Sandridge had bought the 5th and Broadway parking lot, so I don't know why that would be the location of a MidContinent tower, but I suppose I could be thinking of a different lot.

The city building would never be razed -- it's protected.

I think they meant 4th & Broadway, the grassy lot by the YMCA.

I know, I know. I was just seeing how far I could take it (speculation/absurdities thread.)

But it does make you realize that, one day, that massive block will be a huge void and its redevelopment will be key to tying everything together.

Completely agree. At the very least I wish they would try and do something with the west side that faces Robinson. It's just a windowless, lifeless concrete monolith on a major downtown artery and facing the park. It's difficult to even walk past it on the west and especially the east side.

MidContinent?

I meant American Fidelity. Don't know where Midcontinent came from.



The city building would never be razed -- it's protected.

I think they meant 4th & Broadway, the grassy lot by the YMCA.

Glad to hear that about the city building. It's too nice to tear down, on the exterior, at least. And, the grassy knoll makes more sense, although it might spoil some of my view!

The biggest problem is the ownership of the building. After that is resolved then we will see some change. Until then nothing will happen.

That building will have had six different owners since the 80's and it's only gone downhill. I don't see that changing unless one of the scenarios I've outlined plays out.

Given the choice, I'd much rather see FNC completely renovated and brought back to life than a new tower built.

Here is the latest Mystery Tower rendering, subject to slight modifications.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8IUSbu-KsjNhoaRU3Srv7aOTB8KoCZNyxNEyIbipMuUYjADjLfQ

^^it appears to be REALLY tall.

A lot of girth too!

A big hairy face in a bunch of grass would really tie the skyline together! amazing! lol

Kind of off the topic again. (Its what I do) Discovered a new website today.

Skyscraper Center

http://skyscrapercenter.com/index.php

Apologies for my ignorance but what is Preftakes?

Apologies for my ignorance but what is Preftakes?

It is the owner of all the properties on the block due west of the Devon Tower.

Kind of off the topic again. (Its what I do) Discovered a new website today.

Skyscraper Center

http://skyscrapercenter.com/index.phpNeed to get some Cooper and/or Hider Photos on that site...no photos of the Devon Tower, yet.

How about this in place of the Century Center?

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4017/4398724865_f703c2d035_z.jpg

How about this in place of the Century Center?

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4017/4398724865_f703c2d035_z.jpg

Sexy

That thing looks like a piece of costume jewelry.

Put together with toothpicks...must be photoshop.

How about this in place of the Century Center?

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4017/4398724865_f703c2d035_z.jpg

Lasomeday, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT RENDERING?!?!? oO

I would like to see what the street level activity is like at that corner. Does anyone know what City that is in?

that building looks ugly, it reminds me of a boat caught in a fishing net

3 of the same pictures in 5 posts, really? Why?

I would like to see what the street level activity is like at that corner. Does anyone know what City that is in?

Its in Tokyo and the street is busy like any other Tokyo street. The building is not suburban look at me style. It has great interaction with the sidewalk and street.

How about this in place of the Century Center?

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4017/4398724865_f703c2d035_z.jpg

Its the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower in Tokyo, Japan. I love it! It is totally different than anything else built in North America.

Its the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower in Tokyo, Japan. I love it! It is totally different than anything else built in North America.

I was in Tokyo about 6 years ago and don't recall seeing that one, is it newer? Personally, I think it looks terrible and doesn't seem to blend with the rest of the buildings in any way.

Most new architecture in the US is boring compared to what is happening in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, Tokyo and any number of other international cities. Architects here tend to play it pretty safe and boring....and their corporate clients tend to water it down. I would love to see something here with a little imagination with some local flare (giant teepee shape, or twisting tornado like tower, or futuristic oil derrick, or.......) Instead we get basically square, symmetric, boring designs. I love Devon and it is a HUGE leap for OKC, and one of the most striking in the US, but it really isn't creative or imaginative. Would love to have a STATEMENT building.

I was in Tokyo about 6 years ago and don't recall seeing that one, is it newer? Personally, I think it looks terrible and doesn't seem to blend with the rest of the buildings in any way.

They don't want it to "blend in with the rest of the buildings". They want distinct. They want noticeable. They want it posted on sites halfway around the world with people asking whose building it is and where it is. They want you to look at it and comment. Bravo to them and the board that approved it. This is the red bow tie with a tuxedo.

Its in Tokyo and the street is busy like any other Tokyo street. The building is not suburban look at me style. It has great interaction with the sidewalk and street.

Have you seen that buidling at street level? There is almost zero interaction between the sidewalk and that building. I didn't see anything that would invite someone walking by to enter unless they worked in it. Many of the surrounding building were the same way and seperated from the sidewalk by large plazas. The top 500' might be cool but the first 10' leave much to be desired. Of course, there do appear to be access point to underground areas so maybe most of the activity is taking place below street level.

Have you seen that buidling at street level? There is almost zero interaction between the sidewalk and that building. I didn't see anything that would invite someone walking by to enter unless they worked in it. Many of the surrounding building were the same way and seperated from the sidewalk by large plazas. The top 500' might be cool but the first 10' leave much to be desired. Of course, there do appear to be access point to underground areas so maybe most of the activity is taking place below street level.

Of course this isn't worthy in your eyes. It was only the 2008 Skyscraper of the Year by Emporis.com. It was awarded by the jury for its "expressive design and the remarkable environment it provides its users". It serves almost 10,000 students, including students of a major design institute and is a gateway building for arriving commuters at the business district. But it doesn't involve flat-front up to the sidewalk surface at ground level with retail stores lining the sidewalk, and it has some greenery around it..so it doesn't meet the JTF 5 star urban scale. LOL.

of course this isn't worthy in your eyes. It was only the 2008 skyscraper of the year by emporis.com. It was awarded by the jury for its "expressive design and the remarkable environment it provides its users". It serves almost 10,000 students, including students of a major design institute and is a gateway building for arriving commuters at the business district. But it doesn't involve flat-front up to the sidewalk surface at ground level with retail stores lining the sidewalk, and it has some greenery around it..so it doesn't meet the jtf 5 star new urban scale. Lol.

fify ;-)

,,,I would love to see something here with a little imagination with some local flare (giant teepee shape, or twisting tornado like tower, or futuristic oil derrick, or.......) Instead we get basically square, symmetric, boring designs. ...

Would love to see someone design this kind of building and throw it in a "my dream skyline" rendering.

That's a cool looking building but like so many radical designs, it sacrifices a lot for aesthetics.

Virtually every window would be somewhat blocked by that outside structure, which is why so many buildings are all-glass.

The crazier you get with design the less practical they are bound to be. Considering most the companies building in the U.S. are owned by thousands of shareholders, there is a certain level of responsibility that needs to be maintained.

Of course this isn't worthy in your eyes. It was only the 2008 Skyscraper of the Year by Emporis.com. It was awarded by the jury for its "expressive design and the remarkable environment it provides its users". It serves almost 10,000 students, including students of a major design institute and is a gateway building for arriving commuters at the business district. But it doesn't involve flat-front up to the sidewalk surface at ground level with retail stores lining the sidewalk, and it has some greenery around it..so it doesn't meet the JTF 5 star urban scale. LOL.

Stage center won an award also - big deal. They give them out every year so getting one is no great accomplishment. It's not like winning the Triple Crown.

The fact is the building might look cool from an aerial shot or from 5 miles away - but up close and personal, it doesn't get the job done to create a vibrant pedestrian atmosphere. I want a downtown OKC that functions for the people living in it - not one that looks great from I-40 and Air Depot.

Stage center won an award also - big deal. They give them out every year so getting one is no great accomplishment. It's not like winning the Triple Crown.

The fact is the building might look cool from an aerial shot or from 5 miles away - but up close and personal, it doesn't get the job done to create a vibrant pedestrian atmosphere. I want a downtown OKC that functions for the people living in it - not one that looks great from I-40 and Air Depot.

LOL. There is no idea that is worthy if it differs from your own, I guess. I assume you have been at the building in Tokyo to render the expert opinion, or like so many, live life through google.

I have been involved around the world with some fabulous construction projects that were aesthetically unique and wonderful and also quite functional. The idea that the two are incompatible is just dismissive thinking. There are architects who consider both very well and some great buildings in the world. I know first hand.

They don't want it to "blend in with the rest of the buildings". They want distinct. They want noticeable. They want it posted on sites halfway around the world with people asking whose building it is and where it is. They want you to look at it and comment. Bravo to them and the board that approved it. This is the red bow tie with a tuxedo.

I understand wanting distinct and noticeable, but that building is a little too much if you ask me. From what I remember of Tokyo's skyline, there was little to be desired. There are just ton of buildings that all looked alike with nothing that tall (I understand that it's due to earthquakes). They could have easily done something a little less obnoxious and have it stand out by a mile and look somewhat normal at the same time. Just my opinion.

Then again, it's been 6-7 years since I've been so I'm not even sure how their skyline has evolved since then.

They don't want it to "blend in with the rest of the buildings". They want distinct. They want noticeable. They want it posted on sites halfway around the world with people asking whose building it is and where it is. They want you to look at it and comment. Bravo to them and the board that approved it. This is the red bow tie with a tuxedo.
This. US architecture is too safe. I love that building, would show off OKC's new image VERY well.

Here is the latest Mystery Tower rendering, subject to slight modifications.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8IUSbu-KsjNhoaRU3Srv7aOTB8KoCZNyxNEyIbipMuUYjADjLfQ

what the AICCM could look like once they kill the project and some eccentric putz takes over the land?

LOL. There is no idea that is worthy if it differs from your own, I guess. I assume you have been at the building in Tokyo to render the expert opinion, or like so many, live life through google.

I have been involved around the world with some fabulous construction projects that were aesthetically unique and wonderful and also quite functional. The idea that the two are incompatible is just dismissive thinking. There are architects who consider both very well and some great buildings in the world. I know first hand.

I am not saying that design and function are not compatible. A building can be attractive in its totality - meaning what it looks like when you can see the whole thing all in one field of vision. Then there is how the building interacts with the users inside the building. But there is also an element of how the building interacts with the surrounding neighborhood. I am talking about this third type of interaction. Look at some of the building around this one that are much shorter but have retail, restaurants, and professional service space. They add life and vibrancy to the people on the sidewalk - this building does not do that. To the pedestrian it is a really tall thing that stands between them and where they want to go, even if it does look good in the picture taken from the helicopter.

Most architects are only interested in designing buildings. For the most part, their concerns end at the property line. I am interested in creating neighborhoods and urban districts. That is the only point I was trying to make.

What do you guys do for a living? I would love to work someplace where I could post on OKCTALK all day. Lol

What do you guys do for a living? I would love to work someplace where I could post on OKCTALK all day. Lol

If you don't work at a place where you are able to post on a message board all day... well then... it's YOUR fault. lol

I understand wanting distinct and noticeable, but that building is a little too much if you ask me. From what I remember of Tokyo's skyline, there was little to be desired. There are just ton of buildings that all looked alike with nothing that tall (I understand that it's due to earthquakes). They could have easily done something a little less obnoxious and have it stand out by a mile and look somewhat normal at the same time. Just my opinion.

What? You just said in above post the building doesn't blend with surrounding buildings?


Tokyo Skyline...looks pretty good to me.
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/Tokyo_EN-US2524264574.jpg

What do you guys do for a living? I would love to work someplace where I could post on OKCTALK all day. Lol

Some people take smoke breaks or chat around the water cooler/coffee pot. And some people chat on OKCTalk. Personally, I work for myself and don't smoke. It's not a bad way to live.

I am not saying that design and function are not compatible. A building can be attractive in its totality - meaning what it looks like when you can see the whole thing all in one field of vision. Then there is how the building interacts with the users inside the building. But there is also an element of how the building interacts with the surrounding neighborhood. I am talking about this third type of interaction. Look at some of the building around this one that are much shorter but have retail, restaurants, and professional service space. They add life and vibrancy to the people on the sidewalk - this building does not do that. To the pedestrian it is a really tall thing that stands between them and where they want to go, even if it does look good in the picture taken from the helicopter.

Most architects are only interested in designing buildings. For the most part, their concerns end at the property line. I am interested in creating neighborhoods and urban districts. That is the only point I was trying to make.

So, you are saying you have been to this site at ground level and analyzed the interactions with the neighborhood? It brings 10,000 people to the business district. Seems to me that would make a lot of neighborhood things possible. I just don't think every building has to look like 1920's New York City at street level to be effective and vital in the neighborhood. And every business district is not a residential/shopping district anyway.

What? You just said in above post the building doesn't blend with surrounding buildings?


Tokyo Skyline...looks pretty good to me.
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/Tokyo_EN-US2524264574.jpg

Yeah, I think either someone just got an amazing photo or a lot has happened since I was there; or I could just be flat out wrong. From my memory, the Tokyo Tower (Eiffel Tower look-a-like) was by far the tallest structure there, and nothing around it was even close to as tall. My fiancee, who spent a semester there, agrees. Maybe it just looked that way to us while we were there, and we never got a good view from afar. That view of the Tokyo skyline is pretty awesome though! And I actually can't even tell where that building in question is located from this picture... so maybe it does blend in well after all. Still looks ugly up close if you ask me.

What do you guys do for a living? I would love to work someplace where I could post on OKCTALK all day. Lol

Probably do take to much time on the site. Also LOL.

I travel a lot and read and post from airports, coffee shops, on the plane, etc. And, I often work very long days into the evening, so I take breaks occasionally during all times of the day and open the OKCTalk window. I am the boss, so I rarely get in trouble for doing this. I enjoy the varying viewpoints (yes, JTF, even yours :-) ) and like the interaction among the core posters. I am intensely interested in the city I have loved for several decades and having been involved in the construction industry for 3 decades, I enjoy the information on all the developments. OKCTalk is interesting and entertaining.

Yeah, I think either someone just got an amazing photo or a lot has happened since I was there; or I could just be flat out wrong. From my memory, the Tokyo Tower (Eiffel Tower look-a-like) was by far the tallest structure there, and nothing around it was even close to as tall. My fiancee, who spent a semester there, agrees. Maybe it just looked that way to us while we were there, and we never got a good view from afar. That view of the Tokyo skyline is pretty awesome though! And I actually can't even tell where that building in question is located from this picture... so maybe it does blend in well after all. Still looks ugly up close if you ask me.

The perspective on buildings changes dramatically, depending on location. From my house, the Devon tower looks very proportional to the other buildings downtown, albeit a little bit taller. From I-40 driving east, it looks gargantuan and totally out of proportion to the rest of the city. So perhaps your usual vantage point was such that buildings looked smaller relative to the tower.

what the AICCM could look like once they kill the project and some eccentric putz takes over the land?

Ha! Post of the day!

Probably do take to much time on the site. Also LOL.

I travel a lot and read and post from airports, coffee shops, on the plane, etc. And, I often work very long days into the evening, so I take breaks occasionally during all times of the day and open the OKCTalk window. I am the boss, so I rarely get in trouble for doing this. I enjoy the varying viewpoints (yes, JTF, even yours :-) ) and like the interaction among the core posters. I am intensely interested in the city I have loved for several decades and having been involved in the construction industry for 3 decades, I enjoy the information on all the developments. OKCTalk is interesting and entertaining.
This.

What do you guys do for a living? I would love to work someplace where I could post on OKCTALK all day. Lol

This. I would love to post longer, more elaborate contributions to the architecture-related threads on this site, but I'm too busy DOING architecture, lol.

Oh well. It's hard to complain about business being good.

What do you guys do for a living? I would love to work someplace where I could post on OKCTALK all day. Lol

I work 5 hours out of 10 I am on the clock.....oh overpaid union worker....:kicking:

There is much more activity on this site during the weekdays versus evenings and weekends, that's for sure.

There is much more activity on this site during the weekdays versus evenings and weekends, that's for sure.

Definately this.

More photos today after work. Clouds were perfect. Got a lot of skyline shots. It's at the end of a very long queue now.

Of the Mystery Tower? ;P

What? You just said in above post the building doesn't blend with surrounding buildings?


Tokyo Skyline...looks pretty good to me.
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/Tokyo_EN-US2524264574.jpg
That pic is sort of deceptive. Tokyo has a lot of clusters of towers together but nothing overly tall tho. I never saw any particular place that was a postcard skyline shot such as this. I thought there was a ton of interesting buildings.

Devon cranes are officially gone! People are moving into the building in the next few weeks. So, we should start to hear more rumors about the Mystery Tower/s.

We can't have these construction workers go unemployed! Maybe with an announcement soon, some of the workers will only get a few weeks of vacation between the Devon Tower and the new Tower/s.

Devon cranes are officially gone! People are moving into the building in the next few weeks. So, we should start to hear more rumors about the Mystery Tower/s.

We can't have these construction workers go unemployed! Maybe with an announcement soon, some of the workers will only get a few weeks of vacation between the Devon Tower and the new Tower/s.

I mean, if by only a few weeks you mean a few months? If the tower were announced right now, it would probably be at least 2 months before demolition for buildings on whatever lot(s) is chosen began. Then another 2 to 4 months before official "ground breaking", and then another 2 or so months before foundation work started.

They are talking about having the top 2 floors of the Devon Tower open for business in 9 months. So I imagine there looking at being totally done no later than March of next year, and the workforce for Devon at that point will likely be minimal.

Devon made all the progress on the height of the building in the last year and a half. 1.5 years ago. (http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=19439&p=356198#post356198) The first year and a half was pretty straightforward stuff. Not a whole lot of construction workers required, I wouldn't think.

If Flintco gets construction bid for new skyscraper, more then likely they dont have to wait for Devon Tower to be completed, Flintco has hundreds of construction workers waiting for bids.

Think many people have misconceptions about the construction industry. These people don't get paid if they don't work. They aren't waiting for a vacation, they are trying to figure out where to work to put food on the table. I imagine many will leave state, regardless of if other projects are announced soon, they won't have a choice.