I am really feeling this design of this new 30 story office tower proposed for downtown Austin (of course), lol:

http://www.austintowers.net/Austin_Downtown/index_files/colorado_third_tower.jpg

i like... but i just hope that if we really are getting two announcements in the next year... i'm okay with one of them being the modern glass look... but i think i'd like for one of them to be something other than just a giant piece of glass...

I agree as well. It is kind of funny how the urbanist seem to favor low-rise high density and people who are more suburban-minded like tall buildings. I guess it so so they can see downtown from the suburbs.Well if you haven't figured out by now, I am more suburban lol. I think it looks cooler driving into the city and provides better skyline shots for the city image.

i like... but i just hope that if we really are getting two announcements in the next year... i'm okay with one of them being the modern glass look... but i think i'd like for one of them to be something other than just a giant piece of glass...

agreed

Well if you haven't figured out by now, I am more suburban lol. I think it looks cooler driving into the city and provides better skyline shots for the city image.

That is exactly what I was saying. The urbanist see downtown as a place to live, work, and play and they think it should be scaled to the humans that use it. The suburbanist see downtown as a collection of pieces of art and they want to see them from where they live.

Pete, how likely is it that we see new towers from both Continental and OG&E? Or do you see it happening where Continental builds something new and OG&E takes the tower that Continental is currently in? Or some other way?

I think we'll see something from both, just not sure how far along they both are.

But I do know this:

1. The Stage Center site is actively seeking bids and has been for a while. I'm a very certain Continental is the leading candidate to purchase that property and I don't think the current owners want to keep sitting on it much longer. I think the only delay is CLR getting it's act together so it can announce a major development, because that would counterbalance any negativity about demolishing the current structure. Don't think anyone wants to make an announcement until they can frame it in the "this is a good thing for downtown" vein. I'm sure they'll want to present some renderings so people can visualize how cool it will be instead of focusing on the loss of the Stage Center structure.

2. OG&E hired a national real estate company to scout sites for a new downtown HQ, and this has been going on for a while -- like at least a year. I suspect they are looking north of the OKC Museum of Art along Hudson, although I'm sure they've looked at other sites as well. I think we'll hear something definite before the end of the year and maybe much sooner.

3. I think Devon is cooling it's heals right now. Eventually, they'll expand into the neighboring 'Pretakes' block but it seems they are in no hurry.

Perhaps they are just letting CLR and OG&E have their turn as not to steal the spot light.

Perhaps they are just letting CLR and OG&E have their turn as not to steal the spot light.

I think that is part of it, as Larry Nichols really wants to shift focus to the new companies that are moving downtown and expanding.

This was a big part of him insisting on the Project 180 improvements: To lure more HQ's to downtown OKC.

The next major tower would signal to the word this isn't just about Devon.

I think we'll see something from both, just not sure how far along they both are.

But I do know this:

1. The Stage Center site is actively seeking bids and has been for a while. I'm a very certain Continental is the leading candidate to purchase that property and I don't think the current owners want to keep sitting on it much longer. I think the only delay is CLR getting it's act together so it can announce a major development, because that would counterbalance any negativity about demolishing the current structure. Don't think anyone wants to make an announcement until they can frame it in the "this is a good thing for downtown" vein. I'm sure they'll want to present some renderings so people can visualize how cool it will be instead of focusing on the loss of the Stage Center structure.

2. OG&E hired a national real estate company to scout sites for a new downtown HQ, and this has been going on for a while -- like at least a year. I suspect they are looking north of the OKC Museum of Art along Hudson, although I'm sure they've looked at other sites as well. I think we'll hear something definite before the end of the year and maybe much sooner.

3. I think Devon is cooling it's heals right now. Eventually, they'll expand into the neighboring 'Pretakes' block but it seems they are in no hurry.

Dear God, please yes.

A building right there, especially if it were >500 ft. would not only balance the skyline (especially the fantastic view from the East), it would bring more life to that part of the CBD. It seems like Hudson is a wall of parking garages that separates the CBD from the western portion of downtown.

That is exactly what I was saying. The urbanist see downtown as a place to live, work, and play and they think it should be scaled to the humans that use it. The suburbanist see downtown as a collection of pieces of art and they want to see them from where they live.Well I want downtown to be a place to live, work and play for sure!!!! I also want taller buildings. I think I want everything lol.... But, I do see what you're saying. It's cool... Either way, it will be good to see anything really. As long as it's not crap. :)

I think we are getting very close to an announcement by Continental and/or OG&E.

Or someone else totally unexpected.

Steve's the master of suspense.

Or someone else totally unexpected.

What a shameless tease! :tiphat:

Or someone else totally unexpected.

Oh no he didn't! RUTHLESS.

Didn't Devon release their tower to a gathering of their employees? Shall we watch for one of these companies to be meeting with employees for a big announcement soon??

Or someone else totally unexpected.

Mental note - Clark Kent isn't the only reporter with a secret, or a bit of a mean streak.
:)

I don't know who it could be outside of CR, Devon, OG&E, or MidFirst. We have been talking about those companies for over a year, and everyboody expects its one those companies, so if its none of these then who? I will go out on a limb and say Boeing. They have brought thousands of employees here in the last few years, and probably looking to bring more, or create new jobs. No one is really expecting Boeing to build a tower...that is the only company I can think of. Not too mention Boeing has recently secured some multi-billion dollar contracts...hence needing to create new jobs.

I don't know who it could be outside of CR, Devon, OG&E, or MidFirst. We have been talking about those companies for over a year, and everyboody expects its one those companies, so if its none of these then who? I will go out on a limb and say Boeing. They have brought thousands of employees here in the last few years, and probably looking to bring more, or create new jobs. No one is really expecting Boeing to build a tower...that is the only company I can think of. Not too mention Boeing has recently secured some multi-billion dollar contracts...hence needing to create new jobs.

0% chance it is Boeing But there have been rumors of an out of state relocation to Okc. Which would be one of the reasons of this staying so quiet

I don't know who it could be outside of CR, Devon, OG&E, or MidFirst.....

Trump Tower OKC?

Im predicting its CLR as they will be needing new space soon whether its leased or built. Will wait and see.

And if I remember correctly...when they moved here they released an article with excitement for being all in one building for the first time...so they wont want to lease all over downtown like they will probably need to do soon.

Just thinking about this gives me goosebumps! I keep a low profile on here, just taking in all the information, trying to piece it together. Everyone knows that something is brewing and that it is just a matter of time before an announcement (or several :-D) is made. When I get on here and read all of the threads and drive downtown and see all the development and such going on, the pride I have in this city nearly overcomes me! It's kind of crazy how little the average Oklahoma City resident knows about the fantastic and dramatic changes going on in their own hometown! Days like today make me wanna shake people and say, 'Don't you know what a great place this is?' Maybe I'm just eccentric, but being 28 yo and watching OUR city come alive throughout the course of my life, makes my sense of pride even greater. Call me crazy! Cuz I'm DOWNTOWN PROUD!!! lol :dance:

As a 31 year old who found this forum about four years ago by searching for "new Oklahoma City skyscraper", I know exactly how you feel. The Devon Tower announcement was one of the most genuinely excited times in recent memory. I was on my iPhone at work constantly refreshing the Devon Tower thread and my jaw dropped when I first saw the rendering. I went around showing people at work, who didn't really share my excitement. I'm so thankful people my age can finally have pride in our city and smile at that skyline I grew up seeing. (Growing up about two miles of downtown). Can't wait to get back into the swing of things once construction starts. (My hobbies)

I understand about people not sharing the same excitement over the things that are happening here! If everyone in this city felt like the majority of us on here, can you imagine what this city would feel and look like? My interest started with the groundbreaking of the Ballpark and Canal. I clipped every single article in the Oklahoman having to do with downtown development and the initial Maps projects. My family thought I was crazy! What a great time to be an Oklahoma Citian!

0% chance it is Boeing But there have been rumors of an out of state relocation to Okc. Which would be one of the reasons of this staying so quiet

I remember an article by Steve a few years back where he interviewed Cathy O'Connor re downtown development. Her words were, "We would like to see Boeing have a downtown prescence, I wouldn't rule that out, its something that we could look forward to in the future".

I remember an article by Steve a few years back where he interviewed Cathy O'Connor re downtown development. Her words were, "We would like to see Boeing have a downtown prescence, I wouldn't rule that out, its something that we could look forward to in the future".

As someone that works in the aerospace business. I think that is very very unlikely But I hope that I am wrong

0% chance it is Boeing But there have been rumors of an out of state relocation to Okc. Which would be one of the reasons of this staying so quiet

I think this is a very interesting possibility. Obviously a major out of state relocation will involve state and city incentives. I have definitely heard of some quiet economic development negotiations, that could be a coincidence or related. We also have good reason to believe the local companies are building, including MidFirst, Continental, definitely OG+E, possibly still SandRidge, and once again Devon. Or we could see a mixed-use tower on some of the most prime land, like Stage Center.

Can it be a coincidence that we have heard so little lately from all these things: Stage Center site redevelopment, economic development, corporate relocation, Devon development, Continental's growth, MidFirst's north side property, and so on.

I'm another of those regular readers but infrequent posters on here. Always eager for downtown construction updates. A few weeks back, while visiting my daughter, who is a student in the architecture program at one of our state universities, she told me that she has recently seen either sketches or a model of a new tower that is planned for downtown OKC. I've been pestering her since then to try to get more details--who is having it built, can she get a photo of the renderings, etc., but no luck yet. I hope to visit with her again next weekend, so maybe I can learn more about it.

Does Boeing even have any high-rise towers anywhere?

Boeing International Headquarters - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_International_Headquarters)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/2004-09-14_1680x3000_chicago_boeing_building.jpg

Ok, now something like that would be awesome for OKC!!!!!

OG&E hired a national real estate company to scout sites for a new downtown HQ, and this has been going on for a while -- like at least a year. I suspect they are looking north of the OKC Museum of Art along Hudson, although I'm sure they've looked at other sites as well.

I've wondered what that Star of David shaped building is north of that parking lot on Dean McGee & Hudson but never asked. Could that whole block be developed? I can't name from memory the other structures there and the likelihood they would move.

I've wondered what that Star of David shaped building is north of that parking lot on Dean McGee & Hudson but never asked. Could that whole block be developed? I can't name from memory the other structures there and the likelihood they would move.

It's some kind of bank security vault or something. Armored cars pick up and drop off there. Other than that, there's a small law firm or tax firm or something over across from Legacy, and a small drive-through bank. Just tiny one story buildings that could easily go somewhere else.

I have no reason for this idea other than a wild guess, but could it be a major operating division of a large corporation such as GE Oil & Gas, GE Energy, etc? Are they large enough to need a separate building? With GE's wind and alternative energy business and their O&G operations OKC might be an attractive location for their management and administrative staff. Just a thought. The Boeing discussion caused me to think of this tangent.

I think that is part of it, as Larry Nichols really wants to shift focus to the new companies that are moving downtown and expanding.

This was a big part of him insisting on the Project 180 improvements: To lure more HQ's to downtown OKC.

The next major tower would signal to the word this isn't just about Devon.

Isn't Larry Nichols pretty much retired from Devon at this point?

Hearsay has indicated that Larry had to "retire" because he was required to begin taking withdrawls from his company retirement, but he still maintains an office at Devon as the executive chairman and goes to work most days. Guys at that level don't retire. I bet he is still very much involved in the Devon decision making.

Isn't Larry Nichols pretty much retired from Devon at this point?

So he can be even more involved locally. He'll probably still be involved in Devon since this isn't a forced ouster like CHK.

Or someone else totally unexpected.

I know this is a crazy guess but read his post again. What other company is based out of Norman, Oklahoma and has the slogan. "Totally Unexpected". Taco Mayo. Hardly a candidate for a tower but since we are reading between the lines. :)

I know this is a crazy guess but read his post again. What other company is based out of Norman, Oklahoma and has the slogan. "Totally Unexpected". Taco Mayo. Hardly a candidate for a tower but since we are reading between the lines. :)

They are not based out of Norman. They are located off SW 104th and Penn in a building the size of a single doctors office. They might fit on half of a floor in a building downtown if they were to move.

They are not based out of Norman. They are located off SW 104th and Penn in a building the size of a single doctors office. They might fit on half of a floor in a building downtown if they were to move.

I guess you are right. I guess Norman is where they started. Anyway, I was just having some fun with his comment.

I guess you are right. I guess Norman is where they started. Anyway, I was just having some fun with his comment.

I knew you were just joking, just wanted to let you know they were located in OKC.

I know this is a crazy guess but read his post again. What other company is based out of Norman, Oklahoma and has the slogan. "Totally Unexpected". Taco Mayo. Hardly a candidate for a tower but since we are reading between the lines. :)

I've been meaning to strike out just one candidate from this discussion, to allow all of you to better focus on who might be behind the new tower. So here we go... it's not Taco Mayo. I hope this helps.

;)

I've been meaning to strike out just one candidate from this discussion, to allow all of you to better focus on who might be behind the new tower. So here we go... it's not Taco Mayo. I hope this helps.

;)

I hope everyone knows I was just kidding. :) Thanks for clearing that up. My next guess was going to be 7-11.

I hope everyone knows I was just kidding. :) Thanks for clearing that up. My next guess was going to be 7-11.

7-11 Oklahoma is too small for any building of significant size. Plus the Browns are tightwads, except when it comes to employee benefits.

Humor is sometimes lost online. Horribly, terribly so.

I've been meaning to strike out just one candidate from this discussion, to allow all of you to better focus on who might be behind the new tower. So here we go... it's not Taco Mayo. I hope this helps.

;)

So Steve... has the candidate been mentioned in this discussion?

Steve how many times a day do you get a mystery tower question? Just wondering,because I assume it gets old, I'm guessing.

..... it's not Taco Mayo.

Too bad. Their tower could have been in the shape of a giant jalapeno.

I've been meaning to strike out just one candidate from this discussion, to allow all of you to better focus on who might be behind the new tower. So here we go... it's not Taco Mayo. I hope this helps.

;)

I am going to assume, Steve, that when this announcement happens, it is going to blow away even the greatest of doubters. I can't wait to see the reaction on the faces of Houstonians. They are still trying to wrap their head around Devon moving its Houston offices to OKC.

... I can't wait to see the reaction on the faces of Houstonians.

Hmmm, that reminds me. I always wonder what we are.

OKCitians?
OKCites?
OKCians?
OKCers?

*scratches head

So... should we go ahead close this useless thread down or leave it open a wee bit longer?:tongue:

Steve how many times a day do you get a mystery tower question? Just wondering,because I assume it gets old, I'm guessing.

Hey, Steve, how many times a month do you reply to emails asking about mystery towers? Sincerely, Still Waiting :p

Hmmm, that reminds me. I always wonder what we are.

OKCitians?
OKCites?
OKCians?
OKCers?

*scratches headOKCtalkers? lol

Hey, Steve, how many times a month do you reply to emails asking about mystery towers? Sincerely, Still Waiting :p Today:
I was asked about this at breakfast. I was asked about it at a press conference I had to cover. I was asked about it at the coffee shop. I was asked about it at lunch. Can't recall anyone asking at the office.... day ain't over yet.

Everyone waits for the latest post on this thread to be from you...

Today:
I was asked about this at breakfast. I was asked about it at a press conference I had to cover. I was asked about it at the coffee shop. I was asked about it at lunch. Can't recall anyone asking at the office.... day ain't over yet.

haha

I don't blame you if you can't respond. You probably don't have the time!

I added a few buildings to the skyline. I know this is slightly unrealistic, but it's still fun to dream.

3357

I honestly don't think that's unrealistic within the next 10 years. It looks really cool!

I added a few buildings to the skyline. I know this is slightly unrealistic, but it's still fun to dream.

3357

Looks like you put the Biltmore back, cool though.

Awesome man!!!!! When I get my CAD and 3dsmax training together, I will render my fantasy of our skyline and you'll see unrealistic lol... (I won't go to crazy :p)

I am going to assume, Steve, that when this announcement happens, it is going to blow away even the greatest of doubters. I can't wait to see the reaction on the faces of Houstonians. They are still trying to wrap their head around Devon moving its Houston offices to OKC.

Not sure "stunned" is the right word. Devon had limited operations there. "Stunned" would be if a major HQs relocated to OKC from Houston.

Not sure "stunned" is the right word. Devon had limited operations there. "Stunned" would be if a major HQs relocated to OKC from Houston.

If I was to guess what he is saying, it's that a big company is going to be relocating here from Houston. Don't know if he has solid proof and is in the know per say or if he is just going out on a limb. I know Conoco was a name brought up quite a few times, but I don't know what the deal is with them anymore.