From today courtesy of catch22.

They are sticking with their March 1 opening date but they have boatloads to do inside and out.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amb020514a.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amb020514b.jpg

They just posted this to their Facebook page of the pool area:

https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/63583_431624880304037_265632820_n.jpg

Is that a pool or just a giant hot tub? Appears small from this perspective.

It's only 15 x 20.

It will have a water feature and I suppose it will be more for looking at than anything.

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6579d1391633098-ambassador-hotel-ambpool.jpg

Do they have a restaurant operator yet?

^

They've hired a chef.

In house run restaurant and bar

From the Ambassador FB page:


Welcome Chef Leo Novak to the Ambassador OKC Team!

About Chef Leo-

Leonard “Leo” Novak began his culinary career in 1994 when he helped open a small coffee shop in Oklahoma City called The Red Cup. For three year, Leo produced baked goods and gourmet lunches. From there he began a three-year apprenticeship program under Master Chef Kurt Fleishfresser at The Coach House, specializing in French cuisine. Upon graduation from the program, Leo became the Executive Chef at The Deep Fork Grill in Oklahoma City. Later he moved to Austin, TX to become the Head Baker at the Whole Foods flagship store at the time of its grand opening. During his three years, he created artisanal breads for the entire southwest region of the country.

In 2007, Leo moved to the Rocky Mountain resort town of Crested Butte, CO. There he opened a catering company as well as the consulting chef to the ski resort. During that time Leo opened four restaurants, all of which are still thriving.

Over the years Leo was able to chef in some of the highest regarded restaurants around the world including restaurants in Singapore, San Francisco and his hometown of Chicago.

In January 2013, Leo moved back to Oklahoma City to be closer to his family and operated the kitchen at Cafe 501 at Classen Curve. Just this month Leo was chosen and accepted the position of Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage at the new Ambassador Hotel in Midtown. The Ambassador will open in the Spring of 2014.

Leo is excited to be part of the current growth and development in Oklahoma City but his greatest accomplishment and love of his life is his three-year old daughter Delila.

Would almost term that more of a plunge pool, which would be fine for sunbathers. Man, I hope that wasn't today. First of all I would not want the miserable job of spraying shotcrete in this weather, but second I don't think it would cure right..?

March 1 sounds almost crazy.

I don't think it was today. I ate at Waffle Champion around noon, and there was not much going on outside.

All of the projects I visited today, no one was outside. Only interior work.

Just spoke to the general manager and learned a few things:


They are now saying March 10th may be their opening date rather than March 1st. They are moving fast but still lots to do.
The restaurant will open the same day as the hotel, although they will start with a soft opening; a limited breakfast and dinner menu, before going full-blown and adding lunch.
The O Bar (rooftop) will open same day as hotel as well.

Just spoke to the general manager and learned a few things:


They are now saying March 10th may be their opening date rather than March 1st. They are moving fast but still lots to do.
The restaurant will open the same day as the hotel, although they will start with a soft opening; a limited breakfast and dinner menu, before going full-blown and adding lunch.
The O Bar (rooftop) will open same day as hotel as well.


Awesome news.

I hope they're not skimping on the quality of work as they rush to get everything completed.

A good friend of mine started her new job as the front desk manager this week.

Awesome news.

I hope they're not skimping on the quality of work as they rush to get everything completed.

You must not have been to an Ambassador Brand hotel before, they don't skimp.

You must not have been to an Ambassador Brand hotel before, they don't skimp.

I haven't, but my comment was more just hoping that the workers are keeping the level of craftsmanship up as they hurry to complete the build.

From their Facebook page... Man, they sure don't build them like this anymore:

https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1/1897771_435597203240138_1012437013_n.jpg

i cannot wait for this place to open....living in hh, this will be my new spot.

From today:


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6695d1392587657-ambassador-hotel-amb021614a.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6696d1392587658-ambassador-hotel-amb021614b.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6697d1392587660-ambassador-hotel-amb021614c.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6698d1392587661-ambassador-hotel-amb021614d.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6699d1392587662-ambassador-hotel-amb021614e.jpg

nice looking building

is there an elevator or just those 2 staircases they added?

This is a typical floor layout from the article above.

You'll see there is an elevator in the original spot (top center of plan); the two new additions to the back are stairwells:

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/4114d1373586504-ambassador-hotel-osler13.jpg

Do the stairwells block the view of downtown from the balconies on the east side of 1212, or do the balconies still stick out a little bit farther than the stairwells do?

Got Will inside today to take some photos... Place is still a chaotic mess but we'll be adding more later today.

This first one is the lobby, looking north. You can see those great, curved entry doors to the left.

Where the workman is kneeling will be a seating area with a fireplace. The photo was taken from where the registration counter will be (between the two nearest columns). The restaurant will be just behind.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amb021714a.jpg

From today of the pool area:

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6730d1392683096-ambassador-hotel-amb021714o.jpg

Feast your eyes on what will soon be (about a month) the O Bar on the top floor.

One of the best skyline views in all of OKC:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amb021714obar2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amb021714obar.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6720d1392683088-ambassador-hotel-amb021714e.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6725d1392683092-ambassador-hotel-amb021714j.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6726d1392683093-ambassador-hotel-amb021714k.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6727d1392683094-ambassador-hotel-amb021714l.jpg



The next 3 are all looking generally west, towards the large outdoor patio:


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6718d1392683087-ambassador-hotel-amb021714c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6719d1392683087-ambassador-hotel-amb021714d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6717d1392683086-ambassador-hotel-amb021714b.jpg

...begging for an Office Space joke...

Does anyone know if they are going to do any cool lighting on the exterior?

That ceiling is a massive screw-up. Cringe-worthy to me. I hope this space is not as claustrophobic as it looks in these photos...

That ceiling is a massive screw-up. Cringe-worthy to me. I hope this space is not as claustrophobic as it looks in these photos...

Couldn't agree more.

It looks like there might be a fish-eye type effect from the lens. Hopefully the distortion from that is the source of the claustrophobic vibe.

There are obviously different ceiling levels in the bar area. I don't see anything that I would be unhappy about. The focus will be on the view out the windows.

The focus will be on the view out the windows. True...the portions of the windows that aren't obscured by ceilings, lol.

Maybe the seating will be extremely low-slung..?

It's an odd choice, I wonder what the lighting affect is.

Ceiling isn't the issue…those two pillars in front of the bar are the culprit and they are inexplicable.

Photo from the Ambassador FB page showing the meeting rooms & deck directly opposite of the O Bar:

https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1779974_439330812866777_1428437825_n.jpg

Are they still on track for March 1st?

Just looked at there facebook page. They have done some really great work on this reno.

View from the rooftop patio at O Bar.

6831

Toured this recently, it looks like it will be a really nice hotel. It certainly is restricted a little bit with floor layouts and ceiling heights but will turn out to be a cool, unique boutique hotel. And with it being this boutique hotel, dont expect big, expansive spaces because it just wasnt possible. The back patio wont be very big but looks like it will be a nice setting with a adequate pool for taking a dip or just to add to the ambiance at night. And the upstairs bar isnt very big either, and the ceilings are pretty low but there doesnt seem like there was much they could do about it, same as the columns someone mentioned. These things are concrete, you cant change them. That said, the bar will provide an awesome setting and might have the best views of downtown.

I really dont know how well it will perform but they are certainly finishing it out in a quality manner.

O Bar from the Ambassador Facebook page:

https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1962822_441515205981671_37274666_n.jpg

Toured this recently, it looks like it will be a really nice hotel. It certainly is restricted a little bit with floor layouts and ceiling heights but will turn out to be a cool, unique boutique hotel. And with it being this boutique hotel, dont expect big, expansive spaces because it just wasnt possible. The back patio wont be very big but looks like it will be a nice setting with a adequate pool for taking a dip or just to add to the ambiance at night. And the upstairs bar isnt very big either, and the ceilings are pretty low but there doesnt seem like there was much they could do about it, same as the columns someone mentioned. These things are concrete, you cant change them. That said, the bar will provide an awesome setting and might have the best views of downtown.

I really dont know how well it will perform but they are certainly finishing it out in a quality manner.

Boutique does imply small after all. I've stayed in a lot of them and, from your description, it sounds like an above average boutique hotel. Basically, if it had grand spaces, it wouldn't be a boutique. IMO, the charm of a boutique hotel often comes from how they use their limited spaces and it sounds like they have done a great job at that. Thanks for the update.

This could be the coolest project coming on line this year for downtown. It's adding to the diversity of our hospitality portfolio in a real way and it has great potential to attract regular local business as well. Perfect for people who want something a little different than the typical extended stay hotel experience.

So the Colcord is a boutique right? How do the two compare?

So the Colcord is a boutique right? How do the two compare?

I think the Colcord is a little over twice as big and built in 1909. Osler was built in 1928 with floors added in 1929 and 1946. They're both boutiques, but I think they will offer enough difference that they will compliment each other in the market.

Pool area coming along (from Abassador FB page (https://www.facebook.com/AmbassadorHotelOklahomaCity)):

https://scontent-a-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1/1795513_444544452345413_1917935383_n.jpg

I hope that thing is heated... lol

Front desk coming together:

https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/1912247_446780805455111_1557445697_n.jpg

Oh man, nice work.

:yeahthat:

From their Facebook page... Man, they sure don't build them like this anymore:

https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1/1897771_435597203240138_1012437013_n.jpg

I wonder what it would cost to add things like this to a new building.

Just guessing, but that carved stone entry by itself could perhaps cost $100K or more to build these days. A little more educated guess is that JUST the two doors would probably easily be $2-3K or more (maybe much more) each. I can't really tell from the photo, but the doors actually look like they might be new. If so, they would have had to be custom-built to fit the existing entry.

Of course these days you could probably buy a complete entry similar to this from an architectural salvage, ripped out of some grand structure that once stood somewhere else. I'd start by calling the one in Detroit.

Is Architectural Antiques still in business?

Yes. They have contacts all over the country. That industry is a pretty small world. An entry like that is probably only a phone call away. A phone call and tens of thousands of dollars.

Steve's update.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/3940636?embargo=1


As general manager at the new Ambassador Hotel in Midtown, Jeff Erwin is staying confident all is set for a “soft opening” next week.

People are still applying for jobs and not every position has been filled. The former Osler Building, 1200 N Walker Ave., is still a construction zone, seemingly weeks away from being ready to open. But Erwin has assurances it will all come together for one very special addition to Midtown.

Ambassador Hotel set to "soft open" in Oklahoma City's Midtown next week | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/ambassador-hotel-set-to-soft-open-in-oklahoma-citys-midtown-next-week/article/3940636)
(Mobile)

They are having a vote to chose the name of their restaurant:


https://www.facebook.com/AmbassadorHotelOklahomaCity?fref=ts

Friends and Fans...We Want Your Help to Choose the Name of OKC's Newest Restaurant! Comment, Private Message or Email (specials@ambassadorhc.com) Your Pick!

Restaurant Name Options Below-
Chive
Delos (First Name of Mr. Walker of Walker Ave.)
Iris
Paul Michael's
Romeo's

In Steve's article today it's mentioned the restaurant will be called the Viceroy.

So, the answer to this multiple choice question ended up being "none of the above".

Courtesy of Urban Pioneer:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amb030714.jpg

Just spoke to Jeff Erwen the GM at the Ambassador and he said if they get all their last-minute inspections done this week, they hope to have their first guests this weekend.

As you can imagine, it's absolute chaos for them trying to get everything done but it seems to all be coming together.

Hate to be negative and I know the old ones had been removed during remodeling thus making us all used to them not being there, but the new downspouts on the southern facade really stick out in a not-so-good way:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amb031114.jpg

Yeah that definitely doesn't look all that pleasing, but I think as time goes on, we'll get used to it and out-of-towers won't really notice it or care.

I noticed that when I passed by the other day, they're really distracting. Were they there before the renovations started? If they were, I certainly don't remember them sticking out like that. Also, the yellow stucco/whatever they used for the additions on the east side are pretty ugly as well.