address=120 Robert S. Kerr (http://goo.gl/maps/kUwmi)
owner=SandRidge Energy
cost= $35,000,000
architect=Rogers Marvel
start=Fall 2012
finish=Early 2016
contractor= Lingo
height= 6 levels
sq. feet= 83,430
acerage=.34
other=Restaurant with outdoor patio seating facing Kerr/Couch Park

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/parksidewiki1.jpg
Information & Latest News
4/29/13: SandRidge changes plans for buildings (http://newsok.com/sandridge-changes-plans-for-new-buildings/article/3804656)
7/23/12: $35,000,000 building permit (http://www.okc.gov/Access/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=Permits&TabName=Permits&capID1=12BRE&capID2=00000&capID3=05979&agencyCode=OKC&IsToShowInspection=)
Links
County Assessor Record (http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/AN-R.asp?ACCOUNTNO=R010013052)
Gallery

http://newsok.com/13-story-high-pedestrian-skybridge-set-to-be-removed-as-development-of-sandridge-commons-enters-next-phase/article/3617241?custom_click=lead_story_title

Steve's article says the skybridge will come down with the help of four cranes on either Nov. 5th or 12th.

It didn't say when the building itself will come down, but I suspect it will happen bit by bit shortly thereafter.


Anybody have an idea of what SandRidge built underground between the tower and the Braniff Building? Steve's article mentions it had to be reworked and contained underground parking and mechanical systems... What is there now?

Dowell will be creating a new eastern facade for the Dowell Center when Sandridge tears down the current elevator parking/office structure. The new facade will extend down to the top of Sandridge's new Amenities building. I've posted this in the Dowell Center thread as well, but in the application to the Downtown Design Committee, Sandridge had extended a letter of support.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6231/6334535181_7823438cb1_b.jpg

From today courtesy Urban Pioneer:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amenities5912.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amenities59122.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amenities59123.jpg

OK so after seeing the stuff they're going to get, who wants a job there? LOL.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amenities5912.jpg
Is that some of the original brick on the east facade toward the bottom, where they've removed more of the parking structure?

Yes, that's original brick.

However, the new SandRidge building will completely cover it, right up to the line with the new windows and stucco.

Does Dowell even know what this building used to look like? I am increasingly puzzled by recreating the rest of the false facade on the top so many floors. Seems that would have been a good opportunity to reclaim part of the building.

The problem is that it is actually two buildings cobbled together with the mid-century facade. If you ever see old photos of what is under there you would scratch your head as to how they merged them together. There must have been MAJOR alterations done to the bones of the originals. It would likely be a tough case for HP, beyond the Kerr-McGee renovation that is now part of the historic fabric of that building.

The problem is that it is actually two buildings cobbled together with the mid-century facade. If you ever see old photos of what is under there you would scratch your head as to how they merged them together. There must have been MAJOR alterations done to the bones of the originals. It would likely be a tough case for HP, beyond the Kerr-McGee renovation that is now part of the historic fabric of that building.

Fair enough. Here is the original that we're talking about, although perhaps this belongs in the Dowell Center thread.
http://www.usgwarchives.org/ok/oklahoma/postcards/petbld.jpg

Yeah, and I think that is only the southern half of the existing building.

I have read about the possibility of having a small grocery store in this space. Can anyone confirm that? It is not in the plans.

There has been talk about A Good Egg group putting restaurants in both the Braniff and Amenities buildings, with some to-go food items in one of them.

Nothing confirmed as of yet.

No grocery store...

Lame!

Ah well, SandRidge Commons probably was not the best location for such a venture anyway.

$35 million building permit today for the SandRidge Amenities building.

Should see it going up soon!

$35 million building permit today for the SandRidge Amenities building.

Should see it going up soon!

as of yesterday . just the finals pieces of the old building were still attached to the 1st floor of dowel's building

Wow, so the Amenities Building is nearly 2/5 of the whole SR Commons cost to date.

I think SandRidge is going to end up spending well north of the previously announced $100 million on their complex. That number was given before the bought the Broadway/Kerr parking garage let alone it's probably renovation and expansion, nor the new tower and the other lots on Broadway.

And remember that a building permit ($35 mil in this instance) does not include, furniture, fixtures and equipment which can add another 30% or so to the total.

Well, I tend to think Broadway/Kerr renovation or redevelopment is inevitable, but I'm still not sold on this new tower rumour.

Well, I tend to think Broadway/Kerr renovation or redevelopment is inevitable, but I'm still not sold on this new tower rumour.

Sources that I have close to the situation state the new tower by Sandridge will be 20 stories. But won't break ground until 2014.

Sources that I have close to the situation state the new tower by Sandridge will be 20 stories. But won't break ground until 2014.

current one is 30? or is it 35? i always forget

current one is 30? or is it 35? i always forget

30

A modern 20-story building would likely be almost tall as the original tower, simply because the floor heights are significantly higher these days.

SandRidge tower is 393 feet but a new building would be 15-20 feet per floor; using the average that would make a 20-story building 350 feet, and that's not including any building-top elements.

Sources that I have close to the situation state the new tower by Sandridge will be 20 stories. But won't break ground until 2014.

I'm not questioning you or your sources, it's just that I have sources too, and I'm just not sure it's a done deal. I love the Amenities Bldg and the Braniff projects, so I hope people don't think I'm still sour about SR, but there was a reason I had my reservations - I'm just not sure they're on the kind of solid footing to be building skyscrapers. Just yesterday it seems Riata Energy moved here from Amarillo with like 60 employees.

My gut on SR is such that I don't doubt they're capable of pulling off some pretty cool smaller projects, but when it comes to larger projects, I'll believe it when I see it break ground.

I'm not questioning you or your sources, it's just that I have sources too, and I'm just not sure it's a done deal. I love the Amenities Bldg and the Braniff projects, so I hope people don't think I'm still sour about SR, but there was a reason I had my reservations - I'm just not sure they're on the kind of solid footing to be building skyscrapers. Just yesterday it seems Riata Energy moved here from Amarillo with like 60 employees.

My gut on SR is such that I don't doubt they're capable of pulling off some pretty cool smaller projects, but when it comes to larger projects, I'll believe it when I see it break ground.

It's not a done deal simply because it's so far off. The Amenities building likely won't be finished til 2014 and they wouldn't start anything else until that's done. Though, Spartan, I think you are underestimating what's happening there. Word is they are to almost 900 employees there in the tower. They are bursting at the seams.

It doesn't bother me that you're skeptical on the Broadway building, they haven't even released any plans so it's all speculation until then. I think what they have proven is that they follow through with what they announce publicly.

I can't disagree with any of that.

From what I know, Grace is pretty much on target.

I took a photo of the demolition area where the garage was/amenities building will be and posted it here: http://360.io/kmnWum

Thanks Casey!

Wow, that is quite a crater, especially with Kerr Park completely gone as well.

Can't wait to see the new building and park start to come to life.

This will be fantastic...huge upgrade for downtown!

Ok, here is (from what I was told) where they hit the gas line that caused the evacuation of City Place today. The guys in the bottom left of the picture.

http://s16.postimage.org/4epmdad8l/IMG114.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
upload images (http://postimage.org/)

Close up of the area. These were taken after the all clear and we were allowed back in the building.

http://s14.postimage.org/ea7erc9mp/IMG115.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
image host (http://postimage.org/)

Thanks for the photo.

That old 70's-style fountain in the foreground is very sad looking. Really looking forward to watching this entire section of downtown be built back.

It's amazing how Kerr Park used to be such a jewel when it first opened.

http://cache2.artprintimages.com/lrg/37/3700/9XHAF00Z.jpg

It's amazing how Kerr Park used to be such a jewel when it first opened.

http://cache2.artprintimages.com/lrg/37/3700/9XHAF00Z.jpg

With open space comes the cost to maintain it, and there never seems to be enough money for maintenance.

I never thought that park was a Jewel at all.

When I worked downtown in the 80's, I went there ONCE. It was for a lunchtime concert and after about 10 minutes of sitting on hot concrete I never went back.

I never saw many people there.

I never thought that park was a Jewel at all.

When I worked downtown in the 80's, I went there ONCE. It was for a lunchtime concert and after about 10 minutes of sitting on hot concrete I never went back.

I never saw many people there.

That's odd. When I worked downtown in the mid-to-late 80s, I regularly went there for the lunchtime concerts and there was always a good bunch of people out there.

I was only a kid, but my mom worked at Kerr McGee in the early 80s and I remember Kerr Park and the Conncourse packed and full of life.

What's left of Kerr Park:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sandridge8312b.jpg

I was only a kid, but my mom worked at Kerr McGee in the early 80s and I remember Kerr Park and the Conncourse packed and full of life.

I think it's important to remember that back during the "dark age" of OKC, there were still people here who strove for normalcy - we had things here, certain amenities, they just weren't very nice. People may have not even known how decrepit and second-rate we were in terms of things like downtown parks, etc.... I have a coffee table book with Kerr Park on the cover of it, just to give you an example.

It reminds me of the chamber recruitment video touring downtown in the 70s that they showed at the OKCMOA recently. With the actors stopping in front of the Veolia water cooling facility, "What I like most about it is how handsome it is!" (the entire theater burst into laughter, as everyone today recognizes it as EKG's worst eyesore, which is saying a lot)

Spartan not sure what point you are trying to make, before the bust, DT OKC was booming and full of life (were you alive during much of the 80's?). Amenities now aren't what amenities were back then, and tastes change. Your post doesn't change the fact of my post in that when I was a kid in the early 80's Kerr Park and Conncourse were full of life. I remember getting toys at shops in the Conncourse and the FAO Schwarz. Not sure if a kid can even buy a toy downtown NOW.

I really liked Kerr Park. Sure it needed to be updated and maintained but all parks need to be. It reminded me of the great parks in Portland, OR.

I don't agree with the Sandridge development, but I am glad they tour down that nasty parking garage and are building the amenities building. That building will be first class.

The park on the other hand will be a cluster! The design continues the rows of cedar trees and loses 80% of the usable space with their "prairie wind blocks". They could not have gotten a more out of touch with Oklahoma landscape architect.

I never liked Kerr Park even when I worked downtown during the booming early 80's but one thing is for sure: it has been pretty dead and outdated for quite a while.

The biggest change is that that massive solid concrete wall of the old Globe Life building will no longer be looming over it. Now, there will be an interesting glass building with all types of balconies and life, including at least one restaurant that opens into the park with outdoor seating.

And don't forget Couch Park was really just a closed off street with some monuments.

I think all the green will be an improvement although I do worry a bit about the broader park design.

The truth is that Sandridge is taking what for decades has been a DEAD area in downtown and is making it a fresh new area. It will be much improved, including the park.

Spartan not sure what point you are trying to make, before the bust, DT OKC was booming and full of life (were you alive during much of the 80's?). Amenities now aren't what amenities were back then, and tastes change. Your post doesn't change the fact of my post in that when I was a kid in the early 80's Kerr Park and Conncourse were full of life. I remember getting toys at shops in the Conncourse and the FAO Schwarz. Not sure if a kid can even buy a toy downtown NOW.

Huh?

...Not sure if a kid can even buy a toy downtown NOW.
Well, it's not FAO Schwartz, but there is a booth of retro and classic toys inside Oklahoma's Red Dirt Emporium & Marketplace on the canal.

http://www.bricktownmarketplace.com/gallery/Fhomes20-1.jpg

Also, I think that FAO Schwartz was open barely a year.

The best thing about downtown in the late 70's and early 80's was the FNC arcade, which not only featured BC Clark, but also Harold's, Orbach's, a nice gift store and a bunch of other retailers. It's sad to see it now but hopefully new owners will help bring it back.

FNC's arcade has four empty sites, one with great street access on Park. It would be nice to have some more retail in there, and a facelift on the common areas will go a long way.

I didn't live here when Kerr Park was in its heyday, but I'm looking forward to having the area completed, even if the design may not be the highest and best use of the location. I can see the corner from my office, and it's closer than the Myriad Gardens for me to have lunch on a park bench.

Man, I really loved that Harold's. What a shame first of all that they withdrew from downtown, and even more so what happened to that brand.

I used to go to Harold's in Norman for nice clothes back in high school. That was a classy business...

I was only a kid, but my mom worked at Kerr McGee in the early 80s and I remember Kerr Park and the Conncourse packed and full of life.

You are quite right, I worked downtown and would always go to Kerr Park for the concerts at lunch - it was always busy. The Conncourse was so crowded that it was often difficult to get by (though this was at key intersections). There were plenty of Conncourse eateries and everything was always full at lunch. I really enjoyed the crowds at Kerr Park, working in the bowels of a tower this was a wonderful release to go outside, sit by the water and listen to a free concert. Sometimes the concrete could get too hot, so you watched where you sat.

Though I am not over-enthusiastic about the new landscaping, I think I understand why. The thing that would discourage outdoor walking was the wind. Kerr Park was arranged in the "theatre area" to minimize the winds, but in-general it was often extreme. The closeness of the buildings would create strong winds on a day when the breeze outside of downtown was gentle. When a friend visited downtown, one of the things he said he liked was how close the buildings were. Eastern cities were often built this dense, but more modern western cities often had large open spaces around their towers (modern set-backs and shadow concerns). Only in the "dog-days" of Summer would there be no wind in the downtown canyons. The fact that Sandridge is landscaping with wind blocks says two things. First it says that it wants street pedestrian life around the buildings and is planting to protect and encourage this. Secondly, it says that it intends to rebuild some of the density that it has removed. It is this density that creates the wind, and by clearly planting wind blocks, Sandridge is revealing their plan to return the density of structure that encourages these winds. Even when I would go to Kerr Park for lunch - almost every day - I had to use the Conncourse to get close so that the wind would not "blow me away" before I could get there. The trick was knowing all the "hidden" entrances to the Conncourse from all the neighboring buildings.

Also, I think that FAO Schwartz was open barely a year.

The best thing about downtown in the late 70's and early 80's was the FNC arcade, which not only featured BC Clark, but also Harold's, Orbach's, a nice gift store and a bunch of other retailers. It's sad to see it now but hopefully new owners will help bring it back.
Oh man, I used to go to Orbach's and Harold's all the time! Miss those places. It's a shame what happened to the Orbachs.

Looks like SandRidge is really getting ready to crank up construction here, as they have recently received approval for a couple of construction staging areas.

Will be really fun and interesting to watch this structure take shape.

Looks like SandRidge is really getting ready to crank up construction here, as they have recently received approval for a couple of construction staging areas.

Will be really fun and interesting to watch this structure take shape.

This will really be visible from northbound I-235, as you can see the shinny side of the Dowell building that it will cover up. It's exposed from several viewpoints as you drive by, kind of sticks out like a sore thumb.

Construction cranes:

Now:
Aloft
Chesapeake Arena

Very soon:
Maywood Apartments
Bricktown Hotel
SandRidge Amenities
The Edge
Main Street Parking Garage

On the horizon:
Convention Center & Hotel
SandRidge building on Broadway
Expansion of Broadway/Kerr garage
Century Center expansion and renovation
East Bricktown Hotel & Apartments
Mystery tower(s)??

Broadway/Kerr garage?

Broadway/Kerr garage?

Recently purchased by SandRidge and expected to be renovated and expanded.

SandRidge has made a slight change to the plan for this building.

There will no longer be a roof-top basketball court. It will now be an inaccessible green roof.

Huh? Ok... they can certainly do whatever they want inside/with their building, but a strange move.