Forget the office tower, I am more interested in that downtown OKC will likely be getting its first modern residential high-rise.

Nice tower, but in hindsight I wish I wouldn't have spent the last 2 years of my life reading the mystery tower thread for this....

Note that they stated this is a 'conceptual master plan', so the design could be modified a bit before the final blueprints are set for groundbreaking.

And we're getting a much needed increase in a parking structure.

Anyone know aproximately how many square feet the office will be ?

Steve's additional comments.

More Towers Are Coming* | News OK (http://newsok.com/more-towers-are-coming/article/3915397)


Don’t get caught up on height. The OGE Tower is shorter than some may have expected, and shorter than the “at least 20 stories” previously indicated. But the plan changed. There is also more ahead than what you see. There is one more tower now firmly in development beyond what is being shown in renderings today. And I’m tracking up to two more towers, one of which also is appearing to be an increasingly real deal as well. If * current trends continue, this skyline has a lot of change yet to take place.

G walker, when have plans every IMPROVED after the initial renderings? If anything it will get cut in size. Why is OGE moving in to a building that is the same size as their old one? Stupid waste of money. #Savethestagecenter

So OGE has the pass these hurdles:
How they can get away with raising rates in a monopoly setting, while they move in to a new shiny building that is obviously unnecessary for growth.
destroying possibly the greatest artistic landmark in the city, at least in many eyes. (I wouldn't consider myself in that group, but there will be resistance)

The Continental Oil Center is 262 ft tall and 19 stories. I think that will probably be the height (obviously not the floor count) we are talking about there.

I would have rather them combined the two towers, and make one 30 story mixed use tower. But oh well...on to the next one...

Wow

From Steve's Blog:

"I believe, based on what I’m following, and if current trends continue, we will have a fully developed downtown stretching from Classen Boulevard to I-235 and from NW 13 to Reno Avenue by 2020."

More Towers Are Coming* | News OK (http://newsok.com/more-towers-are-coming/article/3915397)

Hey, another building. Cool. I'll bet its at least 10 stories by the time it's constructed.

Okay, now on to the next mystery tower.

So will this be about the same as the Continental Resources Building?

Steve's additional comments.

More Towers Are Coming* | News OK (http://newsok.com/more-towers-are-coming/article/3915397)


So will this be about the same as the Continental Resources Building?

Am I on ignore for you all?

Very cool and love the way it relates to the streets and park.

Keep 'em coming! :)

I wouldn't be surprised if the 'housing' component doesn't double in height between now and construction. As I have posted in multiple threads over the last few years, the new age of urban living is upon us and it is going to be a tidal wave.

my first post.
i like the look its awesome. but why not a crown? its just another 15 story flat top. great street interaction but that awesome garden area is like 2 floors off the ground... i understand its a green roof but come on tie it into the MG.

So will this be about the same as the Continental Resources Building?

Roughly, yet.

Huh. Not quite as tall as we were hoping, but I love everything else about this development. So much street interaction along the west border of the Gardens is nothing but a plus.

The residential tower sitting directly next to the downtown elementary is a very tasty detail.

So much for balancing out the skyline...wake me up when a real office tower is proposed...this could have went on NW Expressway.

Pleasantly surprised this thread has not melted down yet. A bit bummed on the height, but this is otherwise a quality urban development. Freakin love the green roof, and I am frankly OK with the height if it means finally getting high rise residential.

I can't help but to think that maybe Williams was having a hard time marketing any spec space and that's why the building was shortened. Of course with space technically all leased now, this means that it will almost certainly be built.

So much for balancing out the skyline...wake me up when a real office tower is proposed...this could have went on NW Expressway.

What is this, SimCity?

Note that the festival plaza will be left in tact, with a new stage, play area, etc.

Really love the way this project relates to everything around it.

We would all love more height but street-level stuff is really much more important to downtown life.

The more I look at this the more I like it. I was really biting my lip while the page was loading, I was expecting to see a suburban site plan. But the site plan as currently proposed is really good.

Ahh give me a break, and cut the crap. I guess what do you expect when ADG is the architect...ADG is not in the office tower design business...Rainey must had a friend with ADG to give him this project. Design is mediocre...

14-16 story tower FML!

You should sue them for f'ing up your life.

I wonder, if after experiencing the past 27 pages of this thread, some folks will approach their speculation and resulting angst differently the next time around?

You should sue them for f'ing up your life.

Nah, I'll let it slide this time

It's huge! I'm super duper excited about this even though it won't be the height we were all looking for.

I don't really care for the design of the office tower though. It has a devon tower vibe. It's like they are trying to copy.

I wonder, if after experiencing the past 27 pages of this thread, some folks will approach their speculation and resulting angst differently the next time around?

+1. A lot of ridiculousness. This thread should be locked and a new thread created discussing the real deal.

I like the office tower design, but the lower retail/restaurant space is just a glass box. IMO, they could have incorporated ground floor retail better, with the tower design, like this:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8406/8893690067_a3eebb13c5_o.jpg


http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2813/8893689687_d6c45aa99e_o.jpg

Not sure if anyone has already mentioned this but I wish the green roof's open sides would have faced downtown for a better view of the city as a whole. Besides that I think it's a nice devlopment.

Okay, you're up Mr. Preftakes.

This project will be looking out directly on that empty, decaying block and it's time to get going. :)

The beauty of our downtown is that no 2 towers look alike. Now we will have a mini Devon tower shrine right next door to the Devon tower. Stupid design. I like the street level interaction, BUT WHY DOES IT LOOK JUST LIKE DEVON???

I don't think it looks anything like Devon at all, apart from it being all glass, which is pretty much how all modern buildings are constructed these days.

I like the design - street interaction looks well done and the building aesthetics are nice IMO. Maybe little disappointed it isn't taller but hopefully something in the 25 - 35 story range will be built on the Preftakes or bank site. Biggest disappointment for me is building on California Ave - I had hoped California might become the street that ran from the Myriad to the west I40 connection. But still a nice addition to OKC.

I'm disappointed at the lack of maturity and the emotional woes of 13 year old teenage girls displayed in this thread.

... This thread should be locked and a new thread created discussing the real deal.


Nah. Folk who can not learn from the past are pretty much doomed to repeat their past. Best to leave it up.

Yes it does. Its Devon with 2 indentions instead of 3, And a lot of feet shorter.

I like the fact it's glass. If you can catch Devon in the morning just before the sun comes up, it has some outstanding reflections on it.

It's not the same shape as Devon, it's very unique in is shape.

It can have some great LED's also.

Yes it does. Its Devon with 2 indentions instead of 3, And a lot of feet shorter.

And a lot of feet wider...

And a lot of feet wider...

And a lot of feet on the sidewalk because of the superior street interaction.

Everyone keeps expressing disappointment in the height. We were "promised" 20+ stories. We got 30, just split between two buildings. I'm okay with that.

I didn't say it was a replica, but if you can't see the comparison then you have more of a differential eye then I do. It has basically the the same exact artistic design.

Good street interaction. Don't really care about height. Looks pretty cool.

No complaints from me!

I'm disappointed at the lack of maturity and the emotional woes of 13 year old teenage girls displayed in this thread.

^ it never ceases to amaze me.

^ it never ceases to amaze me.

Agreed.

These are the type of developments that we need in South Midtown. The main thing I'm disappointed with is the investment. This is at least a $250M property, and probably closer to $500M. I'm thrilled for a $100M investment in downtown, but there are a lot of places to put such a development...this seems.like.the last place to.put it.

So...good architecture in an urban area usually tries to connect to the neighborhood surrounding it. Devon took styling cues from the Crystal Bridge, from First National, from the downtown library, and based its setback on the Colcord. This, by the way, took quite a bit of humility. This building obviously takes some styling cues from Devon, and I see nothing wrong with that.

I think there is a disconnect here where some people really want every downtown building to be starchitecture-type iconic, unique structures that tower above all others. Other people are more concerned that a building fit with and contribute to its surroundings, especially at street level.

Count me in the second group.

So...good architecture in an urban area usually tries to connect to the neighborhood surrounding it. Devon took styling cues from the Crystal Bridge, from First National, from the downtown library, and based its setback on the Colcord. This, by the way, took quite a bit of humility. This building obviously takes some styling cues from Devon, and I see nothing wrong with that.

I think there is a disconnect here where some people really want every downtown building to be starchitecture-type iconic, unique structures that tower above all others. Other people are more concerned that a building fit with and contribute to its surroundings, especially at street level.

Count me in the second group.

I think surrounding the myriad Gardens with glass structures would only make them that much better. Hopefully the convention center has some amount of glass fronting Reno.

I will lay down in front of the bulldozer for this. Design is a beaut, height a joke!

Since when are people not entitled to their own opinion? I don't like it...that is my opinion of the project.

I agree Urbanzied. Devon did do all of this when designing their tower. And what styling cues does this tower take from its surroundings? .......... Devon tower is the answer to that question. Like I said, every building downtown has a uniqueness to it. This building instantly reminds me of Devon tower.

I am no doubt coming off negative about this building. Realty - Expectations = Satisfaction. Obviously my expectations were far too high for the most prime real estate in our entire state.

With that said, it is still a beautiful building and will serve an important purpose to our community. Just could've been placed a lot of different places.

I agree Urbanzied. Devon did do all of this when designing their tower. And what styling cues does this tower take from its surroundings? .......... Devon tower is the answer to that question. Like I said, every building downtown has a uniqueness to it. This building instantly reminds me of Devon tower.

I am no doubt coming off negative about this building. Realty - Expectations = Satisfaction. Obviously my expectations were far too high for the most prime real estate in our entire state.

With that said, it is still a beautiful building and will serve an important purpose to our community. Just could've been placed a lot of different places.

I can definitely see this point. Given the controversy surrounding the site I think most people were expecting something a little more iconic and skyline altering than this appears to be. I also wonder why something like this couldn't have been built in South Midtown rather than on the Stage Center site. There will be a lot more opposition to this than there would have been with a tall, skyline altering tower. That said, this is excellent at street level, and is above and beyond most existing OKC buildings from a placemaking perspective.

The more I look at the renderings, the more I like this design. It also appears the possibility of eventually extending California to Hudson is intact if the arts plaza/festival stage is relocated to the Central Park. It will be very interesting to see what type of retail goes into those lower floors.

It's OG&E. They need to be in the CBD and a relatively similar distance from their partners. Another tenant, sure, put it in Midtown. This tenant has to be in the CBD IMO.

Regarding the level of investment for such a prime site... I agree about that. You would think more than $100M for this site. Hadn't considered that in my previous opinion.


On edit.... perfect solution... put this structure on the site of the current substation that lines the new central park.

Nearly 300 ft tower in Midtown? This will be as tall as most the buildings currently in downtown. There is still plenty of empty or usable space for new towers.

Ok, my two cents, not that anybody cares. A beautiful design, looks really, really nice. But to those of us who thinks our skyline looks stupid with our one skyscraper....the height is very, very disappointing. Lets hope these other projects supposedly on the drawing board will get us away from being the laughing stock of downtown skylines.

So much for balancing out the skyline...wake me up when a real office tower is proposed...this could have went on NW Expressway.

What makes this funny is there are a lot of people who wished the low and mid-rise towers along NWExp had all been built downtown to begin with.

I would estimate the total height to be around 300 feet, which would be very close to Regency Tower or Leadership Square North.

Love the street interaction.

I'm with Sid here. I know a lot of you will be bummed at the height or lack thereof.

For me though, I love this. This is a development we want around the park, much more so than a prototypical corporate tower.