The best part about this design is that is not designed as starchitecture. It is meant to fit within its context and will likely fade into the urban fabric as the area is developed (at least my hope).

I am glad that they used subtle colors on the panels, and I think the abstract reference to the neighboring automobile windows are interesting.

All that being said, there is way too much going on. Definitely a very strange design, but whatever... It could be so much worse. It has an appropriate relationship to the street, which beats nearly every other parking garage in the OKC.

I also hope that they have some sick lighting to come soon. Lighting and landscaping could save the day!

I drove by the other day, and just stared. And stared. And stared. And not in a good way.

I agree. It's not much better in person.

No, it's worse in person. It would have looked better without the steel grid and glass louvers tacked on. At least then, you wouldn't be drawn to look at an ugly garage. If they had just left the concrete structure in place, and stained it dark, by the time the area fills in you wouldn't even notice it.

Looking back at the plans... It appears none of the panels are colored in the renderings. However, many of the renderings are in black and white. Why is this acceptable? We can only hope that those random colors and patterns are just vinyl films needing to be torn off.

From what I recall driving by.. the green panels are of course green.. the others are a film which has been removed on most of them and its a opaque ribbed looking plastic I guess you would call it.. looks better than the film of course.. but still in person I agree it doesn't look much better. I don't really understand the Louvers and then the pattern they are on the building where its only partially covered.. its odd for sure but not the worst

I looks like I'm in the minority here, but I really like the look. I don't know why everyone was so confused with the protective coverings though.

I looks like I'm in the minority here, but I really like the look. I don't know why everyone was so confused with the protective coverings though.

+1

It seems like we talk about a lack of architectural diversity, but when we get something diverse we judge it quick and act as if we never liked it to begin with. This place is cool with a serious amount of funky-ness to it. Best of all, there's not EFIS! That's something we can all agree on. (except for the one EFIS salesman on here)

Also, I'll take several of these over one butt-ugly Dowell Center Garage...

Well maybe the Main Street Garage isn't so tacky after all...

There are enough awful parking garages in OKC to fill a coffee table book.

(Actually, I think that would be a fun project for someone with time, a camera, and a good eye)

Also, I'll take several of these over one butt-ugly Dowell Center Garage...

I'm more okay with this than I am Dowell's garage, which I think is the ugliest downtown. But this one is tied with Santa Fe for second ugliest in my opinion. I don't know why we can't make them look a little more elegant as opposed to having most of our garages looking like design mistakes.

+1

It seems like we talk about a lack of architectural diversity, but when we get something diverse we judge it quick and act as if we never liked it to begin with. This place is cool with a serious amount of funky-ness to it. Best of all, there's not EFIS! That's something we can all agree on. (except for the one EFIS salesman on here)

Bingo. We all decry cookie cutter design, then something unique gets built and everyone suddenly hates it. I think it looks ok, but I am also assuming it will look a lot better when done. At a minimum, it fits in nicely to the increasingly contemporary design in the core.

I can't think of any "elegant" freestanding parking garage in all my travels, although the one at Owen Field in Norman comes close. It's a giant concrete mass made to hold cars; you are going to be very limited in what you can do.

Bingo. We all decry cookie cutter design, then something unique gets built and everyone suddenly hates it. I think it looks ok, but I am also assuming it will look a lot better when done. At a minimum, it fits in nicely to the increasingly contemporary design in the core.

I can't think of any "elegant" freestanding parking garage in all my travels, although the one at Owen Field in Norman comes close. It's a giant concrete mass made to hold cars; you are going to be very limited in what you can do.

You're limited in how you can build that garage portion, but you aren't nearly as limited in how you construct the facade.

Bingo. We all decry cookie cutter design, then something unique gets built and everyone suddenly hates it. I think it looks ok, but I am also assuming it will look a lot better when done. At a minimum, it fits in nicely to the increasingly contemporary design in the core.

Being different doesn't automatically make it good. Anyone can do different. But, to do different that is good is more of a challenge. It is fine to criticize unique design if the only thing it has going for it is that it is "different".

These were just taken by Urban Pioneer. All the coverings are off the louvers; this is pretty much the final product.

I personally like it a lot.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/123081414a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/123081414b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/123081414c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/123081414d.jpg

So do I. It pretty much looks just like the renderings that everyone liked so much...

Would be cool if they added a neon sign or some sort of graphic to the upper west corner that is now quite bare.

So Pete, is the top left corner not going to be covered?

So Pete, is the top left corner not going to be covered?

Correct, the design always called for that upper left corner to stay relatively blank.

As I mentioned above, their may be future plans for signage.

I hope so.... Consider me a relatively big fan of his architecture. However, if that exposure isn't being taken up by something, consider me disappointed. It's like taking a concept 2/3rd's to completion. The whole front ought to be a tapestry without any of the garage exposed.

None of the plans or renderings have shown that section anything other than bare, so there is a good chance it just stays that way.

Better with it all green and grey, but still not a fan, as I never was from the beginning.

Doesn't seem like it be that hard to just have some panels with painted murals, like the garage next to DEQ, and it seems cheaper. Doing something like that for the dowell garages would make them infinitely better than they are now...

The rendering in the Wiki article never illustrated that these coverings would be such a light green, which doesn't seem to fit in with anything else around there. I'm also baffled by the bare corner. Really the entire facade just leaves me thinking WTF.

I wonder what the architectural significance is in leaving the top left corner exposed and untouched? Someone should ask him, I'm sure there's a reason.

I was wondering the same, and it occurred to me that the bare corner is about the only element that makes it quickly recognizable as a parking garage.

Its also probably hard to get a nice view with those panels? Maybe they left a portion unblocked for that reason.

Night shot from https://twitter.com/TylerBHolmes:


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BwBJ72nIIAAjTq2.jpg:large

Nice

Really?

Yesterday I saw tons more of the "flap" panels still laying in the grass in the staging area a few blocks away, which I guess are yet to be applied to the sides and back.

Yes, the panels will pretty much cover the east side, there will be a very small amount on the west side, and none on the north.

September 8 2014

https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157647017583808/

https://twitter.com/dtokcbuilds/status/519917989530173440

9270

I've warmed to this place. Pretty cool.

I wish I did, but I just think this garage is ugly. But, much to my surprise, I think the design for Fassler Hall/Dust Bowl is much worse. That building is truly hideous and the design is regrettable. I hate what MidtownR's architect is putting out there as far as new construction.

Fassler Hall/Dust Bowl isn't my favorite, but is just fine. It may be even better when finished and cleaned up with lighting, landscaping, etc. Unfortunately 123 Garage looks more like it is being deconstructed than being constructed. But that's just my opinion. Sometimes I think architects and artists just try too hard to be cool and different...and everyone else is afraid to tell them it isn't lest they be thought of as uncool.

The good thing about that is, things can always be upgraded if it's not liked by the public. Of course with extra cost.

I wish I did, but I just think this garage is ugly. But, much to my surprise, I think the design for Fassler Hall/Dust Bowl is much worse. That building is truly hideous and the design is regrettable. I hate what MidtownR's architect is putting out there as far as new construction.

The Fassler Hall/Dust Bowl building is going to look just fine when it's finished. Haven't we learned to be careful about judging a half-built structure yet? The Main Street garage was universally being bashed... and then it was finished and now everyone loves it. I think Fassler/Dust Bowl will be the same.

The panels are just so stinking ugly.

I think its fine. Like Main Street, it doesn't really even look like a garage but instead a funky housing project of some sort. I like it.

I think its fine. Like Main Street, it doesn't really even look like a garage but instead a funky housing project of some sort. I like it.

+1

I've liked it the whole time. Not sure what it is about it, I just like it.

Are they still working on this? I noticed this morning that there are a bunch of panels still laying on the grass around 12th and Harvey.

Are they still working on this? I noticed this morning that there are a bunch of panels still laying on the grass around 12th and Harvey.

The are still adding panels to the east and north sides.

The south facade is pretty much finished.

October 12 2014

https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157648464704868/

11/24/2014

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7475/15683531217_03e8798cf8_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8679/15867306611_a93736ec41_b.jpg

Looks like they're putting in a fountain or something.

Looks like they're putting in a fountain or something.

Unless plans have changed, aren't some of the cupolas/finials/relics from the Baum Building going to be relocated to this space?

Unless plans have changed, aren't some of the cupolas/finials/relics from the Baum Building going to be relocated to this space?

Will they be francis ford cupolas?

Will they be francis ford cupolas?

Well played sir...

Will they be francis ford cupolas?

:congrats:

Will they be francis ford cupolas?

LOVE. Thank you, sir.

Unless plans have changed, aren't some of the cupolas/finials/relics from the Baum Building going to be relocated to this space?

Just learned the cupolas are no longer going to be installed here.

The garage is now open; Will took these tonight:



https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B42rM9HCAAA5Xbv.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B42rCtQCcAEaXJL.jpg:large

I don't really like the suspended staircase...

But, I love that we are getting edgy public art. That staircase might become one of the go-to instagram shots for out-of-towners, a hidden gem to be discovered wandering through the city.

I'm giving up on downtown OKC south of Main street. Midtown is getting greater by the day.

Just FYI, okc's Instagram surpassed 1 million photos which is good. Other cities our size didn't have that last time I checked.

Do you mean cityofokc?

Or just photos with #okc in it?

Do you mean cityofokc?

Or just photos with #okc in it?The second one. The number of photos associated with the #okc

The top of this garage has amazing 360 views of the city. Skyline view might be one of the best.

I didn't think about this until the garage opened but I wonder if they are going to charge to park?

Perhaps evenings and weekends it will be open and they only have the gates down during weekdays?

I didn't think about this until the garage opened but I wonder if they are going to charge to park?

Perhaps evenings and weekends it will be open and they only have the gates down during weekdays?The gates were up last night.