I understand that part. I meant tower crane as in the type of crane, not what it was building. Edited my previous post to reflect that more clearly.

Tower Crane is going up. And it is not on the street. It is inside the construction fence on the actual sight. We drove by there about 12:35 and they were placing the base unit.

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That would be that depressed square of concrete just to the right of the middle on the bottom edge of the photo in Pete's post #1733. That makes much more sense based on what I have seen for tower crane footings. I don't think the boxes/platform extending into Main Street are for a tower crane. I'm intrigued, now. I have no idea what it could be for, and usually I can figure construction sites pretty easily. I might need to ride over there and put eyes on it.

After going through several posts I see where it was discussed previously in post #1731 (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=499%20Sheridan&page=35#post916241), and the photo in that post shows that the walls are heavily reinforced with rebar and very thick. The box structure extends into Main Street about 12'-15", and it tops out above grade, so if it were permanent the street would have to either be routed around it or the grade would have to slope up there to get over it. In looking at plans and renderings, I see nothing permanent in that location other than a drop-off/parking lane, and nothing at all remarkable.

It also extends inside the property line enough that if left there it would interfere with the line of the exterior wall and certainly would interfere with the erection of the walls during construction, and again I see nothing in the drawings that looks like the box is still there in the finished building. All of this is to say heck, I have absolutely no clue what that thing is.

base of an elevator shaft for the garage perhaps?

The mystery box on the NE garage doesn't appear to be within the perimeter of the garage walls that they are forming below grade now, though it is right at the perimeter. And the blue tower crane, assuming that is what that is on the 499 location does appear to well below grade.

Still can't imagine what that concrete box is for other than a crane and they were wiring up the power boxes near that concrete box yesterday which are similar to the power connections they are making near the 499 tower crane location. Must be something special about the garage crane location that would necessitate that box...would love to know what the reason is.

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If it were remotely permanent, wouldn't we see it in this drawing?

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/9866d1419097548-499-sheridan-hinesnewest18.jpg

The Devon garages were not built with the 'T' cranes, They were built with those more portables cranes on tracks, if memory serves.

The Devon garages were not built with the 'T' cranes, They were built with those more portables cranes on tracks, if memory serves.

I believe that is correct also. With that said...the tower crane that I saw being constructed today (and the piece shown above is the base unit) is clearly for the building itself, not the garages.

It will be so awesome next year or in 2017 to see both 499 Sheridan and the OG&E tower under construction. Cannot wait to see the skyline changes.

The Devon garages were not built with the 'T' cranes, They were built with those more portables cranes on tracks, if memory serves.

My wager is that the concrete base is for a crane, but not a tower crane. They could be bringing in a very large crawler crane that will sit on that base to lift precast panels for the garage.

It will be so awesome next year or in 2017 to see both 499 Sheridan and the OG&E tower under construction. Cannot wait to see the skyline changes.

HEAR, HEAR! (takes a drink of my bourbon and coke).

My wager is that the concrete base is for a crane, but not a tower crane. They could be bringing in a very large crawler crane that will sit on that base to lift precast panels for the garage.

I was wondering about precast, if you look close you can see the perimeter has several rebar caisson piers coming up above ground level. Not sure if maybe the support structures will be integrated with precast or if it will be like the main street garage and be poured in place ?

I think you're right though, it looks like a base for a crawler crane to sit on.

I was wondering about precast, if you look close you can see the perimeter has several rebar caisson piers coming up above ground level. Not sure if maybe the support structures will be integrated with precast or if it will be like the main street garage and be poured in place ?

I think you're right though, it looks like a base for a crawler crane to sit on.

That concrete base seems crazy well-built just to set a crane on (but I know nothing about construction). They even drove their reinforced concrete pilings down underneath it. Must be expecting some serious weight on that spot, whatever its purpose.

That concrete base seems crazy well-built just to set a crane on (but I know nothing about construction). They even drove their reinforced concrete pilings down underneath it. Must be expecting some serious weight on that spot, whatever its purpose.

I'm going out on a crazy limb and saying it's the base for one of these, for the garage: Luffing Boom | MORROW (http://www.morrow.com/equipment/cranes/luffing-boom)

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Yes, pretty sure this is the foundation for a second tower crane. I was reading several search results for "tower crane concrete base" and saw several examples similar to this structure. The usage depends on the structure of the subsurface conditions. Several examples of what happens too if you have a poor base support for a crane. Yikes! This was just one article I read. Tower Crane Base Install - Constructorator (http://www.constructorator.com/blog/tower-crane-base-install1)

Confirmed with the city this morning that it is for a Crane. It acts as a counter weight. (Not clear is the crane sits on top or next to the structure )

Columns for NE parking garage already going up:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/499110615.jpg

Columns for NE parking garage already going up:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/499110615.jpg

Not letting any grass grow under our feet when it comes to parking garages are we?

Not letting any grass grow under our feet when it comes to parking garages are we?

To be fair, at least they are building something. A block away we are literally watching a lake form where promises were broken.

exactly. this is what happens when you have money in hand. instead of proposing a development, get the nod, then oh by the way we need hundreds of millions of dollars in help

Not letting any grass grow under our feet when it comes to parking garages are we?

Parking garages are better than nothing esp. if they put some decent retail at street level.

If there is decent retail at street level they're marginally acceptable. It is, however, embarrassing when a visitor from New York comments that we seem to have more parking garages than buildings.

If there is decent retail at street level they're marginally acceptable. It is, however, embarrassing when a visitor from New Yprk comments that we seem to have more parks garages than buildings.

I agree with you. I certainly am no fan at all of this development, for various reasons ranging from site plan, design, preservation, and the politics involved. I am relieved however to see that construction is beginning immediately, and that we are not in the middle of a broken promise. What they promised us was far from perfect, but at least they are keeping their word and not holding a city block hostage for public dollars while promising the moon and pretty renderings.

I agree with you. I certainly am no fan at all of this development, for various reasons ranging from site plan, design, preservation, and the politics involved. I am relieved however to see that construction is beginning immediately, and that we are not in the middle of a broken promise. What they promised us was far from perfect, but at least they are keeping their word and not holding a city block hostage for public dollars while promising the moon and pretty renderings.

True. I remain in mourning over the Stage Center.

Walking to the Thunder game last night, there were several trucks with the crane tower frame on thier trailers over in front of Rex Elementary. They were building a T crane where the large base on Main is and the base on Sheridan.

oddly enough you talk to a general Citizen and discuss all the exciting development around and most say.. " where are people going to park.. they need more parking"..

From today.

Two tower cranes going up:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/499110915.jpg

oddly enough you talk to a general Citizen and discuss all the exciting development around and most say.. " where are people going to park.. they need more parking"..

The appropriate response should be: In the garage at the apartment complex they live in 5 blocks away.

Are the sky bridges in the renderings still going to be constructed? :mad:

Are the sky bridges in the renderings still going to be constructed? :mad:I hope not. One of the construction workers told me it isn't, but another one of the construction workers also told me that concrete box was going to be an office.

The appropriate response should be: In the garage at the apartment complex they live in 5 blocks away.

But...but...that's so far to walk. I can't believe anybody could possibly walk that far.

Another view of the crane going up on Main Street from jeepnokc:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/499110915b.jpg

Peye, I know it's been asked before but any word on a construction cam?

Sorry if it has been mentioned, but what contractor is building this?

If I could find a good spot, I'd love to put up a construction cam. But thus far, I haven't had a volunteer.

Hines is the contractor.

If I could find a good spot, I'd love to put up a construction cam. But thus far, I haven't had a volunteer.

Hines is the contractor.

Contractor or construction manager? I'd be surprised if they didn't have a local company working with them as a GC (Flintco, Manhattan, etc). I know Hines typically holds the contracts on large scopes.

JE Dunn is the contractor/construction company- they have an office located in Bricktown in the same building as The Melting Pot.

Sorry, had the pics the wrong direction. Looked good today at lunch!

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JE Dunn is the contractor/construction company- they have an office located in Bricktown in the same building as The Melting Pot.

Right...

Hines is the construction manager not the contractor.

We have some cranes; Thunder Blue tower cranes. :)

From today.

Two tower cranes going up:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/499110915.jpg

I noticed in this picture there looks like a start of another crane in the lower left of the picture. Before I went to the Thunder game Sunday evening I walked around downtown and was surprised to see on the construction site was active on a Sunday.

Can you guys take this urbanism discussion somewhere else before it goes 5 pages deep of self loathing about America's development habits?

nm

To get this back on subject, I can now see both these cranes from my place in SoSA.

Pretty cool and demonstrates exactly how the building will be placed on the skyline.

Will upload a picture soon.

To get this back on subject, I can now see both these cranes from my place in SoSA.

Pretty cool and demonstrates exactly how the building will be placed on the skyline.

Will upload a picture soon.


Gonna be some cool shots for the nba playoffs.

I have seen that million dollar view before the building was renovated. Spectacular!

Have they got the crane along Hudson up yet ? I know the one on Main is.

I moved a bunch of off-topic posts here:

http://www.okctalk.com/general-real-estate-topics/24698-general-urban-development-17.html

The bulk of the Hudson crane will be going up Thanksgiving week.

I thought the garage was going to be built before the tower, but I saw stuff rising out of the ground on that side today.

Ground breaking was today, as per Steve.

Downtown uprising is underway as BOK Park Plaza's groundbreaking occurs in downtown Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/downtown-uprising-is-underway-as-bok-park-plazas-groundbreaking-occurs-in-downtown-oklahoma-city/article/5461178)

I drove by there thismorning and it's amazing how many cranes have gone up on site. They're also working there thismorning with pieces of the second tower crane being delivered. Anyone know how tall the second crane is going to be? It's definitely got a bigger frame than the first one.

^

The second crane will be a tower crane which means it will continually grow as they erect more floors.

I'm excited. I don't care if it's a glass box.

^Word!

I'm excited. I don't care if it's a glass box.

I think the design itself is okay. The site plan is what I'm not feeling too much. But, that battle is already decided...

Will be very, very nice to have another tall building downtown, especially one that will be nicely illuminated.

Will be very, very nice to have another tall building downtown, especially one that will be nicely illuminated.

I agree.

At one point, the Cotter Ranch Tower, Sandridge Tower, and Oklahoma Tower were all illuminated. Now, all of them are dark and the Devon Tower is the only tower in the skyline with significant illumination. Hopefully this tower and the OG&E Tower are nicely illuminated as it will really help the feel of the night skyline.