http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=489-Closer-look-at-office-building-proposed-for-Auto-Alley

I dig it, bit I think they meant "parking lot" when they said that the corner of 6th would be a "plaza". I hope that lot will be available for development in the future. Glad to see that this project appears to include GF retail!

Here is a more detailed site plan:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/burnett041818p.jpg

also the little balcony in the back is cool. I wanna try to shoot a ball into the hoop below! (these plans include a bball court in the apropriately named court-yard)

Plans have been formally submitted to the Downtown Design Review Committee for the proposed office building at NW 6th and Broadway in Automobile Alley.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/burnett041818e.jpg


The following is from that application.

****************
616 N. Broadway Avenue
Owner: Andy Burnett
Architect: Elliott + Associates Architects

Design Concept
616 N. Broadway Avenue will be a seven-story building consisting of office and retail space on the first floor and office space on the six upper floors. The building is designed as a contextually sensitive modern structure with materials and proportions that reflect the surrounding historic buildings in Automobile Alley. Our design is inspired by the historic masonry facades and window grids found throughout the district.

616 N. Broadway will further enliven the district with strong engagement along the sidewalks and is located along the new streetcar line. It will be an iconic and respectful addition to one of Oklahoma City’s most important districts.

The Exterior
The major building materials are light-grey brick and curtain wall. Dark grey brick is used as infill panels along the alley side and under windows where the grade of the sidewalk changes. Sidewalk canopies line the west and south sides of the building, providing shelter and human scale along the retail storefronts. The vocabulary of the façade consists of a grid divided into two different sized modules which add variety and excitement to the building. The north elevation includes a 50-foot diameter LED ring which relates to the circular patterns found in every intersection along Automobile Alley while the south façade includes large LED clock hands on the top level. The east elevation continues the grid pattern, and the curtain wall includes architectural metal infill panels, adding variety to the alley-side of the building. The east side of the building also includes a cantilevered conference room at the sixth floor and a covered walkway connecting to the main entrance lobby, which also leads to the main entrance along Broadway.

Site & Landscaping
Great care has been taken to ensure that the project is respectful of the existing surroundings. Chinese Pistache street trees are proposed at the south and west sidewalks and will also be used to screen the north end of the existing parking lot which will be reconfigured. Each tree well will include “Walkers Low” catmint groundcover to match what is already found throughout Automobile Alley. The existing grass lawn at the north edge of the site will be retained and improved while Nellie Stevens Holly evergreens will be used to screen parking, the mechanical and dumpster area and the outdoor amenities space on the east side of the building. Also found at the east side of the building will be seasonal color framing the covered walkway from the alley.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/burnett041818a.jpg


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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/burnett041818o.jpg

Every time I see the renderings with the neon > in it I want to click on it to see the video. ��

Looks fantastic, but what is with the wasted space along 6th street? Are they trying to hold that available for future expansion?

Great to see first floor retail space.

Yeah, I'm not crazy about the open grassy spot and small parking lot along 6th St, but I do like the rest of this project, including the first floor retail space and considerations given to pedestrians.

I love that little 6th floor bump out conference room. Little thing that's just really neat

I love that little 6th floor bump out conference room. Little thing that's just really neat

It's very cool but you can bet there will be some employees who will get freaked out by it.

I organized a class reunion at Vast and some people wouldn't come even though you didn't have go anywhere near the windows.

It's very cool but you can bet there will be some employees who will get freaked out by it.

I organized a class reunion at Vast and some people wouldn't come even though you didn't have go anywhere near the windows.

Oh for sure. And i know it's only 6 floors up and looking down on a basketball court, or whatever, but would be fun if they changed it to a glass floor.

My opinions and thoughts :

1) The retail door on the south side will not work as shown in plans coordinating with the renderings. With the dramatic slope near this part of automobile alley, the finish floor of this part of the building will need to drop, and the interior space will need to be tweaked to make this plausible.

2) The curb cut on Broadway from the north parking area is unnecessary. With 90 degree parking, the drive will be two way which will allow cars to enter and leave from the same area. Even if this is revised for one way, there should be no reason to have a curb cut on broadway.

3) The landscape architecture on this job is terrible. The space fronting Broadway and 5th Street needs to be activated, and it appears to be un-designed as leftover space.

4) The scale of this building is great.

5) The circles are starting to get weird, but public art is in the eye of the beholder. It's definitely mesmerizing which is likely the intent.

6) Overall the building is a descent fit for Automobile Alley.

Re #1, the rendering looks like the floor is level from the broadway side. If anything, it looks like there might be steps up from sidewalk on the south side instead of lowering the floor.

Andy Burnett told the DDRC today that he still can't name the employer but it is an "international company looking to relocate their North American headquarters".

DDRC just approved this project.

So, it is a REAL project now?

So, it is a REAL project now?

A deal still has to be finalized with the employer and I'm sure there will be economic incentives involved as well.

But I was told things look optimistic.

Glad to see a crop of true "mid-rise" buildings being proposed/built now (like the BLVD) instead of the 4/5 story stick-and-brick buildings we have been experiencing.

Great News!

Andy Burnett told the DDRC today that he still can't name the employer but it is an "international company looking to relocate their North American headquarters".

Wow.

All you guys wanting international flights might be about to get your wish.

Glad to see a crop of true "mid-rise" buildings being proposed/built now (like the BLVD) instead of the 4/5 story stick-and-brick buildings we have been experiencing.
Seconded. Very welcome sight.

A deal still has to be finalized with the employer and I'm sure there will be economic incentives involved as well.

But I was told things look optimistic.

They must really want to be in AA. We literally have a 25 story building nearly sitting empty just waiting for someone to take the keys.

Burnett said a big factor was affordable, immediately adjacent parking.

That Y garage they plan to use is virtually empty now and I'm sure he was able to negotiate a very favorable rate.

However, it seems the BOK Park Plaza building would have suited them as well but they probably want their own building.

Burnett said a big factor was affordable, immediately adjacent parking.

That Y garage they plan to use is virtually empty now and I'm sure he was able to negotiate a very favorable rate.

However, it seems the BOK Park Plaza building would have suited them as well but they probably want their own building.

One interesting part that Elliot mentioned was that there would be a large LED-lit directional arrow at the top of the building, and that it is a "reference to this particular company."

One interesting part that Elliot mentioned was that there would be a large LED-lit directional arrow at the top of the building, and that it is a "reference to this particular company."
That isn't a directional arrow. It's an analog clock.

That isn't a directional arrow. It's an analog clock.

...what?

I just read Lackmeyer's article about the directional arrow thing. My mistake. But it is a clock none the less. It isn't signage, but Elliot may have set it that way as a kind of hint.

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Accenture?

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Accenture?

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This was my thought too...

Accenture?

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I think the 289th largest company in the world would have more than 500 people at a North American headquarters.

I think the 289th largest company in the world would have more than 500 people at a North American headquarters.

What advantage would they even have being in Oklahoma City vs elsewhere with more business connections? I’m thinking it must be something Defense/Govt. or O&G related.

great news, can't wait for the HQ to be revealed and construction to commence. And yes, it does sound like there might be an easy coincidence to OKC trying to get an international flight or two. ...

All good news!!

BTW, BOKPP is 27 floors (not 25). But yes, I hope this might spur more downtown relocation so we can fill up BOKPP, know who is going into Kerr Park building that SandRidge Energy just sold (and they actually move in), and the other numerous buildings that have been proposed for construction and those that have recently been renovated. This all, AND the convention center, OMNI, new CC housing - BLVD (awe yes!), Scissortail Park, OKC Streetcar, and the WRWA International Expansion. Man, OKC is booming!

Wow, exciting times for downtown and by effect - the city as a whole.

or the booming-in-OKC 'Health Services/Research' sector (but then again, maybe they'd want to be in the OHC - "Innovation District").

[just had to laugh at that final thought]

What advantage would they even have being in Oklahoma City vs elsewhere with more business connections? I’m thinking it must be something Defense/Govt. or O&G related.

Well it’s already been reported it has nothing to do with O&G.

I could also be manufacturing related, potentially a company that already has a plant in OK

Accenture?

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Accenture has an office on the 31st floor of Cotter ranch Tower.

Well it’s already been reported it has nothing to do with O&G.

I could also be manufacturing related, potentially a company that already has a plant in OK


You may be onto something. NIBE of Sweden bought the LSB HVAC division last year. That is Industry leading ClimateMaster, IEC, and some other plants here....4 total. They have 7 other companies in the US, 3 in Canada and 1 in Mexico. They also do Wind generation and othe r green energy. OKC would be central and probably their largest group of holdings.

The building looks fitting for a Swedish company....very open, simple and contemporary with lots of natural light.

This would make perfect sense for their North American sale, marketing, engineering and tech support hq. if it isn’t them, we should be recruiting them.

We reveal mystery company planning new downtown HQ (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=503-We-reveal-mystery-company-planning-new-HQ-near-downtown)

In March, local developer Andy Burnett shared plans for a proposed 7-story office building at NW 6th and Broadway in downtown's Automobile Alley.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/global3.jpg


Burnett has been coy about the company that would fully occupy the structure, stating only that it would be the U.S. headquarters for an international company and that they would bring hundreds of jobs if the deal was finalized.

Burnett's architect Rand Elliott won approval for the building design on May 17th

But the question remained: What is the company?

OKCTalk can now reveal it is Global Payments, a Fortune 1000 business and transaction processing concern which employs over 10,000 around the world.

Global is currently headquarted in Atlanta, Georgia and has been growing rapidly over the last several years. The Atlanta area boasts that over 70% of all electronic transactions (credit, debit and gift cards) in the U.S. are processed by 'fintech' (financial technology) companies in the area.

In 2015, Global acquired Edmond-based Heartland Payment Systems for $4.3 billion. Heartland also processes electronic payments and occupies 21,000 sqaure feet in a building at 3932 S. Boulevard.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/global2.jpg


Just last year, Global moved its headquarters and 150 high-paying jobs -- reportedly averaging over $200,000 in annual salary -- from surburban Sandy Springs to the top 3 floors of a new 30-story office building in Atlanta's bustling Buckhead district.

The company also forged a deal with Sandy Springs to create another 125 jobs at an operations center there and committed to staying for 10 years in exchange for $295,000 in incentives.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/global1.jpg


If the deal proceeds, it is not clear how many jobs Global Payments would be moving to Oklahoma City and how many would be new hires. It does appear that they would maintain an Atlanta presence and connection to the concentrated fintech industry there, a good deal of which is centered in Buckhead.

The building proposed by Burnett is 111,530 square feet with an undeveloped area to the north for possible future expansion. Global currently occupies 75,000 square feet at its new Atlanta HQ.

At this time, the deal with Global Payments has not been finalized.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/global4.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/global5.jpg

Great work tracking this down, Pete.

That’s big time. Hopefully we can close the deal

Not sure how to handle this. It is awesome if it happens, but now,if it doesn't, the let down will be substantial. This is one of those items so momentous that I agree with Steve's method of waiting til the ink is dry. Not criticizing you at all, Pete! I truly appreciate the hard work you put in tracking this down, and I hope it comes to fruition.

Just to clarify, I think there is a very good chance almost no jobs would be relocated from Atlanta and that office would remain pretty much as-is.

This would involve moving Heartland and the national sales team to Auto Alley as well as some other national functions, like HR.

Steve put out his article on this: Payment processor firm to bring more than 600 jobs to planned downtown OKC office (https://newsok.com/article/5596196/payment-processor-firm-to-bring-more-than-600-jobs-to-planned-downtown-okc-office).

Fantastic! The OKC branch being much larger than the actual HQ is definitely interesting.

Good clean corporate cyber-tech jobs Global Payments will create vs. those smoke-filled, muscle back beaker blue collar jobs we've been known to acquire. This will be a feather in OKC's cap to attract more job growth of this type. GE Global Oil & Gas Technology Center and we could add Global Payments to our portfolio.

Great things are in store for a city that's not over crowded; poised for moderate growth with new residential/condo/apartment construction in the core ready to be absorbed, a necessary component to attracting corporate employers. Let's not forget our quality-of-life improvements as a result of MAPS. We will need to continue the MAPS momentum on our next 3/4 cent sales tax extension in two years. Remember 1/4 will be made permanent for fire & safety.

Good clean corporate cyber-tech jobs Global Payments will create vs. those smoke-filled, muscle back beaker blue collar jobs we've been known to acquire. This will be a feather in OKC's cap to attract more job growth of this type. GE Global Oil & Gas Technology Center and we could add Global Payments to our portfolio.

Great things are in store for a city that's not over crowded; poised for moderate growth with new residential/condo/apartment construction in the core ready to be absorbed, a necessary component to attracting corporate employers. Let's not forget our quality-of-life improvements as a result of MAPS. We will need to continue the MAPS momentum on our next 3/4 cent sales tax extension in two years. Remember 1/4 will be made permanent for fire & safety.
This is incorrect. The 1/4 for fire and safety is permanent. Maps is still at 1 cent.

This is incorrect. The 1/4 for fire and safety is permanent. Maps is still at 1 cent.

Simply put: If we continue to extend MAPS, only 3/4 of that cent can be extended without raising the sales tax since 1/4 is now permanent for fire & safety. A 1 cent extension would require a replacement of the 1/4 cent which became permanent. Other words, we can't extend a 1 cent sales tax in which 1/4 became permanent for fire & safety without raising 1/4 cent to the 3/4 cent that wasn't permanent of the 1 cent sales tax.

The MAPS one cent sales tax became splintered once 1/4 cent was designated as a permanent stream for fire & safety.

The City didn't want to have a separate 1/4 cent sales tax added for fire & safety, so they cleverly attached it to the MAPS extension camouflaged with the General Obligation Bonds election.

If our sales taxes continue on its current collection rate, we will need only 3/4 cent to do some of the projects planned for the future. MAPS III is probably the last collections that will be extended beyond 6 years. Seems as though we have moved to shorter collection periods for future extensions...

Shorter collection periods should allow for better estimates & projections for projects

:backtotop

Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer is the Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho, The Birds) when it comes to mystery projects; he leads you to the edge of the cliff--very difficult to script.

Simply put: If we continue to extend MAPS, only 3/4 of that cent can be extended without raising the sales tax since 1/4 is now permanent for fire & safety. A 1 cent extension would require a replacement of the 1/4 cent which became permanent. Other words, we can't extend a 1 cent sales tax in which 1/4 became permanent for fire & safety without raising 1/4 cent to the 3/4 cent that wasn't permanent of the 1 cent sales tax.

The MAPS one cent sales tax became splintered once 1/4 cent was designated as a permanent stream for fire & safety.

The City didn't want to have a separate 1/4 cent sales tax added for fire & safety, so they cleverly attached it to the MAPS extension camouflaged with the General Obligation Bonds election.

Dude. You're wrong. It's 1/4 permanent. 1 cent for maps. It didn't get split, that was the original planned and it got changed.

https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2519/5123

https://newsok.com/article/5563719/okc-voters-to-set-course-for-future-growth

• Approve a quarter-cent, permanent sales tax increase, raising $26 million per year, primarily for police and fire services.

• Extend the 1-cent MAPS sales tax for 27 months, raising $240 million for streets.

Dude. You're wrong. It's 1/4 permanent. 1 cent for maps. It didn't get split, that was the original planned and it got changed.

https://www.okc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2519/5123

https://newsok.com/article/5563719/okc-voters-to-set-course-for-future-growth

• Approve a quarter-cent, permanent sales tax increase, raising $26 million per year, primarily for police and fire services.

• Extend the 1-cent MAPS sales tax for 27 months, raising $240 million for streets.

•
Authorize $967.4 million in bonds, with 20-year terms, to be retired with property taxes.

• Approve a quarter-cent, permanent sales tax increase, raising $26 million per year, primarily for police and fire services.

• Extend the 1-cent MAPS sales tax for 27 months, raising $240 million for streets.

Got it! Totally misread the referendum/initiative, please accept my sincere apologies for giving you such a difficult time with this. :cool:

https://m.newsok.com/article/5596434/one-more-question-to-answer-about-that-automobile-alley-headquarters

Really excited for all the infill tacking place, especially at this intersection. The 3 new buildings there are really going to change the entire feel of AA and provide a great transition in the skyline from the CBD.

Rand came and spoke to us today, and spoke mainly about the important factors / decisions in his life that shaped who he is today. One interesting thing he said about this building though, was that he used the golden number/ ratio and used that standard that dates back to DaVinci.

https://www.goldennumber.net/architecture/

That factor that he used the golden ratio is actually very common in well designed architecture. It taught in architecture schools around the world. I’d be worried if he wasn’t using it or looking at nature for his design haha.

https://newsok.com/article/5602758/construction-of-40-million-downtown-oklahoma-city-heartland-headquarters-to-start-in-late-2018


Looks like it is about to get ramped up!

Kinda reading through that it’s not quite as big as hoped but still pretty awesome. The HQ will be for Heartland the subsidiary, not global payments the parent.

Yes, as previously stated Heartland is relocating from Edmond with plans to keep growing.

They are owned by Global Payments but kept their name after the acquisition.

Here are the latest renderings.

Some slight changes which will ultimately need to go through design review.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/heartland072718a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/heartland072718b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/heartland072718c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/heartland072718d.jpg

So they decided to nix the circle signage on one side and the clock hands signage on the other? I still wonder what that was intended to signify in the first place. But yeah, this looks good! Excited to see them get started on this building!

So they decided to nix the circle signage on one side and the clock hands signage on the other? I still wonder what that was intended to signify in the first place. But yeah, this looks good! Excited to see them get started on this building!

Bring them back! Not that they make or break the building, but they were interesting and heck, why not? A great big analogue clock could have been just one of those neat little things that creates a sense of place.

I believe they were in reference to the keys on a chip reader or payment processor, the clear and enter buttons. At least, I seem to remember that's what Steve Lackmeyer alluded to (how the clock was positioned in the renderings).

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