Aubrey McClendon's new energy company is starting to looking a lot like his last one. As American Energy Partners raises billions and hires hundreds, McClendon is once again making his presence felt in Oklahoma City commercial development.

Occupies Former Chesapeake Buildings

According to those in the oil & gas industry, AEP already has over 400 employees in OKC including many former Chesapeake workers. The company website currently lists 88 job openings in Oklahoma City alone.

Since the very first days of forming this new venture McClendon set up shop in the Harvey Parkway, a property he actually purchased for Chesapeake, which was promptly sold after his departure. AEP now occupies almost all of that building complete with their own health club, a small Pop's diner and McClendon himself has a great view of his old company's campus from his top floor corner office, complete with private restroom.


AEP's growth has been so explosive they are now occupying most of the Atrium Towers, another property McClendon bought while at Chesapeake but then spun off to Love's by the new leadership. Both the Harvey Parkway and Atrium Towers were sold at a significant loss to Chesapeake.

In fact, Chesapeake spent $2.4 million to completely refurbish the six floors of the south building of the Atrium Towers in 2012, sold it to Love's in 2013 and thus far AEP has torn out most of these improvements and spent another $700,000 to remodel about half of that same building. AEP signs will soon be going up on both the north and south towers.

From Wine Storage to Fitness Center
7/2/13: Work on new fitness center started this week

In early 2008, McClendon's OKC Wine Management LLC began construction on a $3 million "private warehouse", generally understood to be the future home of his massive personal wine collection. The property is owned by McClendon on NW 67th and Classen but soon after the structure for the half-barrel shaped building commenced, it came to a complete halt not long after McClendon's now famous margin call that caused him to sell off billions in Chesapeake stock. The steel arches have been rusting away since late 2008.

Just this past week, worked restarted at the site, this time for a $3 million fitness center for AEP employees. It will retain the barrel shape and will include fitness equipment and exercise rooms along with a basketball and racquetball courts.



Daycare center planned





AHMM of London is New Architect

We had heard from trusted sources that Rand Elliott will not be the lead architect for any new AEP construction. Rand was the sole architect for Chesapeake's 20 plus buildings. Elliott also designed Classen Curve, Whole Foods and several other buildings commissioned by McClendon while he was at the Chesapeake helm.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris of London is the architect for this fitness center and we hear they will take the lead on any new AEP construction. AHMM has strong ties to Oklahoma City through Wade Scaramucci, who is a native Oklahoman working for the firm in London. After a series of high-style local projects (Level, Hart Building, Duncan's Bindery, OKSea, Mosaic, The Plow and others) AHMM set up a small office in Film Row.

While Elliott may stay involved -- he's designed all the interiors for AEP's current offices -- it seems McClendon is going a different direction when it comes to his preferred lead architect.

New Campus Expected

McClendon owns a large tract on the northeast corner of Wilshire and Broadway Extension and by all indications, plans to make this the new home for his growing enterprise.

That 57 acres is bordered by substantial holdings by American Fidelity. AF bought the former OPUBCO properties to the north and also own acreage directly south across Wilshire, and has their own ambitious development plans.

Expect to see an announcement before the end of the year for a new AEP mid-rise tower (7 to 20 stories) to be designed by AHMM on the McClendon-owned land.