BOK Park Plaza

[Pete]

Any word on when the crosswalk/stoplights will be installed at Hudson and Main? Will there be a crosswalk across hudson? It's desperately needed!

Yes it is and you see people running across Hudson all the time; but I'm not aware of any plans to put in a crosswalk.

[shawnw]

I heard that it's happening just don't know when. I don't see how they could install a light there and not a crosswalk.

[warreng88]

BOK readies move to new tower

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record November 30, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY – Bank of Oklahoma employees will end their year packing their offices in preparation for a move in 2018.

The bank is moving 250 people into BOK Park Plaza, 499 W. Sheridan Ave., from the BOK Commerce Center at May Avenue and Britton Road, and BOK Plaza, 201 Robert S. Kerr Ave. Those employees will be working on floors 24, 25, 26, and 27. They are from the commercial lending department, wealth group, and financial securities group.

“The three groups are the primary marketing arm of the bank,” said John Higginbotham, Oklahoma City CEO. “It will save a lot of time going back and forth.”

Those employees will be up and running in the new space by Jan. 26, he said. The bank will also have a full lobby on the first floor, which will move from the existing downtown space on Feb. 1.

Higginbotham said the new space will have safety-deposit boxes with the latest in security technology.

“This is pretty monumental for our bank to move 250 people at one time,” he said.

Hines real estate is developing the 27-story office tower. The building has 692,716 square feet of rentable space. It also has two parking garages at Sheridan and Walker and Main Street and Hudson. The west garage will measure 35,000 square feet. The north garage will measure 20,000 square feet. Each garage, as well as 499 Sheridan, will have ground-floor retail space.

In Oklahoma City, Class A office space is tight, with a 6.5-percent vacancy rate in 2017’s third quarter, according to an NAI Sullivan report. The rate was flat compared to 2016’s third quarter.

In the Central Business District, vacancy for all office space is 6.3 percent, NAI reported.

The market also absorbed 8,773 square feet of Class A space in 2017’s third quarter.

When the building was announced in 2015, neighboring Devon Energy was supposed to lease 250,000 square feet there. Corporate Communications Director John Porretto said in an email that the company has secured space in the building.

Chairman Emeritus Larry Nichols asked the Downtown Design Review Committee to allow a bridge between the BOK building and Devon’s headquarters because it was needed for Devon employee collaboration. The DDRC was concerned it would take away from street activity.

“However, Devon has no plans to occupy the space at this time,” Porretto said.

Higginbotham said BOK’s new space will be a good tool for recruitment. The building offers a view of the forthcoming Scissortail Park and there will be bike racks installed outside.

“I’m really proud of the commitment that BOK is making to the Oklahoma City market,” he said. “We’re investing in a downtown facility that’s been somewhat difficult for our energy industry.”

BOK’s build-out was designed by Workspace Solutions, led by Scott Rice. Higginbotham took the executive team to the Steelcase office furniture headquarters in Michigan so they could pick the best options. BOK isn’t moving any of its furniture.

The new space is equipped with video screens that will display stories of the company.

He said he’s been reflecting on the leaders who made these decisions at their existing office.

“This has been a dream-come-true opportunity,” he said.

[G.Walker]

BOK readies move to new tower

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record November 30, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY – Bank of Oklahoma employees will end their year packing their offices in preparation for a move in 2018.

When the building was announced in 2015, neighboring Devon Energy was supposed to lease 250,000 square feet there. Corporate Communications Director John Porretto said in an email that the company has secured space in the building.

Hines probably never would of developed this tower if they new Devon was going to back out, that is a lot of square feet not accounted for, that was originally planned. Developers usually like the building to be at least 50% leased before they break ground...smh...

[BoulderSooner]

Hines probably never would of developed this tower if they new Devon was going to back out, that is a lot of square feet not accounted for, that was originally planned. Developers usually like the building to be at least 50% leased before they break ground...smh...

Hines didn’t pay for the building and Hines doesn’t own the building

[Pete]

I deleted a bunch of personal and political posts and apologize for my part in them.

Let's please stick to the discussing BOK Park Plaza.

[G.Walker]

Hines didn’t pay for the building and Hines doesn’t own the building

Then who paid for it & who owns it?

Update: did some research, based on the Wikipedia page it says Hines Interests Limited Partnerships owns the building. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOK_Park_Plaza

[bucktalk]

Thank you Pete for striving to keep things on topic. I know that's a challenging task but believe its very important. I applaud your efforts.

I deleted a bunch of personal and political posts and apologize for my part in them.

Let's please stick to the discussing BOK Park Plaza.

[bombermwc]

The skybridge will be a test. Does design review or a large employer win? Devon has been the "company that can do no wrong" as far as the city is concerned, given what an impact they've had. But you know what? Chesapeake was city's doll 15 years ago too, and they definitely fell off the wagon. And their development wasn't always smart. Look further back and you can look at other long-sine-gone companies like KerrMcGee too. So personally, i'd like to keep that skybridge off the building to keep the feet on the ground, doll company asking or not.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^
The sky bridge is already approved and in fact fully constructed.

[Pete]

^^^^^^
The sky bridge is already approved and in fact fully constructed.

There are actually two as a part of this project, both complete: Connecting the tower to the north parking garage and connecting the parking garage to the Devon complex.

As a reminder, P180 money was used to build the skybridge from Devon to the parking garage to City Center East garage and through that garage and ultimately into Oklahoma Tower.

[Pete]

They have been lighting the crown in different colors... It was white 2 nights ago and last night it was reddish.

Note in the last 2 photos that Main Street and the sidewalk are now completely open as they ready the complex for BOK's move in next month.

[Ross MacLochness]

Anyone know why they didn't rebuild the sidewalk to P180 spec?

[Pete]

Anyone know why they didn't rebuild the sidewalk to P180 spec?

Do you mean the corner?

The part along Main seems to be the save pavers, trees, etc.

[Ross MacLochness]

Do you mean the corner?

The part along Main seems to be the save pavers, trees, etc.

I'm talking about the north side of the north garage. The pavers are different and differently oriented. There is also no paved sidewalk, which isn't a huge deal. just not p180 spec. It doesn't look bad per se, it's just weird to suddenly transition to surfaces that look somewhat similar but obviously different mid-block. It's like someone looked at the design of the sidewalk once and then was asked to re create it from memory months later. Just strange that they didn't restore the p180 design that was put in before all those buildings were demolished.

[Pete]

Here is where the BOK sidewalk intersects with the existing P180 hardscape in the foreground.

You can see the BOK pavers are smaller, lighter in color and oriented perpendicular to Main Street rather than parallel.

Also, on the BOK side there is no concrete sidewalk, it's solid pavers from the street to the garage.

[Pete]

Any word on when the crosswalk/stoplights will be installed at Hudson and Main? Will there be a crosswalk across hudson? It's desperately needed!

Main Street is now completely re-opened and this entire complex will open in January.

There is absolutely no sign of a crosswalk or signal at Main and Hudson.

[Pete]

[king183]

Whoever designed that garage should never be allowed to design or build another structure anywhere within our solar system. Truly, who designs that and thinks, "Yeah, that's good. I want to be associated with thtat"?

[Pete]

Whoever designed that garage should never be allowed to design or build another structure anywhere within our solar system. Truly, who designs that and thinks, "Yeah, that's good. I want to be associated with thtat"?

Well, at least they built two of them.

[dcsooner]

Whoever designed that garage should never be allowed to design or build another structure anywhere within our solar system. Truly, who designs that and thinks, "Yeah, that's good. I want to be associated with thtat"?

Don't see anything wrong with that GARAGE.

[Ross MacLochness]

Don't see anything wrong with that GARAGE.

By your logic, someone could take a dump on my doorstep and if i complained that it smelled bad, you would then say, "I don't see anything wrong with that TURD."

[Rover]

Well, at least they built two of them.

Two that look a whole lot better than ones in developments downtown whom we give a pass on because they serve apartments instead of commerce. Big double standard on this site. It seems to be not what you do but who you are.

[Pete]

Two that look a whole lot better than ones in developments downtown whom we give a pass on because they serve apartments instead of commerce. Big double standard on this site. It seems to be not what you do but who you are.

AGAIN, really really tired of you characterizing an entire site of thousands of posters as having one opinion. If you meant to address me directly, then do so.

And if you are referring to West Village, those garages have received plenty of criticism even though they aren't finished.

[onthestrip]

It has a better look than many other of our garages but it looks extremely odd next to a shiny new glass tower. The color and detail of it simply doesnt match the sleek glass tower.