Weekly Dell Updates

[metro]

any new updates???

[mranderson]

They are still working two shifts. When I passed this morning, one of the cranes dropped something which I thought might be a welding machine. It may be their method of tamping the gravel.

Nothing really new.

[mranderson]

Your weekly update for the week ending January 7, 2005.

Not really much to report. You can tell how large the building will be as you pass the site on the freeway. I think they are getting close to laying the rebar in prep for pouring the foundation. I still expect that to be late this month or early February. This ice storm did not delay them.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Does nobody seem to have any contruction pictures?

[mranderson]

Does nobody seem to have any contruction pictures?

Since I do not have a digital camera yet, I have asked some people to take them. They are coming, I just do not know when.

[Sooner&RiceGrad]

Last time I was on I 44, )that goes right by it, right?) I did see the ground being leveled.

[metro]

yeah sorry, I will help as much as I can, I will try to snap some in the next day or three I promise

[BricktownGuy]

I posted this before... maybe since some time has now passed.. someone may have some info.....

Who is the building contractor for the Dell call center?

I know of one area firm that specializes in state-of-the-art call centers, Tapp Development Corporation, but I do not know if they are the ones developing the Dell call center.

[metro]

I drove by and took some pictures today, I will try to post them ASAP, my USB drive is acting up. I also drove by all downtown sites and memorial road sites and snapped some pics as well.

[mranderson]

Sorry it has been so long. There has been nothing to report... Until now.

There are more vehicles on site, many piles of sand, and some trucks that look like drilling rigs. Plus a couple of construction site office trailers. It looks like they are about to pour concerte. Plus sewer lines are being layed.

I will report as progress merits.

[metro]

mranderson, i've got the pics, i think one of my security features is blocking me from uploading them. I will try to get them up this week.

[BricktownGuy]

OKCBusiness NewsWire

Flintco to begin construction of new Dell facility

Flintco, Inc., the largest Oklahoma based full-services construction firm, has construction underway for the new Dell customer contact center, which is scheduled to be complete this summer.

The 62-acre site located on SE 15th between Portland and I-40 will be home to a 130,000 square-foot facility. The three-story office/call center will be constructed in pre-cast concrete and structural steel with a mixture of stained exposed concrete, brick masonry and curtainwall with exterior window shades. Extensive use of access flooring, exposed ceilings, systems furnishings in the interior will house approximately 700 Dell employees.

Employees will also enjoy a full-service dining hall and expansive parking. Structure also includes an attached mechanical building, five-bay dock area, and guest parking area. Future expansion consists of two additional buildings and additional parking areas.

Dell announced the selection of Oklahoma City for a customer contact center in July. From their corporate offices in Round Rock, Texas, Dell officials have said the company's continuous growth, coupled with the high caliber of the area workforce, has prompted the expansion.

Flintco, Inc., a division of The Flintco Companies, Inc. an American Indian owned company founded in Tulsa, Okla. in 1908, provides a full range of professional construction services. Flintco, Inc. currently ranks as one of the largest providers of services in the nation including: pre-construction, construction management, design/build, program and project management as well as general contracting.

Source: Flintco, Inc.

[Patrick]

Seems like everything is built from pre-cast concrete now-a-days. Even the capitol dome is pre-cast concrete.

[mranderson]

I am predicting the foundation will be poured by mid month.

There are a lot more vehicles on site now than I have seen since the first turn of dirt.

[metro]

mranderson, i took pics yesterday, im having trouble getting them on the site. PM me your email and I will email them to you to post.

[USG'86]

The 62-acre site located on SE 15th between Portland and I-40 will be home to a 130,000 square-foot facility.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when the 'media' screws up SE and SW OKC.

Say it with me: If it's west of Santa Fe and south of Reno, it's SW. Not only should these people get a map...they should use it.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

[mranderson]

One of my biggest pet peeves is when the 'media' screws up SE and SW OKC.

Say it with me: If it's west of Santa Fe and south of Reno, it's SW. Not only should these people get a map...they should use it.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

Here are the legal boundries. North/south. Main, street. East/west Santa Fe. You are correct about one thing. the freeway, I-44 is not Southeast.

[mranderson]

I passed by the site last evening around 5:15. I could see orange or pink flags lined on the gravel. This looks like they are about to pour the foundation. My time line looks right.

I predict a September opening. Dell wants in by August, however.

[mranderson]

As I passed this morning, I saw several piles of sand and many stacks of concrete blocks. It appears they are starting to build the forms for the foundation.

The building looks like the time line is right on my prediction.

[Karried]

If you have any pressing questions my husband will be supervising a crew out there soon - he is a project manager/construction estimator and knows the Dell prints inside and out... if it's not confidential I'll fill you in on details. The last article was correct regarding the three stories, multiple buildings and concrete tilt ups with glass facade. Also, August 8th is the do or die deadline. Anything after that will incur huge costs to the contractors. I'm so glad that Dell is coming - we spent our life in Silicon Valley. My husband worked on a lot of the big computer companies out there - it brings a lot of employment which in turn brings a lot of housing needs which is good for the Oklahoma economy in general.

[Keith]

Hey, that's great to hear Karried. We can get info from you about what is going on in the construction end, and info from mranderson, who works for Dell, about what is happening at Dell .

[Karried]

I ran a MLS search and found over 100 properties in this area under 50K. Granted, most are in a decrepid state and will need much work. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on future investment potential for the area surrounding Dell.

I think many younger employees will choose not to commute. They may like the convenience of living near their workplace. They may have problems securing reliable transportation. It may not be logistically feasible for them to afford renting in a different area since they are just starting out.

Now for families with children, I don't see it happening very quickly. Schools will always play a part in housing choices.

I don't know what kind of rents these units will command in the beginning, I'm thinking long term here.

I'm a wondering if the city will infiltrate funds into the area for improvements, more police patrols, funding for community programs, schools, etc. What are your thoughts about this area surrounding the new Dell facility? This area might become very desirable to investors or people will stay away regardless of investment potential.

What do you think, short of looking into a crystal ball, about this issue and securing rental property now?

I'm a Realtor so I'm very interested in your opinion. Please respond.

[mranderson]

Karried: I do have a question for you. This is on behalf of the 1,000 Dell people already in place.

How can we see the blueprints for the building? Dell has not provided them for us and we would like to see them.

You can give some good behind the scenes details I have no access to. I can report like I have been. A daily drive by. It really gives a good report, but there are things I might not know.

By the way. For those who have asked me about job openings. LVR (my main department) is short handed. We are experimenting with ways to tell Round Rock (corp HQ) we need the hiring freeze lifted now. LVR has an average of 100 calls holding at various times throughout the day and managers can not take the time for feedback. In fact, I thought I had some performance problems, and later found out the opposite. I am number seven out of about 200 agents and was chosen for a trial period for a new department. Only the top 16 agents got it. So, the feedback is important. Plus Dell does not want agents to be slammed with calls all day. The caller hates waiting and the goal is less than one minute hold time. Actually less than five seconds.

When the freeze is lifted, I will give information on listing me as your referal if you want a job at Dell. That information will be by PM only.

[Karried]

Hello Mr. Anderson, I would be happy to give any information that I know or have access to. I am not sure how one would go about getting the physical blueprints unless you were a city official or construction contractor wanting to bid on the job. The prints themselves are pricey and companies have to pay for them before submitting a bid for work.

If you have any specific questions regarding the plan I might be able to help as long as I don't break any confidentiality rules. I will talk to my DH and find out what I can disclose.

I know it must be exciting to watch your company grow from ground floor up - I think it will be a wonderful addition to OKC.

I'll help in any way I can.

Karrie

[mranderson]

That will work. I have been reporting based on drive by and will continue to do so. However, reports straight from the construction site would be good also. I will also continue to report any information from Dell that I am allowed to report.

In addition, I have included a picture of the consturction site in my gallery. When I see major changes, I will add more.

By the way, Karried. A bit off topic (in a way sine we want to approach Dell with sponsorship). Welcome to the Walk of Fame committee. We need all the help we can get as we are serious about presenting this plan to the bricktown association by the end of the year.