Devon Plans Downtown Skyscraper

[CuatrodeMayo]

Yay, Calatrava.

[metro]

Yeah, I'd be happy if we got Santiago Calatrava.

[sethsrott]

I would love the Devon Tower to look something like this! THIS is ICONIC!!!

[David Pollard]

Calatrava: Love him to death, but I don't think his work is appropriate for OKC.

It will be a real challenge, but the new tower should have that iconic status and still complement the existing skyline. Check out the Wells Fargo Center on Emporis. It is stunningly elegant, and a similar, glassier, version would highlight the Deco tradition of the OKC Municipal building, the verticality of the First National Center, and the Modernist style of the Chase Building. If we really want to fit into the surroundings, we should have setbacks at the height of the Colcord and the Oklahoma Tower.

Any thoughts on this?

[soonerfever]

I would love the Devon Tower to look something like this! THIS is ICONIC!!!

Don't let the people of Seattle see this. They will start saying that we are trying to steal one of their skyscrapers as well as their NBA team. It would be nice to have something like this in OKC though.

[Pete]

It will be interesting to see how the Devon design blends (or doesn't) with the existing skyline.

On one hand, you want something tall and striking.... On the other, you don't want something that looks completely alien and out of place.

Unless, that is, you are hoping there will be more construction that follows the more modern trend and takes downtown in whole new direction.


The particularly difficult part of this problem is that OKC has had so little new construction over the last few decades that there is little in the way of a bridge between the 70's and now.

[MikeLucky]

It will be interesting to see how the Devon design blends (or doesn't) with the existing skyline.

On one hand, you want something tall and striking.... On the other, you don't want something that looks completely alien and out of place.

Unless, that is, you are hoping there will be more construction that follows the more modern trend and takes downtown in whole new direction.


The particularly difficult part of this problem is that OKC has had so little new construction over the last few decades that there is little in the way of a bridge between the 70's and now.

That's a very good point Pete.....

This makes me think of KC's Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium.... They were both built in the 70's at the exact same time as Riverfront (Cincinnati), Three Rivers (Pittsburgh), Old Busch Stadium (St. Louis)..... those three stadiums were VERY typical of what was built at the time - multi-use, generic, round, pretty emotion-less..... But the people in KC had vision. So much vision that they built two facilities that were VERY unique and timeless - but also seemed to fly in the face of traditional stadium wisdom at the time.

NOW, though all those cities (and others not mentioned) are beginning to build unique, timeless designs that are exclusive to one sport. They are all trying to achieve what KC has, and has had since the 70's......

That's true vision to me, and I hope this particular project can reflect that same type of vision that will stand the test of time.....

[Doug Loudenback]

sethsrott, that's a very very nice image. Why not steal it?

[JLCinOKC]

Devon announced that they have hired a developer for their new headquarters.

Houston's Hines gets Devon's tower job | NewsOK.com

[Pete]

Here's the whole article.

1,000,000 at 22,000 sq. ft. per floor is about 46 floors, while a 27,000 sq. ft. floorplate would yield 37 floors. However, the article says a minimum of a million square feet, and I assume that means leaseable space, not including lobby and any other common area.



Sat April 26, 2008
Houston's Hines gets Devon's tower job

By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer

Hines, an international real estate firm that built corporate headquarters for General Motors, Gannett, Union Pacific, Wells Fargo and H&R Block, has been hired to develop a downtown Oklahoma City skyscraper for Devon Energy.

Devon Energy Chief Executive Officer Larry Nichols also confirmed Friday that an announcement of a renowned architect is expected within the next few weeks.

Nichols said Houston-based Hines was selected following interviews with several other leading international developers that included Koll Development Co., Tishman Speyer and Patrinely.

"They're all quality, very high quality developers,” Nichols said. "We could not have gone wrong with anyone in that group and others we talked to. We wanted a developer who was very active in building these types of buildings and had experience building high-rises with this size and scope and would have knowledge on how to build these buildings and have lists.”

Nichols said he also appreciated Hines' ability to order materials in bulk for multiple projects and its list of subcontractors.

"The numbers of all the firms you need to hire with specialties — think of the people who are needed to do the elevators ... it's a long list,” Nichols said. "I'm only gradually learning how long the list is. You want someone who is skilled and knowledgeable in that.”

Nichols announced plans for a new Devon Tower last month, saying he wants to build it along Sheridan Avenue across from the Myriad Gardens.

He estimates the building will be at least 1 million square feet, exceeding 37 stories, and costing more than $350 million.

Nichols, who has previously indicated he wants a tower that will be "iconic,” has selected a firm that has worked with legends including Cesar Pelli, Frank Gehry, I.M. Pei and Philip Johnson. Klay Kimker, Devon Energy's manager of corporate services, said Hines has consulted the company in selecting an architect and that a contract is almost complete.

"We're very close,” Kimker said. "It could be just a few days, but we don't know yet.”

Hines was founded in 1957 by Gerald Hines, and the company's first skyscraper was One Shell Plaza in Houston. The company has offices in 16 countries, with 63 regional offices in cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, London, New York and San Francisco.

Projects completed or under way consist of more than 1,000 properties including skyscrapers, corporate headquarters, mixed-use centers, industrial parks, medical complexes, master-planned resorts and residential communities.

Currently the firm controls assets valued at $19.9 billion.

John Wood, project officer at Hines, said his company specializes in doing "signature buildings.” Recent works include 1180 Peachtree in Atlanta, and corporate headquarters for H&R Block in Kansas City and the Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha.

Height still being decided
"I think one of the reasons we're so excited and the reason Hines and Devon came together is Mr. Hines started this firm with the thought of using signature architecture to set buildings off and let the buildings make statements in the cities we build in,” Wood said.

Since the new Devon Tower was announced, much public speculation has ensued as to the ultimate height of the skyscraper. Currently, the city's tallest building is Chase Tower, which is 36 stories high.

Nichols said Friday he is still uncertain how tall the tower will be — and that the company is still evaluating floor plans that range between 22,000 and 27,000 square feet. That decision is key to the height; the smaller the footprint, the taller the building.

Wood points to two buildings developed by Hine — Omaha's Union Pacific headquarters, with 1 million square feet, standing at 19 stories, and Atlanta's 1180 Peachtree building, with 700,000 square feet, which is 41 stories — as examples of how floor plans can impact height.

Typically, Wood said, corporate headquarters buildings have larger footprints than do speculative office towers like 1180 Peachtree. The Omaha tower has a 50,000-square-foot floor plan, while the Atlanta tower's floor plan is 23,000 square feet.

The task of determining Devon's footprint is under way with the assistance of Gensler, an interior-design firm that has worked with Devon for several years on space planning for its Houston and Oklahoma City offices.

"We still don't have the answer (on height),” Nichols said. "We're still refining our own numbers in terms of how many square feet we need, which will be driven by our forecast on future employee headcount. Meanwhile, our space designers are looking at how we function and the ideal size of each floor. That should all come together in the not-too-distant future.”

[soonerfever]

This is the tower Hines developed in Atlanta.

[Karried]

Sweet...... I'm happy it's moving forward. I can't wait to hear how tall it will be!

[Nawfside OKC]

cool beans..that pretty much tells me this will be the biggest building in the state.

[ourulz2000]

cool beans..that pretty much tells me this will be the biggest building in the state.

i think the BOK Tower in tulsa will still be the largest.

[Steve]

Keep playing this parlous game friends. There is really no way of knowing yet how tall the tower will be, and Nichols himself seems sincere when he indicates he doesn't know either.

[Nawfside OKC]

i think the BOK Tower in tulsa will still be the largest.

by biggest i'm saying tallest. No one knows how tall it will be so, my speculation is it will be the tallest. Nichols always refers to it as ''at least''this tall or this much floor space.

[mmonroe]

Just a little info on the BOK tower.

BOK Tower, formerly One Williams Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. At 203 m (667 ft) in height, the 52-story tower is the tallest building in any of the five "Plains States": Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, as well as the surrounding states of Missouri, Arkansas and New Mexico. It was built in 1975 and designed by Minoru Yamasaki & Associates, the same architect who designed the World Trade Center in New York. This structure is very similar to the WTC towers in appearance and construction. BOK Tower's lobby has marble walls and wall hangings which have a noted similarity to the decor in the former WTC.

[Nawfside OKC]

Just a little info on the BOK tower.

BOK Tower, formerly One Williams Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. At 203 m (667 ft) in height, the 52-story tower is the tallest building in any of the five "Plains States": Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, as well as the surrounding states of Missouri, Arkansas and New Mexico. It was built in 1975 and designed by Minoru Yamasaki & Associates, the same architect who designed the World Trade Center in New York. This structure is very similar to the WTC towers in appearance and construction. BOK Tower's lobby has marble walls and wall hangings which have a noted similarity to the decor in the former WTC.

Yes it does resemble the WTC ,god bless the dead..but the boxy look and feel of that design is no longer iconic.IMO

[ourulz2000]

by biggest i'm saying tallest. No one knows how tall it will be so, my speculation is it will be the tallest. Nichols always refers to it as ''at least''this tall or this much floor space.

Like I said, it will not go over the BOK tower's 52 stories.

[Architect2010]

Even if it will be shorter, it'll definitely look way better than BOK. But, I think it will be close and it would be a bonus if it was taller but I'm thrilled nonetheless.

[Laramie]

I hope Devon builds something that meets the customer and employee needs, something around 40-45 stories.

If it is too tall, it make give the other skycrapers the appearance of being small.

[kevinpate]

.oO(skyscraper envy?)Oo.

[Kerry]

If Devon puts a large spire on top it can surpass BOK in height even though it highest useable floor space is lower. The BofA center in Atlanta is only 55 stories but thanks to its tall spire it is over 1,000 feet tall.

[soonerfever]

Kerry, you are absolutely right. There is a common misconception about skyscrapers. Just because it has more floors doesn't mean it's taller. Look at the Sears Tower and the Petronas Towers. While the Sears Tower has 22 more floors than the Petronas Towers it is 32ft shorter.

Kind of off the Devon Tower subject, but the above mentioned towers dual over supremacy actually caused the Council on Tall Buildings to alter their categories on height. It was really interesting because this was the first time that the tallest building in the World wasn't located in the US and I guess they still wanted Sears to hold a title. However with the Dubai monstrosity almost complete the categories are pretty much a mute point.

[Kerry]

Check out this page to see what Soonerfever is talking about.

World's Tallest Buildings - SkyscraperPage.com