Devon Plans Downtown Skyscraper

[Pete]

the building will likely be in excess of the 1.2 million square feet previously announced

Unless they make the floorplates huge all the way up, this is going to be a 50-story building.

[Insider]

Rumors (I stress Rumors) are the building will be 'at least' 52 stories tall.

[sroberts24]

thanks warren i hope to hear more from u on this subject

and this is freaking exciting, i just wish we didn't have to wait a year till they break ground

[FritterGirl]

See these companies’ websites for more information about them and to see other projects they’ve completed. They are: Landscape Architecture - The Office of James Burnett.

Murase and James Burnett Co. will be doing the Myriad Gardens work as well. They will have several meetings with key stakeholders to discuss the project(s), and at this point are PLANNING to host a public meeting some time in mid-to-late August to hear comments from downtown residents and other interested parties regarding the Gardens' redesign.

I don't really have more details I can share at this time.

[JWil]

Well, he is the regulator.

Funny you should bring that up. Here's a story about that song from Yacht Rock!

YouTube - Yacht Rock Episode 7: I Keep Forgettin'

As for the building itself... this thing is gonna be massive. I had no clue about the SF of the Chase Tower so yeah... it has to be about 50 stories. That thing will tower over downtown. Awesome!

[Kerry]

What are the chances that it includes more than one tower possibly connected by one or more skywalks like the Petronas Towers.

[BDP]

Unless they make the floorplates huge all the way up, this is going to be a 50-story building.

And if they are working within that range, it will be hard to resist going for tallest in state.

[Pete]

Even at 50 floors (and I'm beginning to think it could be a little higher) it will still probably be the tallest in the state because modern floor heights are 1-2 foot taller than buildings constructed in the 70's.

We had been thinking 1.2 million square feet was the maximum size, but now it sounds like that will be a starting point and go north from there. I'm not surprised, as by the time the tower is open for occupants, Devon could be much larger than even today.

I'm equally excited about the obvious commitment of tying the tower into the Myriad Gardens. That whole area could really become a showpiece for OKC and a great gateway to the Core 2 Shore park and developments.

[Midtowner]

As long as Devon doesn't appropriate the Myriad Gardens from the people who paid for it, I'm fine with whatever.

Let's just not have it become a part of their corporate campus

[ourulz2000]

Any chance this falls through, and they don't end up building a new tower? I mean, this is OKC were talking about. We are used to getting disappointed.

[Kerry]

Thanks a lot ourulz2000 - you jinxed it. There always has to be someone. I put the chances at 50% this will be built to expectations, 25% some scaled down version will be constructed, and 25% that it will never be built. You are correct about Oklahoma City's track record for development. What happens if energy prices tumble like they did in the mid 80's? Oil is down over $20 from just 2 weeks ago and is poised to drop even further - fast.

[ourulz2000]

Not trying to be a downer, just being cautious.

[Insider]

You Cautious Downer! =)

[brianinok]

I wouldn't worry too much about Devon not being able to afford it. When they announced the skyscraper back in March, oil was about $100 per barrel. I am sure they started planning long before it got to even that level. Their market cap fluctuates between $40B and $55B, and they are spending roughly 1% of that on a building. I doubt they have plans to build a building they can only afford if oil is at $100/bbl plus. Devon is just not that aggressive in nature.

[OKC74]

Warren G...I am sooo sorry if my entry started any kind of attack...when I wrote the "rattling our chains" thing it was totally intended as a joke...that's it! Sorry if I started something...that was never my intent! I'm pretty new here...just thought I'd add to the conversation. Once again, I DO appreciate your information! Keep it coming...!!

On a different note...when you compare the sq. footage of The Chase Tower to what the proposed new Devon Tower is slated to be, how could it NOT be at least 45-50 stories?! This is exciting for OKC!!

[warreng88]

Does anyone think that Warren G is just rattling our chains...or does he really have an inside connection? ;-) I HOPE HE DOES, AND I HOPE WHAT HE'S SAYING IS TRUE!! Can't wait to find out CONCRETE DETAILS of the new tower...and hope it's BIG BIG BIG!!!

This was your quote. I took it for what it was. You had a wink in there meaning you were just giving me a hard time. Don't worry, I am not mad at you. I am not mad at all. I am a little disappointed I have inside information and I want to get everyone excited and then I get called names for doing so. I guess i will think twice about sharing something because my credibility will be questioned.

[OUGrad05]

Still about a month out, I'm anxious to see what happens!

[OKC74]

Cool...glad there are no hard feelings G!! Does anyone know, or have any close guesses, as to how many of these floors we think Devon will actually use for themselves, and how many they may plan to lease to other businesses (if any), and what the chances are that they WILL be sure to "reserve" a few floors for expansion?

[OUGrad05]

Cool...glad there are no hard feelings G!! Does anyone know, or have any close guesses, as to how many of these floors we think Devon will actually use for themselves, and how many they may plan to lease to other businesses (if any), and what the chances are that they WILL be sure to "reserve" a few floors for expansion?

Considering Devon is currently spread out over what 4 buildings downtown? Given another 4 years of growth I would assume they will use the entire building for Devon. I would guess that they will not fill it up in 2012 but it will probably be 70 to 80% capacity? It really sounds like a lot of that sq footage will be used for presentation/conference rooms which are taking up more and more space in today's world. I would not expect them to lease out much of the building and if they do I would expect htem to be short 3 to 5 year leases.

Devon could easily double in size between now and 2012.

[FritterGirl]

I really see this as a signature HQ for them, and a way to bring all employees together under one very tall roof, something they have not experienced for years.

I find it HIGHLY unlikely that they will lease any space.

This is just conjecture on my part given the scope of this project and the impact it will have on downtown.

[Platemaker]

I know a guy that works for Devon that flys into OKC every two weeks. I always playfully ask him details on the building... he ALWAYS politely declines to give details. BUT... he always says "Oklahoma City won't be disappointed"... I believe him.

[soonerguru]

Based on an unimpeachable source -- whom I cannot disclose -- the Devon tower will be the tallest in the state. That is a virtual certainty at this point.

[HOT ROD]

Oh My God!

That is awesome!!!

I hope they do it at 14 feet per floor, which at 52 office floors would give us 728 feet (definitely the state's tallest). Add a spire to it, and it could be even higher.

I honestly think 728 would be tall enough, without diminishing the rest of downtown. But hey, times do change and if it kicks the other skyscrapers into redevelopment and/or refurbishment and more skyscrapers in the >700 ft range to balance things out - then I say GO FOR 800+!!!

By the way, did you guys realize that Oklahoma City is the ONLY major city in the nation that does not have the tallest building in it's state - despite being the state's largest city!

We need to CHANGE this statistic! Im glad Devon is going to do it - finally!

Continue the Renaissance!

[OUGrad05]

Oh My God!

That is awesome!!!

I hope they do it at 14 feet per floor, which at 52 office floors would give us 728 feet (definitely the state's tallest). Add a spire to it, and it could be even higher.

I honestly think 728 would be tall enough, without diminishing the rest of downtown. But hey, times do change and if it kicks the other skyscrapers into redevelopment and/or refurbishment and more skyscrapers in the >700 ft range to balance things out - then I say GO FOR 800+!!!

By the way, did you guys realize that Oklahoma City is the ONLY major city in the nation that does not have the tallest building in it's state - despite being the state's largest city!

We need to CHANGE this statistic! Im glad Devon is going to do it - finally!

Continue the Renaissance!

We dont have any 700 foot scrapers yet, lets not jump the gun and root for two, we may jinx it!

Anything in excess of 400 in addition to the devon tower which seems like it will be in excess of 600 feet would be welcome. Chase tower is what 460 feet? Fairly short building if I'm not mistaken, but another that size in addition to Devon would really fill out the skyline quite a bit IMO.

[Luke]

Chase is 500 on the nose, I think.