Devon Energy Center

[Patrick]

Now, if you want to really see some very scared and insecure people click here. They're wetting their pants 3 hours south of here.

Dallas Fort Worth Urban Forum - Oklahoma City: Devon Tower (925 ft - taller than anything in DFW)

[Pete]

Lots of my Tulsa friends are playing the "it will never get built" card as well.

Just shows all these people think the design and project are pretty darn cool, otherwise they wouldn't feel so threatened.

[Insider]

The new building will connect to the underground via a skybridge running north from the building, between the east parking garage and the IRS building to the north side of Corporate Tower where it will connect to the existing skybridge running between Corporate Tower and Oklahoma Tower. At least this is the current plan (as described by the architect).

[John]

Haven't seen it posted yet, but DVN closed $6.31 up today... (103.80)

[Doug Loudenback]

Doug..... I scooped you.

Yeah ... for good relations (and especially since you got me into that place this morning as a junior press reporter ... I did have my camera and that made me "look" like a reporter ... and, tagging along with you, I got to sit on the front row).

Heck, even Alesha Lemaster (Devon media relations specialist) accepted my credentials (she having read the first parts of this thread, as she mentioned to me) ...

Larger image: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49...halemaster.jpg



So, given all of that, what would an honorable, even if superior, cub reporter do? He'd graciously lay back and let the ace old-line reporter have his well deserved floor. Even the vastly superior images I've already posted in this thread I wouldn't have had if I hadn't had this one day as "Jimmy Olsen." Thinking about my duties and responsibilities after posting my challenging post last night, I just figured that Clark deserved the floor ... Jimmy will just tag along, pick up any scraps, and just do the best that he can.

That is, until I finish my own blog post (not yet started). Jimmy may then speak less humble words.

I hope all who read this understand that this is merely friendly banter between good (I am glad to say) friends. Heck, I'll tag along with Steve any time that I get the chance ... he's the man!

[OUGrad05]

holy crap I am excited about this building, congrats to Devon and OKC!

[Laramie]

Simply Amazing, "Oklahoma City is on a roll..."

[OUman]

I love it! What an awesome skyscraper, this will surely be a sight especially driving down that stretch of I-44 over the Oklahoma River between I-40 and the I-44/I-240 junction.

[UnFrSaKn]

Now, if you want to really see some very scared and insecure people click here. They're wetting their pants 3 hours south of here.

Dallas Fort Worth Urban Forum - Oklahoma City: Devon Tower (925 ft - taller than anything in DFW)

A whole 4 feet taller than BofA...that's completely noticeable from ground level...

It won't be built...and it would stick out (in a bad way) considering that OKC's current tallest is 500ft...

although it's nice to hear some life come out of Dallas' biggest suburb...

Its not about height its about making a building that is economically viable in the neighborhood I could care less if Dallas ever builds a new skyscraper I just want good solid development in the city center that does not participate in a fortress tower motif. Towers that participate in the neighborhood will do much better in the long run when it comes dealing with companies that are going to always be bought sold and moved out of town.

I agree with the consensus here that is will not get built. I wouldn't spend much time on the idea that Oklahoma might get a taller tower who cares and is their downtown in solid footing more so than Dallas? Do there urban areas have solid infill development and or a contiguous urban fabric that promotes more future economical growth? If so then the tower might prove to be successful project until then Im not expecting much.

Typical Texans. So full of themselves.

[jbrown84]

True it is close but that site deserves something better than a parking garage. It is on the "oval" that goes around city hall to the civic center and directly across from the OKC Museum of Art. There are other surface lots nearby that would be better developed into a new garage, IMO.

True. I agree. They can just walk then.

[jbrown84]

These Dallasites should do a little research before saying we don't have any infill development or that this project isn't economically viable.

[Kerry]

What is the big deal? If Dallas is content being 4 feet shorter then good. They got their wish and we are all happy.

[OUman]

**edited**

[warreng88]

Now, if you want to really see some very scared and insecure people click here. They're wetting their pants 3 hours south of here.

Dallas Fort Worth Urban Forum - Oklahoma City: Devon Tower (925 ft - taller than anything in DFW)

This is my favorite quote from this forum:


Originally Posted by Avadon
Seriously now. Have they never heard of tornadoes? To speak nothing of this little thing we call "severe wind events." Oy!

AeroD:
Hong Kong has monsoons.

Miami has hurricanes.

Tokyo has Godzilla.

[OUman]

^Hong Kong also has typhoons, but then those well-informed people in Dallas know all their stuff now don't they?

[Pete]

^
^
^

Please note the new avatar.

[JWil]

This is my favorite quote from this forum:


Originally Posted by Avadon
Seriously now. Have they never heard of tornadoes? To speak nothing of this little thing we call "severe wind events." Oy!

AeroD:
Hong Kong has monsoons.

Miami has hurricanes.

Tokyo has Godzilla.

That's pretty funny considering that downtown Ft. Worth was hit by tornadoes once...

[OKCisOK4me]

^
^
^

Please note the new avatar.

I'm surprised no one else has changed their avatar yet to that image and therefore I'll be making it my new cellphone background when I get home tonight!!

[OKCisOK4me]

UptownDallas did his research:

"That was my initial thought, then I checked Devon's latest balance sheet.

The building will cost $750 million; Devon has over $47 billion in assets, roughly $5 billion of which consist of cash and accounts receivable. They also generated net cash flow from operations of $5.2 billion during the 1st 6 months of the year.

In other words, they can pay for this building with their pocket change and don't need to borrow a dime. The total building cost of $750 million can be funded with just over 3 weeks' of the company's normal operating cash flow.

Gerald Hines (of Galleria and Momentum Place/Comerica Tower fame) is the developer."

Pocket change---NICE!!

[UnFrSaKn]

Imagine how many skyline related images in the city will have to be changed. At least they have about four years to come up with something. It'll be cool to see a new skyline backdrop at the 3 news channels too.
It would be cool if they did some documentary during construction. Many possibilities.

[Lauri101]

I find this part very rude:

"Larry Nichols wants to double the size of the west City Center garage from five to 10 stories. Make it exclusively for Devon employees"

1) He does realize that its a city garage....

2) He's announcing this at the library...and all the library employees currently part there.

As do many of us in the CBD. We don't get employer-paid parking, so I'm sure that my $100 a month parking will significantly increase.

I'll say this much - the building is more attractive than I thought it'd be.

Other than that, I am absolutely dreading the next two years until our lease is up and we can try to persuade GSA to get us out of CBD.

This will NOT be a pleasant experience for those of us who work, walk and park in this area. Sorry to be the rainer of parades here, but I am not at all excited about this "wonderful new addition".

[Pete]

This will NOT be a pleasant experience for those of us who work, walk and park in this area.

Perhaps in the short term, but even that is yet to be seen.

In the longer term, there will be a fantastic atrium with restaurants, an urban park with lots of great features and likely outdoor entertainment, and a significant enhancement to the biggest park in CBD.

All that will be great for anyone that lives and/or works downtown.

[Lauri101]

I would hold off on all this alarm, hipster. There isn't even a full article yet. There may be a replacement city garage planned. There may be some very specific plans for the parking situation yet to be announced. It's awfully premature to get upset about a parking situation that has 4 years to get resolved.

Not 4 years at all - once construction starts, imagine the c-f that will occur as people try and park each day.

FYI - The east garage is full of reserved parkers, at $130 a month. Over the past 18 years, I have paid at least $12,000 for non-reserved parking, just so I can come to my government job. I come to work at 5 AM, so parking several blocks away is not a safe option.

Fling your rocks at those of us who are not on the Devon bandwagon. Nichols attitude isn't civic-minded - it's ego-centric.

[jbrown84]

Oh please. The access to that garage is in no way obstructed by this construction site.

[OU Adonis]

Fling your rocks at those of us who are not on the Devon bandwagon. Nichols attitude isn't civic-minded - it's ego-centric.

A $750 million construction project is huge for the economy of OKC.

Not to mention the fact there will be many design elements that will be for everyones use and not just Devon's employee's.

Its amazing how backward thinking some Oklahoman's are and our obesity rates are what they are at. No one wants to walk anywhere. Now I know why we get the rap we do from outside of Oklahoma.