Devon Energy Center

[jbrown84]

I was by the site this weekend...didn't really see anything going on as far as "pre work", which I think I read somewhere earlier in this thread that someone saw some "progress" going on. Also...since the tower will be almost right next to The Colcord, won't this all but cover up the Oklahoma Tower when looking north at downtown from the south?

Yes, from directly south it will mostly cover up Oklahoma Tower.

[architect5311]

How often does one stand directly south of downtown and gaze in wonder at the Oklahoma Tower?

[jbrown84]

Exactly.

[Platemaker]

The building is going to be in line with Harvey... so Oklahoma Tower will not be covered up from the direct South.

[Kerry]

If the people at Oklahoma Tower don't like the view being blocked then let them add 40 stories to their building. I dare them.

[CuatrodeMayo]

The building is going to be in line with Harvey... so Oklahoma Tower will not be covered up from the direct South.

The atrium will line up with Harvey, the tower will be east of that.

[edcrunk]

Oil was over valued for 8 years? :rofl:

ya know... i'm no oilologist (heh) and never took oilnomics 101. so please, once you stop rolling on the floor, enlighten me as to why you wouldn't describe it as being overpriced.

[edcrunk]

Yes, from directly south it will mostly cover up Oklahoma Tower.

hey jbrown, i think it'll only cover like a 1/3 to 1/2 half of it.

[OKC74]

I know nobody stands and gazes at The Oklahoma Tower...but it seems like the buildings downtown are so close (First National and City Place for example) that they often cover each other up, thus not offering a great view from afar. For instance, coming south on Broadway Extn. it looks like we only have 4 skyscrapers...just wish it was a bit more spread out so downtown would look bigger. I know some think it's great that we have a "dense" area of buildings, but to me, that's only good if you have a LARGE area of tall buildings. We don't have that here, so IMO, if they were more spread out downtown would appear bigger. Looking forward to possible more high rises with Core 2 Shore...we'll see!!

[jbrown84]

I would rather have the density.

[dmoor82]

Agreed! density over the illusion of a big downtown!

[lasomeday]

Yep density is awesome, but if skyscrapers downtown happens to sprawl west or north or south, I wouldn't complain.

[amaesquire]

I think the location of the Devon Tower is perfect. The western edge of downtown needs some new life.

[Kerry]

I vote for density, not area. OKC74, just take a look at NW Expressway. Do you like it as it is or would it look much cooler if all of the buildings along NWE were clustered together in one spot.

[OKC74]

I totally understand and agree with what you guys are saying. I guess I'm just wishful thinking that we can have density AND a really large area of high-rises - ha!

[Platemaker]

I wouldn't mind seeing something really tall near 23rd and Classen added. Boston is similar. There is the financial district high rise cluster... then there is the Prudential and John Hancock tower.

[OKC74]

I agree...that would be nice! I like the view driving north on I-235 near the State Capitol...looking northwest. Kind of a "second" skyline for OKC, even though the high-rises are spread out. It still looks nice.

[jbrown84]

Well the good thing is, since it is so dense, as we add buildings, they will have to go on the edges, which will widen the skyline while keeping it dense.

[dmoor82]

Does any1 have new pics or news about the Devon Tower?Other than the TIF passing, no news since then!

[plmccordj]

I'm not with Density if you can walk past it in five minutes. I truly think this Devon building should be further away from all the other buildings. We can worry about infill later. I will take it where it is but our downtown really does need to be a few blocks wider than it is.

[Kerry]

It will get there plmccordj but I don't want to make the same mistake Detroit made with the Renaissance Center. From a distance they have nice looking downtown, then there is a huge gap between it and the towering Renaissance Center. It looks bad.

[BDP]

I will take it where it is but our downtown really does need to be a few blocks wider than it is.

With the Okie resistance to walking, I don't think we can afford it being much wider. The key to a successful downtown (and really the whole point of one) is density of services and spreading it out won't help much with that.

I agree that ours could double in size and still be easily walkable, but people have problem with the concept of walking from the Santa Fe garage to bricktown of the Ford Center now. I'd hate to spread it out more just for postcard points and make it less appealing for locals to work and hang out there.

One of the great things about this project is that by putting it on a surface lot just on the edge of what comprises the business and convention district, it helps to elevate the exposure and usability of other downtown assets like the Myriad Gardens instead of pulling a few thousand workers away from the core.

[plmccordj]

I agree that ours could double in size and still be easily walkable, but people have problem with the concept of walking from the Santa Fe garage to bricktown of the Ford Center now.

I do not know many people in any city that park on one end of downtown and walk to the other side. The goal is not to walk across downtown and I am not sure anyone has ever suggested such a thing. I seriously doubt there are many people in Dallas that park on the East end and walk to their work on the West end. I would hope that the Santa Fe parking garage is not the only parking lot in all of downtown.

Secondly this notion that people are resistant to walking is not simply a thing of laziness. On some days our weather is not particularly conducive to walking in a suit and tie. Whether it be winter or summer, we can have some rather harsh weather. Also most companies do not give their employees two hours for lunch and walking to Bricktown may take longer than a person has for lunch. As far as density of services having the buildings 30 feet apart would not change that. What sort of services are you talking about? Throw in a laundromat or two Just kidding. I am not trying to be difficult but I am not exactly sure what you mean.. My point in all this is that our downtown is so compact that you could lay a 925 foot building on its side and it would almost be longer than our entire downtown from certain angles.

[onthestrip]

This density and walking arguement should be a moot point. Our downtown wont realize its full potential until there is a constant, free shuttle/transit system that loops through downtown, bricktown, and the surrounding housing complexes. Then it wouldnt matter how the weather is or how long it takes to walk from west DT to BT. But thats another topic.

[shane453]

My point in all this is that our downtown is so compact that you could lay a 925 foot building on its side and it would almost be longer than our entire downtown from certain angles.

The skyscraper part of downtown, maybe... But not if you count the rest of the urban inner core which IMO stretches from the Medical Center to Film Row and 13th St to I-40 and is pretty rapidly becoming an infilled single unit