Devon Energy Center

[metro]

The flames should just be on the lower floors shooting down so the building appears to be a rocket being launched. This will heighten the perception of OKC being a "cutting edge, progressive city". It will also encourage peripheral entrepreneurial opportunities for vendors selling marshmallows and wieners. THING BIG! Think Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest hot dog and marshmallow roast around a building that resembles a launching rocket! It's a record that could live indefinitely only to be broken again year after year...

I don't mean to ramble but the creative juices are flowing...

Even better, let's paint actual flames on the windows of Devon Tower and a big #8 for all the NASCAR and Bass Pro fans.

[jbrown84]

It would be like the ivory tower in Fantasia. I'd be happy going back to hunting in the land of the purple buffalo.

[okcpulse]

Awesome, jbrown84. Totally awesome.

[metro]

The Journal Record - Article

Devon Tower architect says project on track, going well despite economy
by Kelley Chambers
The Journal Record April 16, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY – Jon Pickard has spent his career designing buildings around the world.


Jon Pickard, principal of Pickard Chilton, gives an update on the plans for the Devon Energy world headquarters Wednesday to members of the American Institute of Architects Oklahoma chapter. (Photo by Maike Sabolich)

When he was hired by Devon Energy Corp. last year to design a world headquarters in downtown Oklahoma City, he knew it needed to be iconic.While the start of construction on the 54-story tower is still at least six months away, Pickard said the planning process has been surprisingly smooth.

“Normally on a project of this size and complexity you reach a moment where you say ‘Oh, my gosh, we’re off track,’ and you have to recalibrate,” he said. “This project has been as graceful and disciplined as any project I have ever touched in my entire career.”

And despite frozen capital markets and a drop in natural gas prices, the company still plans to keep the project on schedule with a completion date of 2012.

Klaholt Kimker, president of Devon Realty Advisors Inc., said work on the tower could begin as soon as October. He said the project can benefit from a slowdown in global construction that has lowered the cost of some building supplies and has freed up a pool of subcontractors from around the country.

The price tag for the project is expected to cost between $750 million and $800 million.
The only activity at the site now is a city project to realign an underground truck dock and move the entrance from Sheridan Avenue to Hudson Avenue.

A detached auditorium that was not part of the original plan when it was introduced in August is on the drawing board at the corner of Sheridan and Hudson avenues.

Pickard said if the company decides to build the auditorium, it will help define the urban face of the project on that corner. Kimker said Devon officials are still trying to determine if the auditorium is a good addition to the site on that corner.

Devon senior officials and the design team meet every two weeks in Houston to discuss the project. When construction on the site begins later this year, the meetings will be moved to Oklahoma City.

Pickard said he has been impressed with the thoroughness of Devon officials and the ability of Devon CEO Larry Nichols to spot even the slightest discrepancy in the drawings and plans.

“You go in prepared and you have the answers,” Pickard said.

With ongoing projects around the globe, Pickard said the Devon project has been an enjoyable process because of the support and encouragement of Devon and the local community.

“It will probably be a decade before I touch a project that is this much fun,” he said.

[Pete]

A detached auditorium that was not part of the original plan when it was introduced in August is on the drawing board at the corner of Sheridan and Hudson avenues.

Hard to visualize this... If it does get built, I hope it doesn't subtract too much from the public park.

[soonerguru]

Pete, my thoughts exactly. Sounds like a strange addition.

[sgray]

It would be like the ivory tower in Fantasia. I'd be happy going back to hunting in the land of the purple buffalo.

This would seem more appropriate to me.

[Caboose]

This would seem more appropriate to me.

This is the view looking south... Devon Tower in the foreground with an expanded and flaming Mount Trashmore on I-240 looming in the distance. Surely this is an idea the whole city could get behind.

[kevinpate]

Caboose, a tip of the hat.
THAT
WAS
GREAT!

[warreng88]

Devon plans to hire Flintco for headquarters project
by Kelley Chambers
The Journal Record May 21, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY – Devon Energy’s new headquarters building is a step closer to fruition.

John Wood, vice president and project officer with Hines, the firm handling development of the Devon site, said the company will execute a joint contract with Flintco Inc. and Atlanta-based Holder Construction Co.

With the selection of a general contractor, Wood said the project is on track for completion in late 2012.

In March 2008 Devon CEO Larry Nichols unveiled plans for a 54-story skyscraper and adjoining structures to be the company’s headquarters at a cost of $750 million to $800 million.

The Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority controls the land proposed for the Devon site. On Wednesday OCURA commissioners approved design development documents submitted by Devon World Headquarters LLC.

JoeVan Bullard, executive director of OCURA, said this is the time when more definite plans will be presented by Devon and its architecture and development team.

If Devon is able to close on the site Oct. 1, Wood said work would begin immediately on the west side of the City Center parking garage. Plans call for Devon to acquire the five-story garage, add an additional five stories and extend it west to Hudson Avenue.

Construction on the garage is scheduled to start Dec. 1 to remove the existing bridges that connect it to the east wing of the garage, which Devon does not plan to acquire, and begin adding floors. Wood estimated that work will take two months, followed by two more two-month phases that would have the garage completed by June.

The garage will be designed so that it does not give the impression of the back of a building facing west. Instead, Wood said the Devon fitness center will be housed in the garage and look out over Hudson Avenue. On the street level, shallow bays will have storefront glass to display artwork and promote community events.

“We tried to camouflage the garage and create a pedestrian-friendly environment,” Wood said.

As the project moves forward, Wood said the design and development teams are continuing to review every aspect of the plan and holding meetings every two weeks.
“We’ve been at this now for over a year and this design has really evolved a great deal and it continues to evolve,” he said.

http://journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recid=98847

[Ash_Fox]

Now my mother and I can finally say something in public.

[warreng88]

Now my mother and I can finally say something in public.

What does that mean? I assume you are tied to the project.

[Ash_Fox]

My grandfather works for Flintco. When he found out the family was sworn to secrecy until it was released via the media.

[warreng88]

My grandfather works for Flintco. When he found out the family was sworn to secrecy until it was released via the media.

Ah, got it. Tell him congrats and we look forward to seeing his work.

[CCOKC]

I am Ash's mom and she has gone to bed. My stepfather doesn't know if he will be on the Devon Tower yet. He just finished the Embassy Suites in Norman and is now at the Hospital across the interstate from there. He is hoping to get the Devon because it will last until it is time for him to retire and it could be his last job.

[BG918]

It's been known in the OKC design/construction community for the past couple months that Flintco/Holder would build the tower. Their jobsite offices will most likely be in the office building at the NW corner of Sheridan & Hudson.

[JLCinOKC]

The orientation is wrong, the location isn't exact and I'm not going to vouch for the size in relation to the rest of downtown but here is what Devon Tower will look like from Bricktown.

[Insider]

Freakin' Sweet!!!!!

[OKCisOK4me]

Yeah, that placement would put it about right into the foot of the Westin/Sheraton (whatever it's called). ;-)

[BDP]

“We tried to camouflage the garage and create a pedestrian-friendly environment,” Wood said.

Uh-oh. Will people here be able to find it?

; )

[Thunder]

Uh-oh. Will people here be able to find it?

; )

Not sure. We will probably see a Seattle blogger declaring no parking can be found.

[Guy Noir]

Is that the new Tower announced today, that marks the finish of the racing course on the river?

[BDP]

Seattle bloggers and everyone the Oklahoman talks to. We have tons of parking and, yet, half of everything written about development in downtown or bricktown mentions parking issues. My guess is people here have a hard time recognizing a parking garage even when it's not camouflaged.

[andy157]

This is the view looking south... Devon Tower in the foreground with an expanded and flaming Mount Trashmore on I-240 looming in the distance. Surely this is an idea the whole city could get behind.

One of us needs a new compass. Mine says I'm looking to the East

[Tex]

The view is looking northwest. This is standing in front of Harkins Theater, The Centennial Condo building is on the left which is where Red Pen and Bolero are at. Both of you need a new compass.