Devon Energy Center

[OKCisOK4me]

I suspect, sadly, they are not behind the curve on these matters. They knew how weak the structure was of the WTC in NYC---a couple of hopelessly fragile buildings that should never have been built.

Oh, of course. I, lol, just have to entertain myself in the morning with my dry humor. Makes the work day go by that much faster...

[SkyWestOKC]

Kinggober, later tonight. I just got back from 6 hours of the airshow and am absolutely beat.

[jmarkross]

It will be interesting when they finish the northern part of the current floor being built...it will give us the first good look at the base of the Tower and set the stage for the rest of it. Reminds me of little kids in the back seat saying..."are we there yet?" Does anyone have a current prediction for the topping out date? It is time for CNG-driven automobiles and trucks...maybe this will be the home of that revolution. Hell--you could even fill your own car at home with some degree of modifications I suppose...anyone know about that? Electric cars will be around some day in the future--no time soon in any real numbers. CNG is the answer...just like T. Boone Pickens says.

[jmarkross]

Another question for those who know construction...the two cranes on either side of the Tower will be (or are now) physically connected to the structure itself as it rises--right? Sounds silly to ask--but I just would like to understand all I can about how these things are erected.

[architect5311]

Another question for those who know construction...the two cranes on either side of the Tower will be (or are now) physically connected to the structure itself as it rises--right? Sounds silly to ask--but I just would like to understand all I can about how these things are erected.

As seen here during The Pinnacle tower construction in Nashville, tower cranes are connected to the tower as it rises. Notice how closely the glazing system (glass) follows the tower as it rises.

....They knew how weak the structure was of the WTC in NYC---a couple of hopelessly fragile buildings that should never have been built.

Disagree, not many, if any buildings with steel or partial steel structure could withstand what occurred to the WTC......

[jn1780]

As seen here during The Pinnacle tower construction in Nashville, tower cranes are connected to the tower as it rises. Notice how closely the glazing system (glass) follows the tower as it rises.





Disagree, not many, if any buildings with steel or partial steel structure could withstand what occurred to the WTC......

Your right. They weren't thinking about people wanting to fly airplanes into buildings in the 1970's or how big planes would be in 30 years. I think most of the new skyscrapers being built today has a concrete core.

[jmarkross]

Thanks architect5311...as usual you have the answers to questions regarding construction--and with such great visual aids. It is like talking to your lawyer--at no charge! Imagine that! Perhaps I was unkind, architecturally, to the designers of the WTC--I suppose what I meant more was the miscreants knew just what building to choose--and not just by height. I believe the evil one behind it had some training in the field...

[BIG GENE]

Hi everyone... I heard about this thread and thought i'd check it out. I'm Big Gene... I operate tower crane number one .. The Easternmost.... night shift. I'm here from Las Vegas (by way of Dallas). I have 32 years experience operating cranes.... The last 12 in Las Vegas building high rises. Las vegas construction is dead, sooo... here i am. Closer to home anyway, lol. It should be a great project for the next couple of years. The Holder/Flintco folks seem to be really great to work for... a pleasant surprise from just being another number on a payroll as most jobs are nowadays. Someone said there was some comments about the birds attacking the operators as we climb tower one.... so i wanted to read on it, but haven't found it yet. They are just protecting their babies. They built a nest on level five and hatched four of the five eggs they layed. They fly around our heads chirping and sometimes slapping us with their wings to distract us from their nest....lol. Hell, we only try to help them by putting out food and water for them, but it's just their nature i guess. Lol. I'll try to put up some pics from time to time. I like Oklahoma City so far. It should be fun here! Cheers...

[Pete]

Welcome Big Gene!

[OKC@heart]

Thanks architect5311...as usual you have the answers to questions regarding construction--and with such great visual aids. It is like talking to your lawyer--at no charge! Imagine that! Perhaps I was unkind, architecturally, to the designers of the WTC--I suppose what I meant more was the miscreants knew just what building to choose--and not just by height. I believe the evil one behind it had some training in the field...

The Designers of the WTC DID in fact consider the possibility of a jet liner accidentally crashing into the towers. You will notice that it was not the impact that did them in, as they remained in place for nearly 40 mins following the impact before the global structural failure.

If anything was overlooked it would be the temperature range that the jet fuel burns at and the ability of the fireproofing to resist such high temperature for the duration.

Steels weakness is heat and fire, under such conditions it loses its rigidity and once the steel had been exposed to the extreme heat of the burning jet fuel for such a long duration, that is exactly what happened and when the fist floor gave way it lead to a impact load that far exceeded any designed threshold and we all saw with horror the devastating result of a global structural failure.

There was nothing structurally lacking with the WTC buildings.

The point is that anytime you have a group of people who have the vilest of intentions to inflict mass harm through the destruction of a building, given enough time, resources and expertise they can and will find a way to succeed if given the opportunity. This applies even to concrete buildings.

Every structural system has inherent weaknesses that can be mitigated to some degree through the design and recognition of its strengths and weaknesses and allowing the design to respond accordingly.

I know that this is a bit off topic however your comment confused me as it seemed dismissive as if the WTC buildings were somehow inherently flawed and that everyone should have know that to be the case. When they in fact absolutely were not, nor were the designers at fault in any way. If anything the designers, Minoru Yamasaki, (Architect) & Emery Roth and Sons consulting Engineers, should be lauded as heroes because of the way that when they did finally succumb that the exterior structure of the skin of the building acted as a sort of containment fence that prevented much greater damage to the buildings in a much wider area surrounding the two doomed towers.

The lives that might have been lost had the towers not performed so well and resisted collapse for as long as they did allowed who knows how many more husband, wives, father and mothers who were able to actually come home from the buildings that horrid day.

Please don't take this as personal, rather just want to make sure the record is straight on your statement that you made previously.

[Dustin]

Hi everyone... I heard about this thread and thought i'd check it out. I'm Big Gene... I operate tower crane number one .. The Easternmost.... night shift. I'm here from Las Vegas (by way of Dallas). I have 32 years experience operating cranes.... The last 12 in Las Vegas building high rises. Las vegas construction is dead, sooo... here i am. Closer to home anyway, lol. It should be a great project for the next couple of years. The Holder/Flintco folks seem to be really great to work for... a pleasant surprise from just being another number on a payroll as most jobs are nowadays. Someone said there was some comments about the birds attacking the operators as we climb tower one.... so i wanted to read on it, but haven't found it yet. They are just protecting their babies. They built a nest on level five and hatched four of the five eggs they layed. They fly around our heads chirping and sometimes slapping us with their wings to distract us from their nest....lol. Hell, we only try to help them by putting out food and water for them, but it's just their nature i guess. Lol. I'll try to put up some pics from time to time. I like Oklahoma City so far. It should be fun here! Cheers...

Your name suites you well! lol. Welcome!

[HOT ROD]

It will be interesting when they finish the northern part of the current floor being built...it will give us the first good look at the base of the Tower and set the stage for the rest of it. Reminds me of little kids in the back seat saying..."are we there yet?" Does anyone have a current prediction for the topping out date? It is time for CNG-driven automobiles and trucks...maybe this will be the home of that revolution. Hell--you could even fill your own car at home with some degree of modifications I suppose...anyone know about that? Electric cars will be around some day in the future--no time soon in any real numbers. CNG is the answer...just like T. Boone Pickens says.

for what it's worth jmark - here in China, all or almost all transit bus and taxi are already doing CNG; and I am in the middle of China (not in Shanghai as most of the west ONLY sees). I imagine that all (or at least all big cities) in China (there's 50+ cities over 1 million people) use CNG in transit.

Oh, Sinkansen-type (bullet trains) are in service and being built everywhere; here in the middle of China - 2 hours from Chengdu, Sichuan to Chongqing (the world's biggest municipality - 32 million people) at 330 km. Will be just over 1 hour once the dual track is complete. With more highspeed lines to radiate from Chongqing. It is faster and cheaper (only 119 CNY/$17) to take the bullet train than flying. ... This in the MIDDLE of China!!

If only the same could be said for the USA. But I digress, .....

[HOT ROD]

Welcome to OKC, Big Gene - I (born/raised expat from OKC) hope you enjoy your stay and could consider staying/adding to my wonderful up coming hometown. Definitely appreciate your insight and prospective into the construction and Im sure I speak for everyone on the forum. ....

[Lauri101]

Welcome to the forum Big Gene. That'll be me, waving at you this morning as I get in at 5 AM!
Nice story about the birds. We've worried about them from the ground and if they'd cause an operator to hurt himself.

[jmarkross]

Thanks OKC@heart for the comments on the WTC...you are right, of course, and I am happy to learn more about all these things. I certainly do not take any offense--instead--I appreciate enlightenment. And what a joy to have someone like Big Gene on this forum...that is about as good as it gets! I hope he has a good time while here...there is always a lot to see/do anywhere, if you have the time and look for it. And I see HotRod is in China now--another great asset. Hats off to Peter for laying the groundwork for this extraordinary group here. I enjoy it immensely.

[USG '60]

Gene, your perspective should be incredible for photos. Thanks for coming to see us.

[ourulz2000]

How tall is the structure now from the top core?

[OKC@heart]

Hi everyone... I heard about this thread and thought i'd check it out. I'm Big Gene... I operate tower crane number one .. The Easternmost.... night shift. I'm here from Las Vegas (by way of Dallas). I have 32 years experience operating cranes.... The last 12 in Las Vegas building high rises. Las vegas construction is dead, sooo... here i am. Closer to home anyway, lol. It should be a great project for the next couple of years. The Holder/Flintco folks seem to be really great to work for... a pleasant surprise from just being another number on a payroll as most jobs are nowadays. Someone said there was some comments about the birds attacking the operators as we climb tower one.... so i wanted to read on it, but haven't found it yet. They are just protecting their babies. They built a nest on level five and hatched four of the five eggs they layed. They fly around our heads chirping and sometimes slapping us with their wings to distract us from their nest....lol. Hell, we only try to help them by putting out food and water for them, but it's just their nature i guess. Lol. I'll try to put up some pics from time to time. I like Oklahoma City so far. It should be fun here! Cheers...

Welcome Big Gene! We are excited to have another set of eyes on the site! Man I bet you have a great view from where you sit! Do you know at what intervals or floor levels they will need to jump the tower cranes? I assume that it is once they are high enough to tie the base back to the structure, but was just curious as to how often they tie it back to the building and how close they let the crane get to the floors they are working on prior to jumping the crane.

I hope that you enjoy your time in our city! It certainly is a different pace than Vegas, but we think it has its own unique feel about it that makes it great! There are several forums on things that are going on in and around the city so you can get info on things to do in your off time. Again welcome and thanks in advance for any perspective that you can provide that will further our understanding on this fantastic project!

[vandy]

Some shots from the noon-hour today:

1. Perspective shot from east ground level of the east parking garage.


2. Perspective shot from east ground level of the east parking garage.


3. Looking towards west side of site thru 3rd floor of east garage


4. Looking southeast from westernmost side of 3rd floor of east garage


5. Forms going on the west core


6. Looking southwest from westernmost side of 3rd floor of east garage


7. Looking south from 3rd floor of east garage

[Pete]

Looks like the podium is starting to go up as well!

Thanks, Vandy.

[BIG GENE]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. Getting ready for work now. The cranes can stand 300 feet tall freestanding. After that they are tied in approximately every 80-100 feet. They climb as the building does. Thats another thread in itself. You can look up tower crane climbing on u tube to learn more about the process. Have a great day!

[Lauri101]

great shots, Vandy!

I am fast getting to point where the tower will be too tall to get a good perspective from my vantage point. I'll take my camera tomorrow and see what I can get.

I now have shade in my office in afternoon!

[therondo]

It seems they're starting to pick up pace on the floors! i can't wait to see this b uilding shoot up! What a great time to live in OKC!!!!!

[SkyWestOKC]

Matthew,
We checked into this and wanted to follow-up with you. Devon’s security team was very surprised at this incident, as they have never objected to people taking photographs of the construction project. In fact, they often encourage people to take photos from safe areas within our garage (the ninth floor offers the best views!) and even highlight points of interest to photographers when they see them in our garage. Thus, we think a contractor working on the project may have asked you or others to leave, not knowing that photography is allowed. Devon security only asks people to leave if they are loitering, peeking in cars, or are in an unsafe area where construction is ongoing. For example, several areas of our garage are closed for construction, such as the top floor and areas along the west side where our wellness center is being built. We want to thank you for bringing this to our attention, as Devon’s security team has talked with our contractors on the project to let them know that we do not object to photography as long as photos are taken from a safe area. If this happens to you again, please ask the person’s name and let us know of the incident.
Again, we appreciate your interest in the project.
Best,
Alesha
Alesha M. Leemaster
Senior Communications Specialist
Devon Energy Corp.
405 228 8413 office

Good news.

[jmarkross]

Well done SkywestOKC! I had a feeling Devon would not be opposed to this fine forum wanting to observe and document this fine project. You must have used a great written/verbal exposition to have achieved these results.