Devon Energy Center

[jmarkross]

I thought the tower will be at least twice the height to the tallest one downtown? That picture just made it look shorter than 850... :-(

I thought that as well, at first glance. But--with Chase at 500 ft.--and Devon at 850 ft., it is rather less than twice as high. So, the diagram is correct...the initial renderings and models look closer to twice the size--but--they are on the 925 ft. projection. And, since the final height is not known...we'll have to wait and see!

[soonerwilliam]

How do I get the new updated Devon construction cam back. I found this new thread, but don't know where the cam is located? Thanks

[ndmoore]

How do I get the new updated Devon construction cam back. I found this new thread, but don't know where the cam is located? Thanks

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/w...ructionCam.jpg

[BoulderSooner]

One great advantage for China--and many other countries more recently developed--is they were not so deeply entrenched in gasoline-based transportation, they were able to jump into the fray with better visions of the future without the burden of a gigantic infrastructure dedicated and designed for 1950's-style technology--a distinct advantage. I am sure they will be marketing CNG vehicles into the USA soon--and should do very well. Detroit is still hopelessly behind on this--Ford being better positioned than GM. GM is a company which simply has *no chance* of survival--for many varied reasons. Chrysler is a boutique, the foreign car-makers located in the South are the future of the USA-auto industry.

GM is the #1 car company in china .. it is far from DEAD and when did CNG become "renewable" energy?

[ndmoore]

Taken just now!

[jmarkross]

GM is the #1 car company in china .. it is far from DEAD and when did CNG become "renewable" energy?

I think GM is dead in the USA...it has financial commitments it can never meet with unions. GM is throwing their entire business into China.

[dteagle]

I thought that as well, at first glance. But--with Chase at 500 ft.--and Devon at 850 ft., it is rather less than twice as high. So, the diagram is correct...the initial renderings and models look closer to twice the size--but--they are on the 925 ft. projection. And, since the final height is not known...we'll have to wait and see!

Devon has stated that the height will be 850 feet based on an assessment of their actual needs. What do we have, other than pure speculation, to suggest that the actual height is unknown? Devon is not an ego-driven company, which is part of why they've produced such great results for their shareholders. It would be surprising to learn that they've assessed their needs at 850 feet, but will go significantly higher for bragging rights. I think that there would have to be some other motivation in play.

For the record, I would be thrilled to learn that the building is going higher.

[SkyWestOKC]

Adding on to dteagle's post, I think the only way they will make the tower taller is if they acquire another company soon. That would give them a reasonable excuse to the shareholders for going taller. Say even a smaller company, similar to the SandRidge merger-acquisition of Arena Resources.

I would also like to see it go taller.

[kinggober]

thanks for the photo ndmoore

[OKCisOK4me]

It's safe to say that we'd all like to see it go taller, but I honestly don't think that will happen. As stated before, based on only pure speculation, as no one has released any kind of details, we've all seen the work done but don't know the specifications of weight loads. Are we to assume that the columns they put into the ground are deep enough to support another 75 feet worth of building? Your guess is as good as mine. Only time will tell.

[hipsterdoofus]

Devon is not an ego-driven company,

I don't think they would be building this if they didn't have some ego...

[SkyWestOKC]

They are building it because they need everyone in one location. Not spread out over 3 or 4 office buildings in downtown. Efficiency first. I am sure they looked at a campus like Chesapeake, but decided one building would be a better fit.

[hipsterdoofus]

You're right..no ego at all..to make it nearly twice as tall as the other buildings downtown..riiight...

[soonermike]

I don't think they would be building this if they didn't have some ego...

If that was the case, then they wouldn't have cut floors from the tower when they decided to build the offsite data center. The goal is to stop paying rent and have employees in 5 buildings but instead have everyone in one owned location.
Also, there are no secret plans to make the building taller. One thing about Larry Nichols; he says what he means and means what he says. Unless something changes very soon and there are several new employees added to the company, this building will meet Devon's needs and it will be 50 stories @ 850'.

[soonerwilliam]

Thanks ndmoore! I've got the cam back.

[Mesta Parker]

China can act quick because it is a dictatorship and does not has to worry about appeasing various factions. That being said, take anything China says or does environmentally with a grain of salt. My experience with the Chinese, which is extensive, is that in most cases they are long on talk and short on action; especially if it adversely impacts economic development. The only reason Beijing's air quality improved was because of the Olympics. Before that, like other Chinese cities, unless there was a stiff wind, on a clear day at noon you didn't even need to squint to look at the sun! Had a Chinese colleague tell me he had heard the sky was more blue in the US, but he didn't believe it till he saw it for himself.

[TaurusNYC]

Since the height of this building was reduced from 925 feet to 850 feet, I am wondering how this will affect its shape. Will the taper still begin at the height in the original plan, and simply taper less dramatically? Or will the taper begin at a lower floor to achieve the same shape? Has anyone seen any blueprints of the building since it was modified from its original height?

any answers?

[jmarkross]

Adding on to dteagle's post, I think the only way they will make the tower taller is if they acquire another company soon. That would give them a reasonable excuse to the shareholders for going taller. Say even a smaller company, similar to the SandRidge merger-acquisition of Arena Resources.

I would also like to see it go taller.

I think an over 800-ft building--instead of a campus of 4, 20-story types--certainly has something to do with ego. And there is nothing wrong with that, it is what made this country great. What suggests the actual height is unknown is the two different projections with a childishly implausible explanation. The style of the building is not conservative--and I applaud that. Any tower over 400-ft or so is ego-driven. Not maybe in NYC or SF or anywhere where land is at an absolute premium...not at all the case in OKC. When companies have the where-with-all to finance and construct icons like this...there is a plan afoot. And I, for one, wish them all the best and Godspeed at doing everything they can to be the best energy producer they can be and proudly reinforce that with a monumental structure in their hometown. I say add a bit to it and make it over 1000-ft...it seems more than possible, and if need be--add a question to the next statewide election to see if the public would really like it! One must always remember--this is a forum of thoughts--and these are just mine, regarding this building. Nothing more--nothing less.

Does anyone think that going taller with more space would present a problem with renting out any excess space? I think it would well qualify as "desirable"...

[jmarkross]

Your insights into China would be greatly appreciated by me--and most others on this forum as well, I suspect. Please do so often. What are your opinions of what GM is doing in China?

[jmarkross]

If that was the case, then they wouldn't have cut floors from the tower when they decided to build the offsite data center. The goal is to stop paying rent and have employees in 5 buildings but instead have everyone in one owned location.
Also, there are no secret plans to make the building taller. One thing about Larry Nichols; he says what he means and means what he says. Unless something changes very soon and there are several new employees added to the company, this building will meet Devon's needs and it will be 50 stories @ 850'.

I think if that were to be completely true...then they have an absolutely brain-dead Public Relations Dept. and Advertising Staff. That does not seem to be the case to me. Mystery is a wonderful--and *free* method of creating press...ask Infiniti Motors...or many cosmetic companies.

[jmarkross]

It's safe to say that we'd all like to see it go taller, but I honestly don't think that will happen. As stated before, based on only pure speculation, as no one has released any kind of details, we've all seen the work done but don't know the specifications of weight loads. Are we to assume that the columns they put into the ground are deep enough to support another 75 feet worth of building? Your guess is as good as mine. Only time will tell.

Those big old cores look to me--and I am only a lay person in construction--like they could hold up anything they need to...at least a few more floors--if they were designed for 925-ft, it seems unlikely the design plans changed this late in the game. I think 925-ft was an early idea, and look at the hub-bub it got for this project--world-wide. A few more added would be a nice kick in the butt and if I was a Dallas or Houston oil interest...I would be nervous, after all, they created this image obsession--did they not? Tall buildings did not hurt Dallas' expansion in the 60's to today...now they are overwhelmed with problems...OKC can be the new Dallas....and get all the good stuff, like maybe a nice big stadium and an NFL football team! Huge cities are unmanageable...mid-size cities are where the future is.

[jmarkross]

And also--this kind of speculation is fun--and certainly perked up this forum, which was getting a bit "dry" lately...

[mburlison]

Maybe they'll have a grassy knoll out front, and then a nice pad where the black helicopters can land...

[Architect2010]

Umm. A responsibly built, planned, and efficient urban skyscraper is definitely less ego-tistic than anything thing else they could have built. Have you been to Chesapeake's campus? That's a big ego. Not to say that it didn't influence the creation of this tower, because it did.

[Diesel54]

I think if that were to be completely true...then they have an absolutely brain-dead Public Relations Dept. and Advertising Staff. That does not seem to be the case to me. Mystery is a wonderful--and *free* method of creating press...ask Infiniti Motors...or many cosmetic companies.

Devon isn't Infiniti Motors. They don't sell you anything and they don't need to appear mysterious.

Devon's reason for the change in height was totally logical. I don't really understand why you question it.