Devon Energy Center

[SkyWestOKC]

Yep, was noticing that myself.

[K5FAL]

I wonder what they did with the concrete pump at the top of the building?

Nevermind...it's up there....just folded up or out of sight

[SkyWestOKC]

Must have been an illusion. Looked like the crawler crane had a piece of the tower crane suspended. But I guess the tower crane is still standing?

[dmoor82]

I'm Just thinking about how BIG this tower will truly be and we still have about 600ft and 35 more stories to go and it's already making an impact on our skyline with 250ft and 15 stories!This tower is gonna be a Monster!

[jn1780]

Must have been an illusion. Looked like the crawler crane had a piece of the tower crane suspended. But I guess the tower crane is still standing?

They added pieces to the tower crane's boom. It can now reach all of the western site now.

[BG918]

I'm Just thinking about how BIG this tower will truly be and we still have about 600ft and 35 more stories to go and it's already making an impact on our skyline with 250ft and 15 stories!This tower is gonna be a Monster!

I still find it amazing that 15 stories is 250 ft. It shows you how much more floor to floor height is needed for all of the above ceiling systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire suppression, communications, ethernet, etc.).

[Mike63]

I was curious on the windows. Do they lift large sections (pre-built) in at a time, or build a frame in place then set glass into frame? Many scenarios are running through my mind. Have not seen a picture of glass going on.......hint, hint.

[ndmoore]

Overheard their morning meeting (the english version) they have every day.

- The buck hoist will be operational to the 13th floor by the end of the day today.

- Crawler Crane will be moved over to the east closer to the tower and will start work on the Rotunda beginning next week.

[OKCisOK4me]

buck hoist = construction elevator??

[ndmoore]

buck hoist = construction elevator??

You are correct!

[okclee]

I believe I saw the hoist going up and down yesterday, it really gets to moving fast, like an express elevator. Not sure if it was going to the 13th floor or not.

[jmarkross]

Any word yet on the reality of an actual named 13th floor?

[okcmomentum]

I was curious on the windows. Do they lift large sections (pre-built) in at a time, or build a frame in place then set glass into frame? Many scenarios are running through my mind. Have not seen a picture of glass going on.......hint, hint.

Mike - Yes, they are premade panels that are loaded onto each floor in bulk and then they are lifted into place individually with the tower cranes. They showed pictures of how they do it in the lobby of the current building about a month ago. The panels are maybe 4 to 5 feet wide and then vary in height based on which floor they are working on.

[Pete]

Here's a photo (sorry for the poor quality) of the emerging skyline from near Baptist Hospital taken on 10/18/10.

I really like the way all the buildings line up from this angle... Imagine Devon Tower way taller than even Chase!

[ndmoore]

I took this yesterday around 5.

[OKCisOK4me]

^^^Where is that crawler crane loading/unloading at? The Crystal Bridge??

In regard to the window installation, to me, they look too big to be shipped to each floor via the buck hoist (look at the doorways with the numbering on them, in the picture above. They're too small to host those glass panels). Therefore, I would have to imagine that they're being lifted into place via Crane #1 from ground level. The installation is moving pretty fast considering.

Also, I wonder why they're leaving that gap on the north face of the building on the 7th floor level. I can understand the gap the level below for access to the roof of the Podium Building. Last but not least, I assume they will glass the northwest inlet of the 8th floor this time around as it is not connected to the yet to be built Rotunda. Any concrete evidence or understanding would be appreciated so thanks in advance!

PS, ndmoore, you need to post that pic on one of the national sites. Very nice pic!

[metro]

If you look closely at the pic that gap you mention is where the construction elevator is

[OKCisOK4me]

I know that. What's your point??

[OKC@heart]

OKCisOK4me,

The glass panels are not delivered via the construction elevators, but rather they are delivered on pallets via the Tower crane to the floors on the material landings that they have positioned around the tower. You can see them extending beyond the tower and are supported with re-shoring to resist the overturning forces caused by the materials being picked and set by the cranes.

[jn1780]

Also, I wonder why they're leaving that gap on the north face of the building on the 7th floor level. I can understand the gap the level below for access to the roof of the Podium Building.

My guess is that they either can't install the panel above or its too much of a pain to install until the panel below is put in.

[OKCisOK4me]

OKCisOK4me,

The glass panels are not delivered via the construction elevators, but rather they are delivered on pallets via the Tower crane to the floors on the material landings that they have positioned around the towers. You can see them extending beyond the tower and are supported with Re shoring to resist the overturning forces caused by the materials being picked and set by the cranes.

Thank you for responding with an intelligent answer. I forgot about those pads that are placed in different positions around the tower like a spiral staircase. That makes much more sense! Again, thanks!

[OKCisOK4me]

My guess is that they either can't install the panel above or its too much of a pain to install until the panel below is put in.

I guess that means that every floor is going to be like that then (me sad)...

[thunderup]

I saw the panels get loaded on the floors from the elevator on saturday

[ndmoore]

A majority of the glass panels are not installed by the tower cranes. There is actually a small crane on the floor above the floor they are installing that reaches over to the floor below and picks up the glass and installs it. This make installation quicker and frees up the tower cranes. So technically this is why there are going to be gaps going up the building for now, they NEED that floor above for the small crane.

I think once the podium stairwell (Northeast side) is complete then the podium will be glassed in. Also once the Rotunda is complete that will be glassed in and they will be able to fill in some of the gaps that you see missing in some of the photos.

All of the buildings are connected, so they have to wait for some of the construction to be completed on the podium or Rotunda before they can glass in some of the Tower.

Also, they have been putting in the cable supports for the cable-net curtain wall on the first floor.

[dedndcrusr]

I must say, they're really kicking butt lately. Rebar for the next floor's columns is already going up. They seem to be whipping through a floor every 6 days or so.