Whole Foods

[Steve]

I tried to upload it here but had trouble doing so. The sign rendering is at www.okccentral.com.

[metro]

Sorry I didn't get them up last night folks, I had more important things like being a dad. Here you go.

[okclee]

Interestingly different. First WF I've seen that looks industrial.

[BG918]

Very cool, I like it!

[Martin]

i like it... i'm curious what it looks like from western. -M

[metro]

Here are a few other WF for comparison.





TULSA


Here is a Central Market in Plano

[rcjunkie]

For Christ sake, it's a building, most go to Whole Foods for whats inside.

[circuitboard]

I think it looks great and will fit right in with the area. It is different from any other whole foods I have seen. I bet those wood or whatever material louvers, will look better in real life.

[metro]

For Christ sake, it's a building, most go to Whole Foods for whats inside.

No need to use the Lord's name in vain if it's "just a building," I am stoked that we are finally about to get a Whole Foods. Just was underwhelmed at the potential that block holds versus the renderings that were released yesterday. It's not even on par with Elliott's other projects. I guess time will tell and I'm sure Steve will get the rest of renderings soon. The project has so much potential as a Mixed Use Development, I was hoping we'd see something like Dallas' Park Lane store and general area, especially since we know other upscale retailers have intent to come to OKC (i.e.Container Store) coupled with the fact that Chesapeake has toyed with the idea of nearby workforce housing. Was hoping we'd see some lowrise (3-7 story) housing and retail on the bottom floor. That's all. I'm also excited that we are finally starting to see how this area will shape together.

[metro]

One thing I just noticed, Mark Cavagnero, one of the top 5 architecture firms in the country was the lead architect on this, partnered with local Rand Elliot. Mark designed one of the flagship WF stores in Chicago, you can see some of the theme mimic'd in this design. See link below.

http://cavagnero.com/#WHF

[redrunner]

I don't think this is designed by Rand Eliott. The sign displays Mark Cavagnero Associates Architects and I'm assuming they are the lead design architect. Their website shows their Chicago Whole Foods project and I notice a few similar cues between the OKC store rendering and the Chicago store.

http://cavagnero.com/#WHF
http://www.metalconstructionnews.com...nic+philosophy

[metro]

red, see post above yours

[redrunner]

Yeah. We practically posted at the same time. Notice the time stamp?

[wsucougz]

Red, do not question the metro.

[Pete]

Looks like a great architectural firm and I'm sure CHK is paying a lot of money for their services.

I wonder how this relationship was forged? They are based in SF and 95% of their work is in Northern Cal.

Wonder if they will be involved with the surrounding development as well.


At any rate, both Devon and CHK have brought world-class architects in to design projects (as well as making extensive use of locals) and that's a great thing for OKC.

[metro]

Pete, WF typically only works with a handful of architects. These guys have done other WF' so I imagine they were brought in from Whole Foods and not CHK. Nonetheless it is good for OKC to get more outside exposure on this front.

[Pete]

Not sure about that Metro, as it looks like they have only done one WF's and that was exterior design.

Usually stores are much more concerned about the interior layout than the outside, as they typically have to adapt to a larger development.


Perhaps WF's recommended them after their Chicago experience.

[metro]

Could be, I think it was bluedogok, or one of the posters from Austin (WF HQ) that gave some good insight and even an article in one of the other WF threads talking about this very issue. We may need to dig it up to get our answer. My recollection was that he gave one or two firms that typically designed all their stores and this firm was a new one that got the Chicago flagship gig and now they are on the WF approved list or whatever you want to call it.

[Spartan]

I think the design of this location is great. Keep in mind that this WAS going to be one of the smaller stores in the first place. So all of those renderings and photos posted don't mean very much, because most of those are considerably larger than this one.

Where is that Chicago Flagship store? That looks like it's south of the Loop..interesting.

[bluedogok]

Could be, I think it was bluedogok, or one of the posters from Austin (WF HQ) that gave some good insight and even an article in one of the other WF threads talking about this very issue. We may need to dig it up to get our answer. My recollection was that he gave one or two firms that typically designed all their stores and this firm was a new one that got the Chicago flagship gig and now they are on the WF approved list or whatever you want to call it.

They have used multiple architects on some stores, mainly the flagship type stores using one design firm for the exterior, one they typically use for interior (one of those here in Austin) and sometimes a local consultant for local interaction. The Austin firm that I know of has done mainly interiors and a some exteriors in some of the strip/big box mall locations. When it comes time for a higher level of design they tend to go with a more design oriented firm for the exterior and leave the interior for those who know their floor plan very well. The people that I knew at WF and the local firm have moved onto other things/places a few years ago so I don't know what the relationships are for the OKC project.

They are a hard company to get into to get projects if you aren't already established with them like many companies are. The Austin firm has done work for them for a long time.

[Dustin]

I love it!

[Dustin]

Also, It's not going to happen, but it would of been cool if the DNA shaped wind turbines that are going atop the OMRF were also going on the WF to show Chesapeake's commitment to clean energy. That would look awesome!

[OKC@heart]

For Christ sake, it's a building, most go to Whole Foods for whats inside.

Well like it or not, it has been proven that humans have a psychological response to structures and individual responses and tastes as it relates to aesthetics. Because this is an open and public forum, people will likely express their individual responses to the proposed design solution.

I for one am underwhelmed by the design approach. That said, I know how the industry goes and there is no way for me to know all of the design criteria and constraints that have been placed on the designer to have arrived at this solution, but I certainly hope for a more thoughtful and refined approach. In the example in post#19 Metro provided images of some of the others. I liked the first shown image and the fourth (Central Market). Really did not care at all for the one in Tulsa, or the other one.

I am hoping that they were able to spend some more time on the design of the structure and many refinements have taken place. The Brown either wood or wood looking material needs to be broken up with some relief.

[ljbab728]

The design as shown looks fine to me and to those who don't approve. IT'S A GROCERY STORE!! IT'S A GROCERY STORE!! It's not the Guggenheim Museum or Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Waters. Chill and everything will be fine.

[Spartan]

The design as shown looks fine to me and to those who don't approve. IT'S A GROCERY STORE!! IT'S A GROCERY STORE!! It's not the Guggenheim Museum or Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Waters. Chill and everything will be fine.

It's not a Homeland. It IS a destination chain.