Devon Energy Center

[Pete]

Here is a cropped from from Urban Pioneer from today.

You can see the construction elevators are just about completely gone now:

[Pete]

Great photos from today from Urban Pioneer.

To see hi-res versions, right-click and open in a new window:

[Thundercitizen]

For whatever they're worth (taken 9 Dec 2011):

[Pete]

Thanks for those!

I really like the way the rotunda looks now, much more transparent and there will be a lot more light when they take the cover off the top.

And in that last photo you can see the connection to the Colcord starting to take shape.

[mrktguy29]

Nice updated views.

[metro]

Good ole Richard Mize at dark tower is saying Devon is a $500 million tower and not $700+. Do you think this is how much they saved or sloppy journalism?

http://newsok.com/article/3630733

[ljbab728]

Great photos from today from Urban Pioneer.

To see hi-res versions, right-click and open in a new window:

It's interesting on the last picture how the concrete pillar curves in at the top and the steel pillar above that seems to curve back out and then in again.

[KayneMo]

I've noticed that too when driving by and in pictures I've taken. Interesting feature!

[UnFrSaKn]

[Pete]

Thanks William!

Looks like there will be outdoor balconies on top of the outcroppings on the garden wing:

[metro]

Geat pics Will. Thanks. Now I don't have to run down there today as planned.

[UnFrSaKn]

You better believe there's video goodness...I just got a bunch from a concert Friday night I gotta do first. Too bad I'm sitting around watching tv instead...
After I walked around, I stopped at the Downtown Library after talking with Steve. There was a scanning session underway in the Oklahoma Room with Buddy Johnson and others from RetroMetroOKC. I arrived at the last ten minutes. Link

Oh yeah, almost forgot. Got good closeup footage of the Skydance Bridge. That thing looks like it's at least halfway complete.

[Thunder]

Why do we have a broken window?

[Snowman]

Either one was not installed for something happening later or their was a construction accident. With how low it is their would have been plenty of time to replace it so I would guess the former.

[metro]

Good ole Richard Mize at dark tower is saying Devon is a $500 million tower and not $700+. Do you think this is how much they saved or sloppy journalism?

http://newsok.com/article/3630733

Anyone have any insight to my earlier comment?

[Pete]

I caught that $500 million comment too and I think he was just mistaken.

[Just the facts]

Anyone have any insight to my earlier comment?

Maybe the $500 million figure is correct and that explains the shorting coming in the TIF district.

[Pete]

Steve referenced the $750 million number in an article written just a month ago:

Brent Bryant, the city's economic development programs manager, said the project budget is short by $10 million because sales taxes anticipated from the purchase of materials for the $750 million Devon Energy Center came in at $5 million instead of $10 million. That, in turn, dropped the amount of matching “leverage” money from $10 million to $5 million that the city could obtain from the state.

Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-pro...#ixzz1gBvSu9SK

[Just the facts]

Steve referenced the $750 million number in an article written just a month ago:

Maybe so but the TIF is still coming up short and the money is only coming from one place right now - sales tax on Devon construction materials. That tells me they are spending less than they thought they would.

[Pete]

In a recent Gazette article it was stated that the shortfall was due to the percentage of labor to materials estimated by an outside consultant.

In other words, the money figure is the same but it was more slanted towards labor than materials, and the former does not generate sales tax. There was a detailed explanation and not once did it mention spending less than had been anticipated.

It also stated they still expected the property to appraise for $750 million because that's what the ad valorem taxes are based upon.

[Rover]

Maybe so but the TIF is still coming up short and the money is only coming from one place right now - sales tax on Devon construction materials. That tells me they are spending less than they thought they would.

It appears that Devon and Hines have smartly taken advantage of price pressures on construction materials and equipment to keep total costs under control. Unlike when the city builds projects and money has to be waited for, Devon could take advantage of smartly timed purchases. Hines is also a world class construction manager (and frankly, charges for it). So, as Pete points out, it isn't that they are necessarily spending less overall, but is able to keep the project at budget...something to be admired.

[dmoor82]

I have a question for anyone who might be able to answer it!Those structual floors in the crown,are they going to be used for something or are they just cosmetic?

[bluedogok]

They probably aren't done buying materials if the interior finish-out is not complete yet. Was FF&E included in the TIF as well? That could be a large chunk of tax revenues as well.

[Thunder]

What will they plan to do with the extra money that was initially projected to be spent? Will they surprise us? Add more LED lights? Maybe LED lights on the grounds and sidewalks? Extra fountain or two? More trees? A donkey petting zoo? lolol So, will they surprise us? Or just pocket the extra money (or stash in bank)?

[Pete]

hose structual floors in the crown,are they going to be used for something or are they just cosmetic?

The last concrete floor is all mechanical. On top of that (effectively, the roof) there will be more equipment.

I don't believe there will be much of anything in the steel parts of the crown... Just glass, steel and lighting.