Devon Energy Center

[Pete]

Was in Devon yesterday and peeked into the Illy Coffee shop under construction between Nebu and the Rotunda.

They look to still be several weeks out. Lots left to do.

[Snowman]

Who names these restaurants? Nebu & Vast only sound good compared to Illy

[Pete]

Illy is the name of the coffee company that will run the shop and feature their products.

Here are a couple of photos of the auditorium. They are almost done; seats are in, you can see the wood accents through the glass wall and mobile LED screens if you look closely. Also, the red railing on the staircase was only for construction and the permanent one is in keeping with the other neutral tones used throughout the complex:

[Pete]

And here's one of Sheridan which looks to be complete between Hudson and Robinson, but they are still working on the sidewalks to to west in front of the Lunch Box.

Also, still working on Hudson just west of Devon.

[Pete]

Here's a bunch from inside.

From near the east entrance:



These sandstone panels look fantastic in person:



Connection to the Colcord Hotel not quite ready:



The original model revealed at the press conference:



You can now take the escalators to the 2nd level in the rotunda but the other levels are for employees only.

You can see the 2nd level walkway is transluscent:



This is where the building will connect with the Underground system via a walkway to the City Center East Garage:



You can see they are framing out the pedestrian corridor in the garage on the 3rd level:



View up Harvey:



These show the remaining work at the south entrance:

[Pete]

Besides the ground level, the rest of the Garden Wing is filled with conference rooms. I didn't realize until later that these areas were for employees only, but at least I got some good photos.

This is looking back towards the tower just as you are about to cross into the meeting area of the 2nd floor:



Diagram of all the rooms; this is just for the 2nd floor but I would guess 3-5 are pretty similar



Looking west from the rotunda just as you enter the conference center:



Meeting room:



These light fixtures fill the light wells that run from the ground floor to the very top of the Garden Wing:



At the far west end of the 2nd level there is a connection to their health center (not quite finished):



And also at the far west end is the skybridge connection to the auditorium:



Looking back towards the routunda:

[dcsooner]

Wow! that is all I can say. World class addition to DT OKC

[Pete]

It's very, very impressive in person. One of the things I noticed is that all you see almost no painted surfaces. Everything is covered in stone, or tile or wood or metal -- having managed commercial office projects, I can tell you that is one area where you can save a lot of money but they did everything to a very high standard.


One of the best things is that it is so open to the public. It feels welcoming when you walk in, as the security is kind of around the edges and there is nothing about it that feels like you shouldn't be in there; in fact the opposite is true. You can tell people are starting to spill in from the Myriad Gardens, as there were several families milling around.

And of course Nebu, the whole first floor and the park are equally welcoming. There are even prominent open restrooms.... Sitting between the library and Myriad Gardens, the entire complex bridges two of the most public of downtown areas.

Even the employee-only area at the base of the tower is handled discretely, with that huge, low water feature serving as a barrier without feeling like one.


Great credit to Devon for all this; it's a very different feel than any office building I've ever been in, and I mean that in the best possible way.

[ethansisson]

...as the security is kind of around the edges and there is nothing about it that feels like you shouldn't be in there...

Unless you linger around the sidewalks on the weekend for too long. Then security comes out and asks you to go somewhere else. That was my experience a couple weeks ago.

[adaniel]

The two times I've been there, the security staff is very friendly and seem to enjoy their roles as de-facto tour guides, as there are indeed a lot of non-Devon people who are visiting the building.

Much better experience than the angry rent-a-cops you see in most office buildings.

[SoonerBoy18]

Looking at those amazing photos make me wish I could go take a tour there and eat breakfest at NeBu on any givin day of the week, but my age would make me feel very out of place. Seems like its only for established people.

[SSEiYah]

Looking at those amazing photos make me wish I could go take a tour there and eat breakfest at NeBu on any givin day of the week, but my age would make me feel very out of place. Seems like its only for established people.

As long as you dont look homeless, I dont think you would stand out. I saw "tourists" there last time I ate in there with kids sitting at a table. Lots of casually dressed folks (jeans, polo shirts)

[SoonerBoy18]

As long as you dont look homeless, I dont think you would stand out. I saw "tourists" there last time I ate in there with kids sitting at a table. Lots of casually dressed folks (jeans, polo shirts)

Is it expensive? I have seen a photo where they had the food set up as an all you can eat buffet.

[ljbab728]

One thing that strikes me in looking at those pictures is the lack of interior greenery. I wonder if that is planned or if it's just not completed yet.

[Bellaboo]

One thing that strikes me in looking at those pictures is the lack of interior greenery. I wonder if that is planned or if it's just not completed yet.

Wondering this myself. Where my wife works, about 3 months ago they made everyone take all by one plant home, then they took all of the greenery out of the common areas of the building....go figure. Made it look so sterile.

[Sean]

Is it expensive? I have seen a photo where they had the food set up as an all you can eat buffet.

It's not an all you can eat buffet. You just pick whatever you want, and you'll pay for what you choose. I went there on my lunch break and got pasta with chicken and a lemonade for 9 bucks.

[Spartan]

Looking at those amazing photos make me wish I could go take a tour there and eat breakfest at NeBu on any givin day of the week, but my age would make me feel very out of place. Seems like its only for established people.

If you go on a Thunder day, wearing a Thunder shirt, you'll fit completely in. I went on a Thunder day once, not wearing a Thunder shirt, and I felt like an out of place stiff. Keep in mind this is OKC, we keep it pretty cazh...

[Cooper_GOIVM]

Hello friends. Pics from one of my recent flights. You'll notice one of these photos was arguably the biggest Thunder Ally crowd ever during its short existence. Photos copyright 2012 Insight Visual Media, productions, Inc. All Right Reserved. You can see more from this flight at www.goivm.com.

[mcca7596]

Regarding the final pic: Even the surface lots of bricktown can be made to look good and more urban when they're actually FULL and there are CROWDS... GASP lol

[kevinpate]

excellent shots

[sooner88]

All of those pictures are great, but that last picture is awesome!

[Jake]

Beautiful pics!

No matter how many times I see it, it's hard to believe how much space the current convention center takes up.

[Spartan]

Beautiful pics!

No matter how many times I see it, it's hard to believe how much space the current convention center takes up.

That's what you get with convention centers. The Cox is actually considered "too small."

[SoonerBoy18]

I don't know if this has been asked but how far deep is the Devon foundation?

[Bellaboo]

I don't know if this has been asked but how far deep is the Devon foundation?

Early on in this thread it has all of the specs - but I believe there are 40 something piers that exceed 150 feet. IIRC