Aloft Hotel

[edcrunk]

It looks so good on the horizon when you're in Bricktown.

[Praedura]

Fouind some neat pics at the Aloft facebook page.

These are old actually (from February). But I hadn't seen them before -- I think they're pretty interesting.








View from 2nd floor of the Presidential Suite




Panoramic view from the future Outdoor Rooftop Bar & Lounge



Curious that in the last shot, Devon Tower is hidden. Not too many places downtown where that's the case.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/AloftOKC

[catch22]

Must be in the exact perfect place to mask the tower. Even more reason to get the mystery tower cranking.

[OKCisOK4me]

Must be in the exact perfect place to mask the tower. Even more reason to get the mystery tower cranking.

I swear I said the same exact thing earlier in this thread. Must have said it in another...

[HOT ROD]

wow, hard to imagine any tower big enough to mast Devon while still having a full skyline view, but I guess Chase is just enough from that angle and distance.

[Teo9969]

wow, hard to imagine any tower big enough to mast Devon while still having a full skyline view, but I guess Chase is just enough from that angle and distance.

If you look at Devon from the corner of Oklahoma/2nd, Devon looks the same height as chase. Surprised a picture has never popped up of that because it's a really cool view that shows how much location skews perspective.

[BDP]

Panoramic view from the future Outdoor Rooftop Bar & Lounge

I thought initially the rooftop terrace was going to be just for private events. Have they changed this to a public Bar and Lounge?

[Pete]

I thought initially the rooftop terrace was going to be just for private events. Have they changed this to a public Bar and Lounge?

I still think it's part of the meeting rooms.

They already have a large hotel bar on the east end, on both the 1st and 2nd levels.

[HangryHippo]

Pete, can you post another picture from the taller viewpoint? Has the parking garage progressed at all?

[OKCisOK4me]

Pete, can you post another picture from the taller viewpoint? Has the parking garage progressed at all?

When I drove by there this past weekend, there was no additional work done on the parking structure. It's Wednesday now though so who knows.

[zookeeper]

When I drove by there this past weekend, there was no additional work done on the parking structure. It's Wednesday now though so who knows.

I hadn't been by in awhile. The size of this project blew me away and the pictures just don't seem to show that, you have to see it. Impressive!

[Anonymous.]

Such a slow project. But I am sure it will all be worth it.

[Pete]

It has been crazy slow.

I know there was some issue getting concrete but beyond that every step has been eternal.

[LakeEffect]

And contrast that to HGI/Homewood Suites. It's fascinating. The HGI/Homewood Suites is being done by Flintco, I believe, and they are very experienced in that level of construction and detail. They may have more money to throw up front too to help speed up construction.

[Pete]

It's been almost exactly 2 years since the original building permit was issued and they are nowhere close to being finished.

The entire Devon Energy complex was finished in 2.5 years.

[HangryHippo]

It's been almost exactly 2 years since the original building permit was issued and they are nowhere close to being finished.

The entire Devon Energy complex was finished in 2.5 years.

That's just incredible. Devon was a magnificent project in every way.

[ljbab728]

It has been crazy slow.

I know there was some issue getting concrete but beyond that every step has been eternal.

Did they have the same contractor as Whole Foods? LOL

[soonerfan_in_okc]

On their facebook they say they are planning for fall 2013, but it doesn't seem like they are on pace for that at all.

[Pete]

They were originally to be open by Spring of 2013, as I had considered their upstairs meeting rooms for a summer class reunion.

We decided to go with the 50th floor of Devon Tower instead, and obviously that was the right choice.

They are nowhere close to being done with this project and although I'm sure they want to open this year, that is even starting to look unlikely.

[BG918]

And contrast that to HGI/Homewood Suites. It's fascinating. The HGI/Homewood Suites is being done by Flintco, I believe, and they are very experienced in that level of construction and detail. They may have more money to throw up front too to help speed up construction.

Flintco built the Devon Tower (with Holder) as well as Chesapeake Arena, OU Children's Hospital, the stadiums at OU & OSU, the BOK Center in Tulsa, among other large projects both in Oklahoma and adjacent states. They can build a Homewood Suites (or Aloft) in their sleep.

[betts]

It's not as if the owner is inexperienced in the building of hotels. The construction materials are different from the Hilton and its definitely a more unique building, from an architectural standpoint. But if they were originally planning to be open this spring, every day they're not is costing them big bucks.

[onthestrip]

There is quite a bit of difference between the Aloft and pretty much all other hotels in OKC. First, most hotels are stick built (wood, maybe metal studs) which can go up quickly. Aloft is reinforced concrete, and not only that, the floor plans aren't similar. At the Devon tower they were able to do a floor every few days because it was the same for 40ish floors. It was break down forms and move to next floor with the same ones. Aloft has an irregular design which definitely took some time to form and pour.

Whether it will take a little longer is not much concern to me. Im just happy that someone is making a good investment and building a robust, longlasting hotel. Not the same for most Homewood Suites.

[BDP]

Im just happy that someone is making a good investment and building a robust, longlasting hotel. Not the same for most Homewood Suites.

Me too. I'll always wait for quality.

[Pete]

Quality aside -- and I agree this is a very nice project -- they are still going to miss their own stated finish date by about a year.

I hope it doesn't lead to financial problems for the owners.

[BDP]

Quality aside -- and I agree this is a very nice project -- they are still going to miss their own stated finish date by about a year.

I hope it doesn't lead to financial problems for the owners.

This is true, but I have a feeling it will be a popular spot, even for people not staying there. They could probably even flip it if they get into cash trouble. I guess the bright side is that money is still cheap, if you can get it.