OG&E Tower

[GrayDSchrOFF]

Not sure if anyone has already mentioned this but I wish the green roof's open sides would have faced downtown for a better view of the city as a whole. Besides that I think it's a nice devlopment.

[Pete]

Okay, you're up Mr. Preftakes.

This project will be looking out directly on that empty, decaying block and it's time to get going.

[jccouger]

The beauty of our downtown is that no 2 towers look alike. Now we will have a mini Devon tower shrine right next door to the Devon tower. Stupid design. I like the street level interaction, BUT WHY DOES IT LOOK JUST LIKE DEVON???

[Pete]

I don't think it looks anything like Devon at all, apart from it being all glass, which is pretty much how all modern buildings are constructed these days.

[CaptDave]

I like the design - street interaction looks well done and the building aesthetics are nice IMO. Maybe little disappointed it isn't taller but hopefully something in the 25 - 35 story range will be built on the Preftakes or bank site. Biggest disappointment for me is building on California Ave - I had hoped California might become the street that ran from the Myriad to the west I40 connection. But still a nice addition to OKC.

[catch22]

I'm disappointed at the lack of maturity and the emotional woes of 13 year old teenage girls displayed in this thread.

[kevinpate]

... This thread should be locked and a new thread created discussing the real deal.

Nah. Folk who can not learn from the past are pretty much doomed to repeat their past. Best to leave it up.

[jccouger]

Yes it does. Its Devon with 2 indentions instead of 3, And a lot of feet shorter.

[Bellaboo]

I like the fact it's glass. If you can catch Devon in the morning just before the sun comes up, it has some outstanding reflections on it.

It's not the same shape as Devon, it's very unique in is shape.

It can have some great LED's also.

[PhiAlpha]

Yes it does. Its Devon with 2 indentions instead of 3, And a lot of feet shorter.

And a lot of feet wider...

[OKCDrummer77]

And a lot of feet wider...

And a lot of feet on the sidewalk because of the superior street interaction.

[shawnw]

Everyone keeps expressing disappointment in the height. We were "promised" 20+ stories. We got 30, just split between two buildings. I'm okay with that.

[jccouger]

I didn't say it was a replica, but if you can't see the comparison then you have more of a differential eye then I do. It has basically the the same exact artistic design.

[Jake]

Good street interaction. Don't really care about height. Looks pretty cool.

No complaints from me!

[Bellaboo]

I'm disappointed at the lack of maturity and the emotional woes of 13 year old teenage girls displayed in this thread.

^ it never ceases to amaze me.

[PhiAlpha]

^ it never ceases to amaze me.

Agreed.

[Teo9969]

These are the type of developments that we need in South Midtown. The main thing I'm disappointed with is the investment. This is at least a $250M property, and probably closer to $500M. I'm thrilled for a $100M investment in downtown, but there are a lot of places to put such a development...this seems.like.the last place to.put it.

[Urbanized]

So...good architecture in an urban area usually tries to connect to the neighborhood surrounding it. Devon took styling cues from the Crystal Bridge, from First National, from the downtown library, and based its setback on the Colcord. This, by the way, took quite a bit of humility. This building obviously takes some styling cues from Devon, and I see nothing wrong with that.

I think there is a disconnect here where some people really want every downtown building to be starchitecture-type iconic, unique structures that tower above all others. Other people are more concerned that a building fit with and contribute to its surroundings, especially at street level.

Count me in the second group.

[Teo9969]

So...good architecture in an urban area usually tries to connect to the neighborhood surrounding it. Devon took styling cues from the Crystal Bridge, from First National, from the downtown library, and based its setback on the Colcord. This, by the way, took quite a bit of humility. This building obviously takes some styling cues from Devon, and I see nothing wrong with that.

I think there is a disconnect here where some people really want every downtown building to be starchitecture-type iconic, unique structures that tower above all others. Other people are more concerned that a building fit with and contribute to its surroundings, especially at street level.

Count me in the second group.

I think surrounding the myriad Gardens with glass structures would only make them that much better. Hopefully the convention center has some amount of glass fronting Reno.

[OKCisOK4me]

I will lay down in front of the bulldozer for this. Design is a beaut, height a joke!

[modernism]

Since when are people not entitled to their own opinion? I don't like it...that is my opinion of the project.

[jccouger]

I agree Urbanzied. Devon did do all of this when designing their tower. And what styling cues does this tower take from its surroundings? .......... Devon tower is the answer to that question. Like I said, every building downtown has a uniqueness to it. This building instantly reminds me of Devon tower.

I am no doubt coming off negative about this building. Realty - Expectations = Satisfaction. Obviously my expectations were far too high for the most prime real estate in our entire state.

With that said, it is still a beautiful building and will serve an important purpose to our community. Just could've been placed a lot of different places.

[bchris02]

I agree Urbanzied. Devon did do all of this when designing their tower. And what styling cues does this tower take from its surroundings? .......... Devon tower is the answer to that question. Like I said, every building downtown has a uniqueness to it. This building instantly reminds me of Devon tower.

I am no doubt coming off negative about this building. Realty - Expectations = Satisfaction. Obviously my expectations were far too high for the most prime real estate in our entire state.

With that said, it is still a beautiful building and will serve an important purpose to our community. Just could've been placed a lot of different places.

I can definitely see this point. Given the controversy surrounding the site I think most people were expecting something a little more iconic and skyline altering than this appears to be. I also wonder why something like this couldn't have been built in South Midtown rather than on the Stage Center site. There will be a lot more opposition to this than there would have been with a tall, skyline altering tower. That said, this is excellent at street level, and is above and beyond most existing OKC buildings from a placemaking perspective.

[CaptDave]

The more I look at the renderings, the more I like this design. It also appears the possibility of eventually extending California to Hudson is intact if the arts plaza/festival stage is relocated to the Central Park. It will be very interesting to see what type of retail goes into those lower floors.

[shawnw]

It's OG&E. They need to be in the CBD and a relatively similar distance from their partners. Another tenant, sure, put it in Midtown. This tenant has to be in the CBD IMO.

Regarding the level of investment for such a prime site... I agree about that. You would think more than $100M for this site. Hadn't considered that in my previous opinion.


On edit.... perfect solution... put this structure on the site of the current substation that lines the new central park.