Project "X" - New highrise office tower for OKC?!

[Spartan]

This will certainly be exciting if it is confirmed. I just hope that it will be downtown and not in the suburbs. Assuming it looks half-way decent (which I am sure it will-- I haven't seen any towers built in years that look bad), I don't think we can complain at all at how it looks, considering it has been 20+ years since a skyscraper has been built in OKC.

Been to Louisville lately?

[Patrick]

With the huge vacancy rate downtown, I can't see another office tower being built. Maybe a 40-50 story residential tower would work.

[Spartan]

Have you examined that vacancy rate?

[CuatrodeMayo]

Hope is good, but, like you, I'm a "show me" kind of guy. I'll believe it when I see it, and, thus far, all we have is a bit of wholly undocumeted internet fluff as to it's coming to pass ... not enough substance, for me, to be believable. Sources can be coy, and that's fine ... but that mitigates negatively about the credibilty of their report(s).

For now, I'm thinking that this report is just more "pie in the sky." Wish it were not so, and I'll believe it when I see it.

I can understand your skepicism. I too usually take reports with a grain of salt. However, this is not a rumor. I was there. I saw the renderings and listened to Jim Bruza and his associate describe the project. The location is questionable (all indications point to OKC) but the building itself is currently in early schematic design. Some entity has paid to have FSB do design work. While an architect's fee it is a small fraction of the total building cost, it is still a substantial financial commitment. This would indicate that this entity is at least somewhat serious about the project. If the project isn't a go (which FSB seems to think it will be, but I'm not holding my breath), it is because the entity that commissioned the building changed its mind.

Regardless of whether or not this project is a go or even if it is in OKC, my reporting is due some respect. At least more respect than the chain emails that fill up your inboxes.

[BDP]

Have you examined that vacancy rate?

That's really a good point. It is my understanding that the vacancies are mainly in Class B and C. If that's the case. I'd love to see a class A tower (if viable) and convert the vacant B&C to housing. I think Malibu makes this point a lot and it may be valid, if my assumptions are correct. If anyone knows a breakdown of vancancy by class, I'd love to see it.

[Patrick]

Price Edwards and Associates has the information, I believe.

[Doug Loudenback]

I can understand your skepicism. I too usually take reports with a grain of salt. However, this is not a rumor. I was there. I saw the renderings and listened to Jim Bruza and his associate describe the project. The location is questionable (all indications point to OKC) but the building itself is currently in early schematic design. Some entity has paid to have FSB do design work. While an architect's fee it is a small fraction of the total building cost, it is still a substantial financial commitment. This would indicate that this entity is at least somewhat serious about the project. If the project isn't a go (which FSB seems to think it will be, but I'm not holding my breath), it is because the entity that commissioned the building changed its mind.

Regardless of whether or not this project is a go or even if it is in OKC, my reporting is due some respect. At least more respect than the chain emails that fill up your inboxes.

I wasn't intending to knock you, CuatrodeMayo, and it was a good report. I'm just jaded, I guess!

[Spartan]

Doug, you said just the same thing in a thread where I hinted of a "major aerospace manufacturing company about to set shop in OKC" where "rumours" came through.

Price Edwards and Associates has the information, I believe.

CB Richard Ellis has some of that info up on their website.

[Patrick]

Being that there is a shortage of Class A space downtown, I could see how a new office tower could be profitable downtown. But, we really need to get some of the Class C space off the commercial real-estate lists and onto the residential real-estate lists.

[okcpulse]

Being that there is a shortage of Class A space downtown, I could see how a new office tower could be profitable downtown. But, we really need to get some of the Class C space off the commercial real-estate lists and onto the residential real-estate lists.

That is part of the formula to make downtown Oklahoma City into a booming skyline. Let's wipe out the Class C space, convert it to residential and... voila... companies and firms have no place left to refuse. Solution? BUILD MORE SKYSCRAPERS!!!!

[okcitian]

I've heard plans for a new highrise tower but I wasn't given any details I just know someone who works for the people who have the plans to build a new one. I don't remember if he works for real estate or an architect firm. I didn't believe him at all at first since it sounds too good to be true but it seems like its really going to happen from what i hear from here. We'll see how this goes when it gets proposed.

[HOT ROD]

awesome news OKcitian. Man, Oklahoma City is truly the Renaissance City.

You all have lots!!! to be proud of. Man, I just wish it didn't get so dang hot - I'd move back!!!

But I love being an avid visitor - and definitely plan on making it to the Centennial and a Hornets game (esp when the Sonics come to town - since I live in Seattle). LOL.

Heck, OKC is even gonna get the SONICS. Hat's off to the new city of the century - the Renaissance City - Oklahoma City!!!

[Patrick]

Hot Rod, you need to buy a house here, and divide your time wisely. Come here during the fall, winter, and spring, then return to Seattle in the summer.

[Spartan]

Or you could just stay up there in Seattle until your skin gets all pruny, and then come back here for it to dry up a little at least, maybe even get a tan, then go back up...and so forth.

[metro]

I wonder if MG is behind any of it? Tronox announced a move over to Leadership Square today so it can't be them.

[HOT ROD]

Hot Rod, you need to buy a house here, and divide your time wisely. Come here during the fall, winter, and spring, then return to Seattle in the summer.

I think its a great idea. Maybe I could buy a downtown condo and rent it out when Im not in town. Then for a month or two - I could stay there.

Hmmmm.

I'd like a highrise tho. So I'll await an OKC highrise condo announcement then .......

Boomer Sooner!

[SOONER8693]

I am clueless on how to do such stuff. But, could someone who knows how to "photo-shop" or "fark" or whatever it is called, do a picture of the downtown OKC skyline with a "hypothetical" tower as has been mentioned in this thread. You know, just for fun, to tease our imagination a little.

[okcpulse]

I am working on a rendering with a few extra towers for downtown OKC. Only it won't be Photoshopped, I am designing the towers using 3DS Max and recreating downtown OKC's skyline using the same program. It will be a single rendering. It'll take months, however.

[Decious]

I guess I'll add to the rumor.

The company that installed the plumbing for the new Super Target in Norman has landed a substantially bigger contract. That same company has been hired to install the plumbing for a new 40 story hotel in downtown OKC. The building will be mixed-use, with condos on the uppermost floors. They are to start the prefab relatively soon.

Take it for what you will.

P.S. I don't know which hotel/when an announcement might come/who the developer is/where exactly downtown this would be/etc.

I'm by no means an insider and I'm not trying to be. Nevertheless, I've checked into this info and.................so far it checks out.

[BDP]

40 stories would make it the tallest building, right? I think Chase is close, but not quite 40, right?

[Easy180]

I think the Chase tower is only in the 30's

[BDP]

That sounds right.

[TStheThird]

Chase is 32 I believe.

[BFizzy]

35

[jbrown84]

You can't really go by floors, you have to go by feet. For example, Leadership Square has 22 floors, while BOK Plaza has only 16, however BOK Plaza is two feet taller.

Chase is 36 floors and 500 feet. Tulsa's First Place Tower is 40 floors and 518 feet. That's the ugly one that's second tallest downtown. Houston has 40 story buildings at 550, 579, and 600 feet.

It could definitely be a new tallest.