Fordson Hotel (formerly 21c Museum Hotel)

[Pete]

Hall Capital (owners of this building) have created an application for this building to be added to the National Registry.

The OKC Ford Motor Assembly Plant was constructed in 1916, with an addition completed in 1924. The plant was built as part of an unprecedented expansion of Ford Motor Company’s innovative assembly process across the country. Oklahoma City was one of two dozen cities identified as regional hubs for shipping “kits” of car parts by train. The cars (model T’s) were then assembled at the regional plants and distributed throughout the region.

Architect Albert Kahn designed nearly 1,000 facilities for the Ford Motor Company, as well as the private home of Edsel and Eleanor Ford, throughout his career, many of which are on the National Register or designated as National Historic Landmarks. The OKC Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant illustrates many key elements typical of Kahn’s industrial designs for the Ford Company.

Fred Jones
At twenty-four years old, Fred Jones moved to Oklahoma City from Georgia in 1916 and got a job at the newly opened Oklahoma City Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant. He quickly learned the automotive business and became one of the region’s leaders in automotive sales, service, and parts production. Jones established a Ford dealership in 1922 and began reconditioning parts for his service department in 1938, creating the Fred Jones Manufacturing Company. He continued to grow his enterprises throughout the twentieth century, and eventually purchased the former Ford Assembly Plant in 1968. The Fred Jones Manufacturing Company operated the building as a parts and distribution center until 2013. During that time they made minor modifications to the building, adapting the facilities for truck rather than rail transport.

Look at these cool old photos that the Ford Foundation provided:

[Urbanized]

Holy hell. That is an Albert Kahn building. I had no idea. I mean, duh, should have expected that I suppose. But that by itself makes that building even more important to OKC's history.

[ljbab728]

Steve's story.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/4745682?embargo=1

Just a couple years short of its centennial anniversary, the longtime home of the Fred Jones Manufacturing Co. is being considered for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building, 900 W Main, originally home to a Ford Model T assembly plant, was built in 1916 and the register listing is being sought as part of preparations to convert the property into a 21C Museum Hotel.

[ljbab728]

This appears to be a follow up article by Steve based on his trip to Louisville recently. It contains a great video with interesting comments by the museum director of the hotel chain.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/4859383?embargo=1

[Plutonic Panda]

That link still isn't working. I think once you post a link that requires a subscription, it remains that way.

Really great article! Checking out the Louisville 21C Museum Hotel | News OK

[Spartan]

Holy hell. That is an Albert Kahn building. I had no idea. I mean, duh, should have expected that I suppose. But that by itself makes that building even more important to OKC's history.

We should tear it down before someone gets the gall to make it nice.

[shawnw]

Drove by yesterday and it seemed like business as usual for the Fred Jones parts people... working away like nothing ever happened with this property. I thought they were going to move quickly?

[Pete]

Nevermind.

I'll post the plans soon.

[HangryHippo]

I can't read Malayalam. Sorry.

[Pete]

Here is a first look at the floor plans for the 21c Hotel.

Of note:

1. The space at the far west end is labeled "future tenants" and is completely separated from the rest of the ground floor by a wall with no doors. So, those spaces will only be accessible from the entrances at that end of the building. Almost certainly, the occupants will be arts related.
2. The entire ground floor -- other than the restaurant and bar -- is set up as a series of art galleries. Some are large rooms but there are quite a few smaller as well. They do this in all their hotels and allows for closing off spaces of different sizes for functions. Note the 2nd entrance of Main Street directly into one of the smaller galleries.
3. The restaurant and bar will take a good chunk of the east end of the ground floor with a patio to the south.
4. There is a small workout / spa on the west end of the 3rd floor with a very small terrace.
5. Otherwise, all of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors are rooms and suites.
6. The plans do not seem to include the rooftop. Doesn't mean they won't do something up there but at first blush it doesn't appear so.
7. Not sure of the plans for the rest of the Hall's property (shown in yellow in the aerial) but almost certainly they will be developing most of the area around the hotel.

Gallery at 21c in Cincinnati:

[traxx]

I've always loved this building. I'm glad that something is finally being done with it. I've got high hopes.

[Spartan]

I'm going to be down in Cincinnati for a Reds game on a company trip in July, right after I get back to Ohio from OKC (my annual 4th of July family reunion). I will bring some perspective back to the forum on 21C there.

[Plutonic Panda]

A Closer Look at the Future 21C Museum Hotel | News OK

Construction to begin in fall on converting Oklahoma City's Fred Jones Assembly Plant to 21C Museum Hotel | News OK

[ljbab728]

This is one fun quote from that article.

“A lot of what we are embracing is visible today,” Swyers said. “We are keeping the penthouse on the top and the water tower, and restoring the penthouse into a 21C Suite.”

The 3,000-square-foot suite, Swyers said, will include a rooftop terrace, two bedrooms, and “a pretty gracious living and dining room.”

[Plutonic Panda]

This is one fun quote from that article.

That is awesome! I wasn't able to read the article

[ljbab728]

It doesn't mention any other potential use for the rooftop, which could be a fantastic space.

[Pete]

It doesn't mention any other potential use for the rooftop, which could be a fantastic space.

From the article:

“A lot of what we are embracing is visible today,” Swyers said. “We are keeping the penthouse on the top and the water tower, and restoring the penthouse into a 21C Suite.”

The 3,000-square-foot suite, Swyers said, will include a rooftop terrace, two bedrooms, and “a pretty gracious living and dining room.”

Why not make this space into an indoor/outdoor rooftop bar instead of a private suite??

The rooftop bars in Louisville and Cincinnati 21c's are huge draws and featured prominently in all their promotional materials.

We have the perfect pre-existing infrastructure in this building and they specifically make it private? Very disappointing.


This is a new rendering looking north:

[HangryHippo]

I don't understand the lack of a rooftop bar at all.

[Just the facts]

Maybe the feel there are too many roof top bars already. I'm not sure the 'view' from up there would even be that great - unless people really want to see the jail.

[bchris02]

Maybe the feel there are too many roof top bars already. I'm not sure the 'view' from up there would even be that great - unless people really want to see the jail.

OKC could use more rooftop bars, just in places that have a good view.

I love the Aloft rooftop area but wish alcohol was served there rather than being simply a lounging area.

[Rover]

Maybe the feel there are too many roof top bars already. I'm not sure the 'view' from up there would even be that great - unless people really want to see the jail.

And the view going West isn't exactly inspiring either.

[Pete]

The rooftop has a fantastic view of the skyline:

[warreng88]

And the view going West isn't exactly inspiring either.

Then you make it mostly east facing. Construct a wall on the west side, half of a wall on the north side with the bar to the west with some covered areas but most of it facing east. You see the same thing on beaches and rooftop bars in bigger cities. Even at Vast, virtually every seat, if available, is going to be facing out to see the view from the 50th floor. When we went, we sat at a two person booth that instead of facing in or at each other, the seating faced out.

[Urbanized]

East facing makes the most sense during "outdoor" months too, since the sun beats on a place until very late in the evening.

[Pete]

The "penthouse" structure that is already on the roof and that will be adapted to a private suite has a big wall of glass that faces east and the proposed terrace is on the east side as well.

How cool would it be to sit up there under that illuminated water tower (you know 21c will do something cool with it) and look out over the skyline?

Unless you have craploads of money or get invited by someone who does, I guess we'll never know.


Just don't understand why they would go this route, especially when it's contrary to their very successful formula.

One guess would be the roof couldn't support large groups but of course, it had no trouble supporting a huge tank full of water, so that can't be it.