First National Center

[Rover]

I believe all the Ambassadors are joining the Autograph collection. Tulsa first with OKC and (Wichita?) to follow.

I think OKC has been on a couple of months already. Believe it was the first one of the group.

[Plutonic Panda]

I believe all the Ambassadors are joining the Autograph collection. Tulsa first with OKC and (Wichita?) to follow.

OKC is already on and has been the first to join among those.

[catcherinthewry]

OKC is already on and has been the first to join among those.

Is there an echo in here or are you just verifying what Rover said?

[Plutonic Panda]

Is there an echo in here or are you just verifying what Rover said?

Rover is correct. I went back and read the Ambassador thread.

[Pete]

Big news on this project:

OKCTalk - First National Center under contract; to become hotel, mixed use

[Pete]

BTW, the purchaser is not Alterra.

Trying to nail down exactly who it is, but this is all happening, and quickly.

They want to start moving tenants right after close and get started on the initial stages of work.

[Bullbear]

This is one of the most exciting projects I have seen. I am super excited at the potential. this building has been a shell for far too long and its time for it to Shine! it will end up a Jewel of the skyline for sure

[Pete]

Yep, it's really the last large piece of the Central Business District puzzle.

This is going to take a ton of money, but obviously the buyers feel like they have a plan in place to get it all done, and relatively quickly.

This will not be a buy and do nothing situation like we've been experiencing for the last several decades.

[Motley]

I was hoping the main bank lobby might become a restaurant. London has several opulent restaurants that were once bank lobbies. It is a fantastic space that I hope can be restored.

[Pete]

The Great Baking Hall is pretty huge. I'm sure they will serve cocktails and at least light food.

Will be very interesting to see the detailed plans, hotel brand, etc.

We should know a lot more in the next month or two.

[sroberts24]

Would love to see the banking hall turn out something like the Palmer House in Chicago. IT is stunning!

Downtown Chicago Hotel - Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel in Chicago, IL

[NWOKCGuy]

Yasss!

[catch22]

Excellent news.

[DoctorTaco]

Woohoo!

[gopokes88]

Just fantastic news.

[bchris02]

Awesome! Cannot wait to see what becomes of this. This is really one of the more exciting projects going on right now.

Any idea as to the flag for the hotel? It would be awesome if they could pull off Ritz-Carlton.

[Pete]

No idea on the hotel flag -- the buyers themselves may not even have that nailed down at this point.

The best part is this should close soon and start moving relatively quickly. That also means detailed plans should be forthcoming.

[warreng88]

[OKCinsomniac]

Very cool.

[NWOKCGuy]

I'd love for an InterContintental too. Stayed at the the one in DT Austin last trip there and it was a beautiful reno.

[NWOKCGuy]

Also - Virgin Hotels just did a reno of an old art deco building in Chicago. Believe they're opening their second and third locations in NYC and Nashville. Not sure if they're historic renos but would be kind of cool for them to select OKC for their 4th US location.

[hoya]

Cathy O'Connor and her people have done a fantastic job in helping to coordinate this stuff.

[bchris02]

Also - Virgin Hotels just did a reno of an old art deco building in Chicago. Believe they're opening their second and third locations in NYC and Nashville. Not sure if they're historic renos but would be kind of cool for them to select OKC for their 4th US location.

I'm sure that would invoke jealousy from below the red river.

[SoonerFP]

I was hoping the main bank lobby might become a restaurant. London has several opulent restaurants that were once bank lobbies. It is a fantastic space that I hope can be restored.

When I was in Philly a couple years ago, I ate a Del Frisco's Steak House that was inside the historic First Pennsylvania Bank and it was amazing! They even turned the vault into a cool private dining room. Would love to see something like this in downtown OKC.

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse | Philadelphia, PA

[Motley]

Since the east building is staying, how does it look? Does it need a facelift?