SandRidge Center & Commons

[Pete]

They are using Rogers Marvel Architects for their overall campus design, and the renovation of the Braniff Building and the new employee services center facing Kerr Park are both very simple, modern glass designs meant to compliment the existing tower. The are also using Rand Eliott for the tower interiors, and we all know he is a true modernist.

This is a concept from when they originally proposed their plans and it's interesting because it does show a bigger building replacing India Temple and the east parking garage. Here, it is only about 10 floors but this was obviously a very preliminary design. You also see highlighted three additional buildings along Broadway which are currently vacant lots owned by SandRidge. I suspect one or all would be parking structures for their employees.

[Just the facts]

If this is true that would be great. I just hope they aren’t given a bunch of variances from the City and are required to build out to the sidewalk.

[PhiAlpha]

Wait a second....I thought sandridge was the worst, most evil company in the world and that it would never do anything good for Oklahoma city and i thought it was going to fail miserably. Is it possible that sandridge actually had planned this project for the benefit of Oklahoma city all along??? Obviously not because they are conspiring with the city government to ruin the city and destroy every inch of history the city has left...

Some people should really keep their mouths shut more often and use common sense. I believe that in a post, I said, along with a few others, that sandridge was probably clearing away some of the buildings(other than globe life) to make room for new buildings, not just a plaza, but I was all but ridiculed for it. Wow who would've thought that maybe they were trying to prepare for expansion by tearing down some buildings on THEIR property that weren't big enough.

In all seriousness, I hope this works out. Looks like it has some nice potential

[PhiAlpha]

If this is true that would be great. I just hope they aren’t given a bunch of variances from the City and are required to build out to the sidewalk.

They really don't have much choice if they want to build something of any substance. There isn't just a whole lot of room between the tower and the proposed new location

[okcRE]

downtown is in need of a new tower in the north side. A tower taller than the current Sandridge tower will do wonders to our skyline looking east and west. but really any highrise added to dt would be good news. very exciting!

[Pete]

Based on all their design concepts and moves to date, I'm sure they'll want to continue to emphasize and feature the main tower.

Although I hope otherwise, my strong suspicion is that the new building will be at least 100' shorter so as to not detract from what they clearly see as the centerpiece of their entire campus/development.

[UnFrSaKn]

100' shorter would put it around Valliance Bank Tower size.

[gracefor24]

Wait a second....I thought sandridge was the worst, most evil company in the world and that it would never do anything good for Oklahoma city and i thought it was going to fail miserably. Is it possible that sandridge actually had planned this project for the benefit of Oklahoma city all along??? Obviously not because they are conspiring with the city government to ruin the city and destroy every inch of history the city has left...

Some people should really keep their mouths shut more often and use common sense. I believe that in a post, I said, along with a few others, that sandridge was probably clearing away some of the buildings(other than globe life) to make room for new buildings, not just a plaza, but I was all but ridiculed for it. Wow who would've thought that maybe they were trying to prepare for expansion by tearing down some buildings on THEIR property that weren't big enough.

In all seriousness, I hope this works out. Looks like it has some nice potential

Yep. Where is Spartan?

[metro]

I'll believe it when I see it. Kerr McGee had almost 2000 employees packed in the tower in their heyday, Sandridge has about 400 employees, even if modern standards are more sq. ft per person, they still have LOTS of growing room in the tower, not to mention the Braniff. I hope I'm wrong, but not jumping on the unverified rumor mill yet.

[Just the facts]

Given a choice between a tall tower or a short block-long one, I would prefer the short long one. Tall buildings look great from 10 miles away, but humans on the street interact with it in the bottom 30 feet. If they built exactly what was in that model I would be happy.

I have they indicated a use for the Braniff building yet?

[bombermwc]

Booooo, go up! Apparently you have zero concept of land use there "facts". Employees walk in, get on the elevator, and go to work. Retail is all that really happens on the ground floor. And if you haven't noticed, they are including retail, but we're not hurting for the space downtown. No sense in saturating the market with a mini-mall at street level. The wider you build, the more land tax you pay too. Why do you think any highrise has ever been built? It's cheaper to go up than out in a CBD.

Anyway, not that we've seen anything that indicates a 20 story structure (I can't remember now if the Oklahoman article was discussing re-facading Brannif to be glass faced on the old alley side or if it was including a new one as well). It would seem somewhat silly to create multiple structures rather than simply build a new single taller tower. Valiance has always been my favorite OKC tower (until Devon of course). Something that height would be great addition for infill....increase that density. There's soooooo much room to fil in (and even more with Sandridge's plans). But I still don't see why they need anything at all. A said, they are about 1500 employees short of what that building can hold.

[lasomeday]

I don't think Sandridge will be building for at least 10 years. They still have to make a profit for at least two years in a row. If they announce a multimillion dollar building in the next few years stockholders will be irate!

[gracefor24]

I don't think Sandridge will be building for at least 10 years. They still have to make a profit for at least two years in a row. If they announce a multimillion dollar building in the next few years stockholders will be irate!

LOL. They already announced a "multimillion" building across the street in the Amenities building not to mention the Braniff remodel. They are definitely planning on building and when you look at the amount spent it pales in comparison to what they are spending in CAPEX.

[lasomeday]

They are spending a $100 million currently. If they spend another $500 million on an iconic tower, then investors will rebel. Chesapeake almost had the same problem with Aubrey...... I don't see much difference.

[Pete]

The construction cost for a 20-story building would be well less than $100 million.

Continental bought the 19-story Devon building for $22.5 million. New construction would be more, but not massively so.

Construction labor and materials are running pretty cheap right now.

[Rover]

Given the time frames of getting large building projects done, a quickly growing company must plan ahead by at least two to three years. Building for your current needs ignores the problem you will have later. Wise companies plan for growth. Planning to stay the same means you will stay the same.

Yes, everyone laughed at Aubrey, but he is on building 15 now on the campus and hiring boatloads of people every month. Chesapeake is considered one of the best companies to work for in the country. Part of the reason is the facilities and tools the employees have to work with. If SR, Continental, etc. want to compete in the big boy game for the best talent (which still drives good growth) then they have to push to be competitive in ALL they do, including a great work environment for their employees. You cannot save yourself to prosperity.

[gracefor24]

They are spending a $100 million currently. If they spend another $500 million on an iconic tower, then investors will rebel. Chesapeake almost had the same problem with Aubrey...... I don't see much difference.

In the scenario you are mentioning sure. But you just made that up. 500 million? Iconic tower? No one said they were building a Devon-like tower?

Also, if the stock does what a lot of people think it will the investors will be very happy. I think it's a $30-40 stock in 2-3 years.

[Pete]

If SR, Continental, etc. want to compete in the big boy game for the best talent (which still drives good growth) then they have to push to be competitive in ALL they do, including a great work environment for their employees. You cannot save yourself to prosperity

True, and this is a nice little competition we have going here with Devon, CHK, SR and Continental all investing heavily in their facilities and trying to create the best possible work environment.

It's already raised the bar and is why these companies are so well respected and show up on the "best places to work" lists.

[Dustin]

100' shorter would put it around Valliance Bank Tower size.

I love this tower. Wish it was downtown!

[G.Walker]

If people would read the article in its entirety and just listen to statements from Sandridge, they would know that a new tower will be built by 2014. Whether its 20 stories or 50, its better than a 30 year old parking garage. Good job Sandridge!

[Jesseda]

Is it in fact going to be 20 stories or is this just what everyone is predicting? I cant find the sandridge announcement on the web

[J. Pitman]

If people would read the article in its entirety and just listen to statements from Sandridge, they would know that a new tower will be built by 2014. Whether its 20 stories or 50, its better than a 30 year old parking garage. Good job Sandridge!

What article?

Can you post a link?

[ZYX2]

What article?

Can you post a link?

I'm pretty sure he already did.

[G.Walker]

Read article in its entirety:

http://www.newsok.com/sandridge-ener...rticle/3577840

[Pete]

Ward says there is a new building in their five-year plan for that site, but the height is based on unofficial things Steve Lackmeyer has heard through his contacts at SandRidge.

For Steve to put things out there, you know the information is strong as he tends to be very conservative (and rightly so).