SandRidge Center & Commons

[metro]

Yeah grace, But who are you going to believe an internet poster or a near billionaire......

[Duke]

Duke, can you approximate when Kerr-McGee hit 2,000 folks? I'm thinking this was probably about 1980 or so when the oil boom was going full steam and downtown occupancy was at zero. In my book "OKC Second Time Around" I wrote about how the company was seriously considering building a new office tower where the BancFirst drive-thru is now, just north of the Skirvin hotel. Even published the rendering for the building. I also find it curious that they never proceeded with their plan to build a twin to the Belluschi-designed tower.

Steve, as I understand it, the peak was right around 1980. This is before my time with KM, but I spoke with a former colleague today who was around then.

[Just the facts]

If nothing else, the last 15 or so posts have illustrated the difference between 'urbanist' and 'preservationist'.

[G.Walker]

Ok, so I contacted a friend of mine who used to work with me, who is now working for Sandridge as an executive assistant, and he has been working there a few months now. I asked him about the rumors of an new office tower for Sandridge. He said the rumors are true, that Sandridge will be starting a new office tower within the next year, and it will be over 20 floors/stories, this is great news!

[OKCisOK4me]

I'll believe your friend when I see it!

[lasomeday]

So, your guy that is a secretary at Sandridge said they are building a tower next year? I don't believe it! Shareholders will not allow it! They need to make a profit for an entire year first!

[G.Walker]

Ok, we will see, lol...Its funny how people doubt, a lot of people said the same about Devon, lol.

[PhiAlpha]

If I remember correctly, people have vehemently doubted several things on this board, including claims that continental was going to move to OKC, and more so on other forums that the Devon tower was actually going to be built, and so far from what I've seen, the doubters have been wrong in most cases. Usually if someone has good enough inside information to be confident enough to post on the forum, they probably no what they are talking about more so than the people doubting them, especially on a thread in which there has already been several people, including Steve, who have claimed the same.

On another note, like it or not, sandridge has done literally everything they've said they were going to so far... If there are people on the inside saying they plan to build it, I would imagine there is something to that. Also, CHK is a prime example that you don't necessarily have to be making money to build things...

[Pete]

It's not that hard to distinguish between wild rumors and pretty reliable advanced information.

It's pretty clear a new SandRidge building is the latter; and I'm sure the details (when it will start, height, etc.) are probably fuzzy even with SR at this point.


In any event, I consider this good news and will go a long way to increasing the vitality and density of that area of the CBD.

[OKCisOK4me]

PheeAlpha,
Don't get me wrong, k? What I'm saying is that I'll believe it when I see a press clipping on newsok.com or on the front page of their paper. Yes, Steve works for that same publication and ol' boy knows someone who works on the inside. I got that. I just will be more happy when I see it in person. When I see new renderings and actual ground work and upward progress being made. That's the clarification between naysayers and dreamers.

[Rover]

PheeAlpha,
Don't get me wrong, k? What I'm saying is that I'll believe it when I see a press clipping on newsok.com or on the front page of their paper. Yes, Steve works for that same publication and ol' boy knows someone who works on the inside. I got that. I just will be more happy when I see it in person. When I see new renderings and actual ground work and upward progress being made. That's the clarification between naysayers and dreamers.

LOL. I guess the same could be said of EVERY project. Even seeing the renderings and models don't insure something is going to actually get built. That isn't exclusive to SR. Shoot, if I were them I wouldn't publicize anything in advance either given the criticism they have received in the past.

[OKCisOK4me]

LOL. I guess the same could be said of EVERY project. Even seeing the renderings and models don't insure something is going to actually get built. That isn't exclusive to SR. Shoot, if I were them I wouldn't publicize anything in advance either given the criticism they have received in the past.

Yeah, I understand that tooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, lol, but remember when Devon held a press conference and revealed the shiny model of the tower on a wood cutout and it was AWESOME? Yeah, that went through AND that's all we've seen here in 25+ years. So when Sandridge has their official press conference and unveiling, I will believe it, just like I did with Devon Energy ;-)

[jbrown84]

Absolutely love it. If built as designed, I think that will be the best modern building in OKC. I love how everything is stacked. SO not the way we're used to things in sprawl country.

I now believe it's incorrect to say the India Temple building was demolished to make way for permanent plaza.

I think they would have saved themselves a lot of trouble if they had left the India Temple building standing until they are ready to replace it. Although some who fought the demolitions did so solely on the principle of historic merit, most of us (including myself) were mostly concerned with the loss of density, which it's now clear they intend to eventually replace.

Here is a list of buildings by the same architect. He seemed to like that concrete with square windows look.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Belluschi

Oh wow, he also did the notorious Pan Am/MetLife building in NYC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MetLife_Building

[SkyWestOKC]

I can't wait for the new building (120 Kerr) to be built. It really is interesting and will add some much needed modern character to that part of downtown. IMHO that part of downtown is quite bland.

[SOONER8693]

So, this has not been "officially" announced, but, everyone seems convinced it will happen. Let's do a Dean Blevins here. What do you think the percentage chances are that we will see a new Sandridge tower in the next 3-5 years?

[OKCisOK4me]

So, this has not been "officially" announced, but, everyone seems convinced it will happen. Let's do a Dean Blevins here. What do you think the percentage chances are that we will see a new Sandridge tower in the next 3-5 years?

Ok, I'd honestly rather be Toby Rowland. I'm going to go with 82%.

[kevinpate]

... What do you think the percentage chances are that we will see a new Sandridge tower in the next 3-5 years?

42

[G.Walker]

So, this has not been "officially" announced, but, everyone seems convinced it will happen. Let's do a Dean Blevins here. What do you think the percentage chances are that we will see a new Sandridge tower in the next 3-5 years?

99.9%, and that there will be an announcement before the end of the year...

[theparkman81]

99.9%, and that there will be an announcement before the end of the year...

I'll say 99% and yes G. Walker I agree with you, there will be one before the year is over with.

[OKCisOK4me]

99.9%, and that there will be an announcement before the end of the year...

You mean, before the end of the world...lol ;-)

[Pete]

From today:

[Jettmiester]

Can't wait to see this when it is all complete. Thanks for the picture updates.

[bombermwc]

It was a popular design in 1971.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1971_architecture

Here is a list of buildings by the same architect. He seemed to like that concrete with square windows look.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Belluschi

It's funny how many buildings looks like same here...

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan = the exact same design, just shorter for OK BCBS on Hefner Parkway.
Two Wells Fargo Center = Chase with a different color on the exterior cladding.

[Pete]

Article in today's Journal Record about the SandRidge campus.

Anyone with a subscription care to post it?

[Reggie Jet]

Article in today's Journal Record about the SandRidge campus.

Anyone with a subscription care to post it?

Not much new news...

SandRidge Energy continues work on campus

By Brianna Bailey
Oklahoma City reporter - Contact 405-278-2847
Posted: 07:55 PM Thursday, August 11, 2011

OKLAHOMA CITY – Workers have just finished removing the decades of paint and grime from a small patch of brick on one side of downtown’s historic Braniff Building, revealing the wall’s original dark red color.

The building at 324 N. Robinson Ave., completed in 1923 by Oklahoma City businessman Thomas Braniff, will be one of the focal points of SandRidge Energy’s $100 million downtown corporate campus known as SandRidge Commons.

The ground floor will feature retail space and a restaurant that will be open to the public.

Renovations are slated for completion in late 2012. SandRidge is already in the process of finding a restaurateur to take over the space, said Greg Dewey, the company’s vice president of communications and community relations.

The finished campus, which will take another two or three years, will feature lush landscaping and public walkways throughout.

The idea is to make the campus as open and inviting for pedestrians downtown as it will be for SandRidge employees, Dewey said.

“We want people to feel like the Commons is their commons,” Dewey said.

SandRidge is also considering building another office building on the site of the now demolished India Temple building on Broadway Avenue, but there are no firm plans in place yet on the size and scope of the project, Dewey said.

“It will really depend on the future growth of the company,” Dewey said.

The Braniff Building will house about 200 SandRidge employees once completed and the renovated 29-story SandRidge tower will house about 900 workers. The company has about 620 corporate employees on its campus, but is rapidly growing, Dewey said. SandRidge has about 50 open positions it is trying to fill.

Traffic on the block has been narrowed to two lanes in some areas around the SandRidge Commons site. Lane closures will remain in place for the duration of construction, said Shannon Cox, a spokeswoman for Oklahoma City’s Project 180, which has been monitoring ongoing street improvements downtown.