Devon Energy Center

[Popsy]

Um, no, they didn't tear down any buildings at all. It was a parking lot.

I thought it was a multi-storied parking garage, but my eyes are not what they used to be. My bad.

[dmoor82]

Yes, let's take away from the performing artist...

I can see what you are saying,but wouldnt it just add to The experience?Would staring at a skyscraper,impead your hearing?I could see The Artist/performers stopping mid act,and saying HELLO over here!LOL.

[BigD Misey]

Would it not be better visually for The occupants inside The Auditorium,if The glass were not inverted inward,but outward and upward to have an impressive view of The tower right infront of it?

acoustics bro! acoustics!

[Steve]

Confused...

I thought the auditorium was in the plans long ago. That little round thingy on the far west end of the site? This isn't news, but it'll still be pretty neat.

You never saw the designs until today - that was the new news.

[Steve]

I thought it was a multi-storied parking garage, but my eyes are not what they used to be. My bad.

Not really a garage - it was a two-level parking deck. But there were definitely no buildings (in the modern era) torn down to make way for Devon.

[metro]

Confused...

I thought the auditorium was in the plans long ago. That little round thingy on the far west end of the site? This isn't news, but it'll still be pretty neat.

As Steve said, the designs and renderings were new, yes we knew there would be an auditorium, but didn't know the design nor that it would have a commercial catering kitchen.

I thought it was a multi-storied parking garage, but my eyes are not what they used to be. My bad.

As Steve said, it was 2 stories, and one of them were underground, it's not like it was a historic building or anything. And unless the Arts Festival or a Thunder game was going on, it was half empty on any given day.

[Urban Pioneer]

Are there more renderings of this?

[metro]

jeff, there are two renderings in the Devon construction thread or on NewsOK.

[hipsterdoofus]

Not directly related to the tower, but has anyone else heard about the elevators in the parking garage? Apparently on at least some of the elevators, they did not extend the elevators up to the 10th level (NE corner for sure). They still only go to the 4th floor - if you park above there, you have to take the stairs. As much money as Devon spent on that, seems a really odd thing to do.

[dmoor82]

acoustics bro! acoustics!

^^I understand!just making conversation!

[cad_poke]

You can also get more details from this month's agenda of the Downtown Design Review Committee.

http://www.okc.gov/planning/planning...drc/10-023.pdf

[Pete]

hipster, since they will all be Devon employees parking there, I'm sure they will all be using the elevators at the south end, closest to the building, podium, health club, etc. I'm sure the elevators at that end all go to the top.

Very unlikely someone would park there then want to head north.

[jmarkross]

Not directly related to the tower, but has anyone else heard about the elevators in the parking garage? Apparently on at least some of the elevators, they did not extend the elevators up to the 10th level (NE corner for sure). They still only go to the 4th floor - if you park above there, you have to take the stairs. As much money as Devon spent on that, seems a really odd thing to do.

Probably means you better pay the premium price for the best parking spaces! Or--have a strong heart!

[hipsterdoofus]

hipster, since they will all be Devon employees parking there, I'm sure they will all be using the elevators at the south end, closest to the building, podium, health club, etc. I'm sure the elevators at that end all go to the top.

Very unlikely someone would park there then want to head north.

Perhaps...although word is they may have extra spaces they will lease out....I guess those people don't get an elevator. Again, seems a bit strange with all the money they put in that they didn't complete that.

[Spartan]

OMG. Devon is building a big green space on their campus. And they tore down a bunch of buildings to make room for it.

What did they tear down to make room?

Devon is building a truly world class corporate center. I love their challenge to the rest of the companies in OKC.

I hope this doesn't sour your enthusiasm for Devon, but they are doing things the right way..

[Spartan]

It looks like the Hudson facade is going to be a glazed wall that projects out at a slight angle. It will be made up of, according to the DDRC pdf, transparent glass and minimized steel for structural support and load bearing. So hopefully a little more than a blank wall. If it turns out that way, maybe they can work with the schools and get some art to adorn it with, similar to what you currently see on the barriers to the construction site.

[Rover]

I was poking fun, guys. The buildings torn down were long ago and replaced with an ugly parking structure where the galleria was to be. Thank goodness we didn't get the galleria. We would have had a dead duck where the Devon complex is.

And I love the Devon project. Again, poking fun because it shows green space and we know green space isn't "urban".

Sorry, my sarcasm came out this morning. Guess I am just irritated that it is such a beautiful day and I am stuck inside in an office.

[OKCisOK4me]

As Steve said, the designs and renderings were new, yes we knew there would be an auditorium, but didn't know the design nor that it would have a commercial catering kitchen.



As Steve said, it was 2 stories, and one of them were underground, it's not like it was a historic building or anything. And unless the Arts Festival or a Thunder game was going on, it was half empty on any given day.

Yeah, I see. And not that we would ever have looked for it but if you take a closer look at that newest shiniest rendering of the Devon Tower with the fall foliage and the bright blue sky behind it, you can actually see the square roofed auditorium in the lower left hand corner...

[Kerry]

Not really a garage - it was a two-level parking deck. But there were definitely no buildings (in the modern era) torn down to make way for Devon.

...and not only that but they put the parking spaces back by adding 5 floors to the existing garage next door.

This really is a tale of two companies and their vision for downtown OKC. Devon is taking open space (a parking deck) and building up. Sandridge is taking existing verticle space and making it open space. I think I like the Devon approach better.

[Rover]

Devon going up in that location is the result of other buildings coming down 30 yrs ago. As is the new library - a pretty nice addition to downtown in and of itself. It is the life of a city.

[FritterGirl]

Color me orientationally-challenged, but I still can't "picture" which way the glass side of the structure will face - south or west - or neither.

Seems having a huge blank wall next to either street would create one of those visual "blocks" that are discussed in pedestrian traffic discussions.

*scratches head*

[Kerry]

Devon going up in that location is the result of other buildings coming down 30 yrs ago. As is the new library - a pretty nice addition to downtown in and of itself. It is the life of a city.

So you are saying that the Sandridge plan should go through because in 30 years there will be a vacant lot to build on. That sounds reasonable. Just for grins, let's say there were four dilapidated buildings on the Galleria site, do you think that would have prevented the Devon tower project? Surely not, because as we all know, an active parking garage WAS there and is now gone.

Most of the opposition to the Sandridge plan isn't because they are tearing down some old buildings, it is that they aren't replacig them with anything but flower beds.

[warreng88]

Color me orientationally-challenged, but I still can't "picture" which way the glass side of the structure will face - south or west - or neither.

The 30 degree angled glass shown in the story will face east toward the open park area in front of the tower, podium, etc. The blank wall will face south toward Sheridan, but from the renderings, it looks like it will be set back from the street and broken up with trees, sidewalks, etc.

[metro]

FritterGirl, the main glass wall shown will be facing east into the Devon park, back at the tower. I agree about the Hudson streetwall barrier, see my earlier comment.

[Rover]

aa