BOK Park Plaza

[OKC_on_mines]

I LOVE the architecture here. Particularly using materials from the old buildings to construct the current tower. I like this a lot. Had coffee at the clarity coffee shop a couple weeks ago I couldn't help but stare at this tower. And i think those garages look nice. With the lights on at night it looks best. But ill reserve opinion on the garages until they're finished.

[Anonymous.]

[UnFrSaKn]

Via WestParkOKC Facebook

[Pete]

[G.Walker]

This new office tower really turned out nice, great project for downtown.

[catch22]

Good pics Pete. Those are some shiny buildings. I had to do a double take, I thought Devon was missing some windows.

[KingOfTheNorth]

The reflection of the horizon is a crazy image.

[Pete]

[Doug Loudenback]

My opinion is that this project is turning out very nicely. I'm especially fond of the angle and the transparent windows.... hope they stay that way.

[Dustin]

Omg... That garage...

[shadfar]

Omg... That garage...

seriously!

[Eddie1]

Are they gonna put some shops in the first floor of that garage space? That may break up the brown cladding.

[Ross MacLochness]

Are they gonna put some shops in the first floor of that garage space? That may break up the brown cladding.

there is space for retail on one side of each garage. Devon also has "retail" space in their garage facing Hudson, but that space has never been activated. Here's hoping for ground floor activity on all three garages in the future!

[chuck5815]

Omg... That garage...

This is what $50 oil buys, folks. We can't have huge sheets of glass with rich marbles at these pricing levels.

[dankrutka]

This is what $50 oil buys, folks. We can't have huge sheets of glass with rich marbles at these pricing levels.

Quality urban planning doesn't have to be more expensive. The garages are both ugly and poorly designed... unless you want an area of downtown devoid of people... in that case, they'll be a booming part of the parking garage district.

[chuck5815]

Quality urban planning doesn't have to be more expensive. The garages are both ugly and poorly designed... unless you want an area of downtown devoid of people... in that case, they'll be a booming part of the parking garage district.

You are right. I just wish we could get one or two garages that look something like the one shown below. Surely it can't be that hard.

[Doug Loudenback]

Via WestParkOKC Facebook

Wil, that is one magnificent photo. Well done.

[KayneMo]

Or something like these:

[Laramie]

These are parking garages. We get it that it's nice to dress them up to look otherwise. It's not that much more of an expense to dress the garages; the private garage developments have their bottom line in mind, not your vision of a sparking venue. IMO it's not that big of an issue because the interior of many garages feel drafty.

Think about the next time you use a parking garage; are you looking at the exterior facade and/or the interior decor?

You would think convenience, price & the proximity to the workplace are what concerns patrons the most.

[ABCOKC]

These are parking garages. We get it that it's nice to dress them up to look otherwise. It's not that much more of an expense to dress the garages; the private garage developments have their bottom line in mind, not your vision of a sparking venue. IMO it's not that big of an issue because the interior of many garages feel drafty.

Think about the next time you use a parking garage; are you looking at the exterior facade and/or the interior decor?

You would think convenience, price & the proximity to the workplace are what concerns patrons the most.

As someone who patronizes businesses in all the districts in which these garages are going up, I am definitely concerned with what the exteriors look like.

Certainly businesses have their bottom line to worry about. I understand and respect that. But residential and commercial projects in our design review districts are (or ought to be) held to certain standards of appeal and appropriateness. I don't personally believe that structures built to hold cars should have special rules apply.

And if it isn't cost-effective to make the project (i.e. garages) somewhat attractive, maybe that project simply doesn't belong in an attractive, urban environment. There's plenty of land available elsewhere in the city with tons of space for surface parking. And as a frequenter of downtown and city taxpayer, I'm happy to wait for a project to come along which is both cost-effective and adheres to basic standards of urban design.

Just my two cents, obviously I have great appreciation for your opinions, Laramie, and for your optimism regarding OKC.

[Ross MacLochness]

These are parking garages. We get it that it's nice to dress them up to look otherwise. It's not that much more of an expense to dress the garages; the private garage developments have their bottom line in mind, not your vision of a sparking venue. IMO it's not that big of an issue because the interior of many garages feel drafty.

Think about the next time you use a parking garage; are you looking at the exterior facade and/or the interior decor?

You would think convenience, price & the proximity to the workplace are what concerns patrons the most.

I know I'm a bit idealistic (and apparently an anti-car nutjob), but architecture is a huge legacy we leave to future generations. It reflects our identity and makes us feel something; it can remind us who we are. A well designed building feels fantastic to be in and around compared to something that is lacking in character or quality. Garages already add little value to the urban landscape as it is, it's important to at least make them look pleasant. Go to santa fe nm for example. They have a massive parking structure right in the middle of their historic downtown but if you don't park there, you wouldn't know it. They understood that having something ugly and out of place would distract people from the joys of that town and made sure to hide it well in a nice facade. It blows my mind that folks go for a purely "bottom line" approach when, if we spent a bit more money up front making things look and feel nice, over time we'd all (including those developers) be better off for it. The little details, when added up, can have a profound impact on how we perceive our surroundings and how we are perceived by outsiders. I'd argue that spending a little more up front to hide parking or at the very least create attractive parking structures we are proud of, over time those developers would see a greater ROI as more people want to spend time in a pleasant, attractive place rather than spaces dominated by big ugly boxes that don't have any active uses.

[dankrutka]

It's also not just about the purpose of an individual parking garage or preferences of individual consumers... ugly parking garages can suck the life out of an entire block, this negatively effecting neighboring businesses, residents, and in this case, school children who now would have to walk past hazardous garages to get anywhere to the north. Parking garages can damage the urban fabric, vitality, and street level commerce. At least disguising them can offset some of the visual negatives.

[SOONER8693]

Good grief. Damn near everything that is done in OKC gets nitpicked and criticized to death. Is anyone ever happy with anything that happens here? Sheeeesh.

[kevin lee]

Amen

[HangryHippo]

Good grief. Damn near everything that is done in OKC gets nitpicked and criticized to death. Is anyone ever happy with anything that happens here? Sheeeesh.

Sure. When it's not detrimental to the progress we're trying to achieve (or hideous).