Founders Tower

[floater]

I agree Mr. Anderson. Leadership Square downtown, should be edged in blue neon. With all the facets on the building they would really glow, where now they fade away into the darkness.

I've always thought that Leadership Square's rounded glass staircase roof is one of the cool details of the OKC skyline. Neon or uplighting (like Kerr McGee's) would be nice way to highlight it. And thanks okcpulse for at least suggesting it. Has it changed hands since you asked? Maybe the new owners might be more receptive to the idea.

[Patrick]

I always though KerrMcGee should put a sign on top of their building like Devon. From the highway you have no idea what's in that building.

[floater]

I always though KerrMcGee should put a sign on top of their building like Devon. From the highway you have no idea what's in that building.

Sadly, it may no longer be necessary...

It's not a terribly sexy building, but that square honeycomb (?) exterior is unique.

[zuluwarrior0760]

Leadership Square won't put neon or anything else on their building,
because after studying what it will cost, they will come to the realization
that their tenants won't pay a nickel more for it in terms of rates....

Bank of America Bldg in Dallas was done in green "argon", sort of a supercharged
neon of sorts.......they have a contract with Federal Sign in Dallas to maintain
it and they are on that building every Monday replacing blown out tubes........
Last year, it was over half a mil.......

If Leadership Square got serious about it, there are now LED based alternatives
to Neon that never need replacement, look just like Neon.and are impervious to hail in the middle of Hail Alley here.....

[writerranger]

My father was in the United Founders Tower today in one of the retail stores on the ground floor that he frequents regularly. The owner told him that the retailers had received bad news this morning with notices that leases will not be renewed, some bought out, etc. The reason? The building (except for the cafeteria) would be unusable as they begin a massive project - the conversion of the tower into condominiums! Has anyone here heard anything about this? Is this
true? This seems credible, coming from a friend of my fathers.

Update: Yes, it's true. The only reference I could find was a January Oklahoman article about office space that slipped this in:

Outside the central business district, Jim Meyer's Founders Tower Condominiums LLC is converting the United Founders Tower at 5900 Mosteller Drive to condominiums, for another 182,615 square feet of office space gone.

How would that work in the round? Four units per floor (like a pie) with each unit having a large curving glass window? Six units on some floors?

This could be huge. That would give the NW Expressway & May area three high-rise living towers (two being apartments), the Marriott Hotel, Crowne Plaza Hotel......It seems there could be lots of potential in that Mosteller area for an urban-style redesign.

Update continued.....Talk about slipping in under the radar! At least, I suppose it has, as there has been little talk of it here and I think there would have been had this been widely known. There was a thread here in September of 2005 about the building being purchased. But this news from Wednesday about the notices to tenants means this is moving ahead.
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[John]

It's been in the works for a while, the property is actually owned by Founders Tower Condominiums, LLC. There are some articles about it in previous posts. Just search for Founders Tower.

I think the location is great and every unit will have at least one balcony.

I love the architecture of both the tower and the Continental Theater (which is owned by those that bought the tower, as well), and the Realtors Association.

[writerranger]

It's been in the works for a while, the property is actually owned by Founders Tower Condominiums, LLC. There are some articles about it in previous posts. Just search for Founders Tower.

I think the location is great and every unit will have at least one balcony.

I love the architecture of both the tower and the Continental Theater (which is owned by those that bought the tower, as well), and the Realtors Association.

Yes, I updated my original post. At least now we know it's moving forward with the notices going out. I agree about the architecture - love it! As for the Continental Theater, I worked there as a teenager and I hope that there is something that can be done with the original structure. The Continental actually had one of the first Cinemascope screens in this part of the country. If you're interested in the old Continental Theater, take a look here for some great pix of the place in all its glory. By the way, George Gaughan was a hard man to work for, but he demanded excellence from his staff and was a great motivator.

This is huge for the Mosteller area.

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[Pete]

Thanks so much for that article and photos of the Continental!

It was my favorite place to see a movie as a kid, and I hadn't seen a picture of the interior. Really brings back a lot of fond memories!

[Patrick]

Concerning the Continental, I was hoping Country Inn and Suites would've purchased it to use as meeting space when they constructed their new hotel (from an existing office building) a few years back, but that didn't happen.

Anyhow, I'm glad to see thing moving forward with the Founders Tower. Condos make more sense, especially since it's located back in a neighborhood, almost directly across from Lakeview Towers apartments. I figured Queen Anne Cafeteria would remain. I'm guessing Nikz will leave??? I think that would be a loss. It was the only revolving restaurant we had in town. http://www.nikzokc.com/

[John]

The building the Country Inn is in used to match in architecture with Founders Tower, the Continental, and Realtor building, right? At least with the black brick & white trim. I'm having a hard time pulling that back into memory even though its only been a couple years.

From what was posted above, it looks like the Queen Anne will stay. Also, I would think the developers would want to keep Nikz up top.

[Pete]

Yes, you are right about the converted Country Inn.

It was previous know as Physicians Tower and had the same black and white architecture of the other buildings.


The fact the Founders Tower has balaconies make it an especially good fit for condo conversion. It will be interesting to see the design and pricing.

[John]

Physicians Tower! That's right. Thanks Malibu.

The Mosteller area has some unique architecture, with the buildings mentioned above and also the old Founders Bank on May with the 'arch'.

[Patrick]

Physicians Tower! That's right. Thanks Malibu.

The Mosteller area has some unique architecture, with the buildings mentioned above and also the old Founders Bank on May with the 'arch'.

You know, it's funny you mention the old Founders Bank on May. I drive by the thing all the time and never even think about it. I met someone from out of state a few months ago, and they were telling me how they enjoy the great architecture here. They happened to mention that building.....for a few minutes, I couldn't even picture in my head what building she was talking about. Just shows you that sometimes we get so used to living here, we forget what's around us.

[metro]

Yep, you can find out more about this from a past discussion:

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-are...founders+tower

[writerranger]

Yep, you can find out more about this from a past discussion:

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-are...founders+tower

A lot of the information in that older thread is dated already and quite a few things have changed.

You know, it's funny you mention the old Founders Bank on May. I drive by the thing all the time and never even think about it. I met someone from out of state a few months ago, and they were telling me how they enjoy the great architecture here. They happened to mention that building.....for a few minutes, I couldn't even picture in my head what building she was talking about. Just shows you that sometimes we get so used to living here, we forget what's around us.

You got that right, Patrick. That's a good example, too. The old Founders Bank (now BOA) is one interesting building.

Another thing about United Founders Tower.....that should make for a very interesting lobby as a condo. The whole circular thing just fascinates me. That's just a great building!

[Pete]

The views of downtown and near-NW OKC are fantastic from that building, too.

That area sits slightly higher and then gently slopes towards downtown. As a result, that whole part of town really reveals itself from even the lower floors.

And facing the other direction, there are good views of Lake Hefner.

If I was in the market, I'd much prefer Founders to The Classen for these reasons (plus the balconies).

[shane453]

I heard about this on another forum last year- The article there also said the developer had purchased about 7 acres around the Founders Tower to develop... certainly an interesting possibility for an urban district. If it's popular I can see more condos built up there near Lake Hefner for proximity to work and the lake's recreational offerings. It would be cool if they built a Founders Tower twin.

[Pete]

Floors 15-19 will have espeically large balconies:

[Patrick]

Whoa. Nice pic!

[Pete]

I'm really excited about this project.

In fact, I may interested in buying a unit as an investment.

Perhaps a full-furnished rental until I reach retirement?

[BG918]

Nikz is staying right? That's one of the best restaurants I've ever been to in OKC, and definitely unique in that it's the only revolving restaurant in Oklahoma.

[writerranger]

Floors 15-19 will have espeically large balconies:

Great picture, Malibu! That shot shows a good view of the top - here's one I took recently from the base of the building (with budding redbuds) that is a good view from the bottom.



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[zuluwarrior0760]

Founders Tower Condominiums is owned by Jim Meyer,
the founder of Newhaven homes....

The architect on the Condo project is Richard Brown Architects

Meyer also purchased the old Continental Theater building
from the same seller for 300K back in Sept. of 05, which
indicates that that building may find new life as Condos as well..that building NEEDS to be refurbished and reused....it is too important a structure to be abandoned like it has been....

[Pete]

I've been trying to think of adaptive uses for the Continental that would still preserve the exterior architecture...

Here's some ideas:

- Playhouse
- Meeting space
- Health club
- Nightclub
- Live music venue

It really is quite unbelievable the place has been abandoned for so long, especiall given its location.

[writerranger]

Just found out that the official plan for the owner of the United Founders Tower/Continental Theater is to tear down the old theater for a new office building. I know the uses of the Continental theater are limited, but I'll hate to see that structure go.