Convention Center

[HOT ROD]

i would LOVE to see a fountain in that roundabout, an OKC symbol that's always running.

And as for roundabouts, I think Oklahoman's will get used to them again. We used to have them and parallel parking - no reason why folks can't relearn (or learn). We have many of them here and they are so convenient and welcome; hardly ANY accidents. Oklahoman's just need to get used to patiently waiting for the vehicle that's in the circle; nothing crazy about that and you avoid long waits at lights.

[Pete]

^

I looked at the plans, and the center of the roundabout will be landscaped.

[Pete]

[David]

That full parking lot south of the convention center stands out, are they managing to hold events already?

[shawnw]

would bet that's all park patrons, though there HAVE been events as well

[5alive]

Is that paid parking?

[John1744]

We were there around noon today and we parked in that lot. It was free parking today, (no one in the booths at least) we normally park along the road by the convention center but it's all been blocked off for street vendors. Not sure where else you are supposed to park to visit the area easily honestly.

[SEMIweather]

There's usually some free spaces along the Boulevard during less busy times. If those are taken I'll usually opt for Dewey south of SW 4th, which is always deserted to the point where I have no qualms posting about it on a public forum lol

[Plutonic Panda]

FYI the convention center is open for tours until 5pm.

[shawnw]

Went on the tour, pretty impressive. Aside from the obvious things, what I'm looking forward to, is when these doors in the main hall are opened onto a busy 4th street experience, it's going to be cool.

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^ glad you made it out safe without the building killing you

[unfundedrick]

I also did the tour and was extremely impressed.

[unfundedrick]

[Pete]

[Bowser214]

Looks amazing! Not a fan of the wall tile Urban Farmhouse look but that's just me.

[Laramie]

Couldn't help but notice the 1,005 room J. W. Marriott in Indianapolis that will be the major host hotel for the 2021 NCAA Division I Mens Tournament.

This is what Oklahoma City will eventually need in addition to a Dome Stadium if it wants to begin hosting big events like the NCAA mens tournament, major party conventions and the NBA All Star Game.

Our $288 million Convention Center & $241 million 605 room Omni Hotel is a signal that OKC may be ready to take the next big step with MAPS V in 2028.

[HOT ROD]

now THAT's a nice highrise hotel, 30-floors? 1005 rooms. That's what we should have expected, maybe not 30 floors but definitely 20 something, at least 750 rooms. ...

I will mention that it appears the floor heights of our Omni are taller than this JW Marriott, so if our hotel were 24 floors it'd probably be the same height as Indy's JW.

IMO we should have more NBA floors than just the top, more than just the opposing team's players travel with the team (who are significantly tall). Anyway - hopefully we'll get another hotel and do the high-rise part of it correctly. Imagine the JW Marriott (with taller floors) on one of the Ford blocks across the street - now that's BIG CITY!

[Rover]

now THAT's a nice highrise hotel, 30-floors? 1005 rooms. That's what we should have expected, maybe not 30 floors but definitely 20 something, at least 750 rooms. ...

I will mention that it appears the floor heights of our Omni are taller than this JW Marriott, so if our hotel were 24 floors it'd probably be the same height as Indy's JW.

IMO we should have more NBA floors than just the top, more than just the opposing team's players travel with the team (who are significantly tall). Anyway - hopefully we'll get another hotel and do the high-rise part of it correctly. Imagine the JW Marriott (with taller floors) on one of the Ford blocks across the street - now that's BIG CITY!

It's hard to compare based on cities. Indianapolis is 50% bigger than OKC and has WAY more population within 200 miles. Lots more visitors to Indy to support larger luxury full service hotels. .

[PoliSciGuy]

Actually that raises an interesting question - who are our peer cities that OKC can realistically compare itself to? ABQ and Omaha have a half million less people in its MSA.

Memphis and Louisville meet the population requirement and are in similarly-red areas.

[SouthOfTheVillage]

The CC and park look amazing. Someone just needs to put in a Power Block on the west offset to Scissortail. Feel like Mid-Rise Residential would work.

[Rover]

Actually that raises an interesting question - who are our peer cities that OKC can realistically compare itself to? ABQ and Omaha have a half million less people in its MSA.

Memphis and Louisville meet the population requirement and are in similarly-red areas.

Jacksonville, Richmond, Providence, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, Raleigh

[catch22]

Looks great. Will it be open to the public much like the Cox was? I remember you could walk around in it for the most part (except for conference rooms)

[soonerguru]

Looks amazing! Not a fan of the wall tile Urban Farmhouse look but that's just me.

LOL, what is the name of that HGTV couple from Waco?

[catch22]

LOL, what is the name of that HGTV couple from Waco?

Chip and Joanna Gaines Convention Hall.

Has a ring to it. We need more shiplap!

[Urbanized]

That’s not tile, and it’s not a farmhouse aesthetic. It appears to be formed concrete, or at least made to look that way (I haven’t been inside the cc yet). The woodgrain you see was historically imparted by the boards used in the building of the forms. Not certain of the exact technique used here; may have been very straightforward or it might be stamped or stimulated in some other way.

It’s a pretty old building technique, and can often be found in turn of the twentieth century warehouse buildings like those that once stood in the immediate vicinity, or in nearby Bricktown, etc. Most often seen in ceilings of these buildings, where planks were used to form the concrete for the floor above, then stripped away once the concrete cured. A really good local example off the top of my head is in the home of Antioch Energy on the Bricktown Canal.

In the case of the convention center this gives it an urban/industrial look which is pretty appropriate for the location in my opinion.