First National Center

[bluedogok]

The space just screams hotel lobby with a classy cocktail lounge running down the center. Imagine bright and beautiful art deco type of plush furniture and lots of martinis.


Also, most people don't realize that that is a real skylight above... This part of the structure is u-shaped all the way up to accommodate this feature and to add natural light.

Imagine it cleaned up and transparent, being able to see the sky above.

Every time that I have been in there I have thought the same thing, the same of it is that it isn't on the main entry floor. The ground floor is rather pedestrian compared to the lobby. Seems to me they would need to figure out a way to open it up to Robinson. I still wish Magnolia Hotels could get a hold of it.

[RadicalModerate]

One of my fond memories in direct relationship to the "wonderment" of those "awesome" photos of the inside of the bank, was during that very cold, early era, NewYearsOpeningNightOKCDowntownFest. Back in the Day . . .

We--not The Royal We, rather me and some friends--emerged from some leaky pedestrian underground tunnel--a haven from the reality of the prevailing weather conditions that year (circa -30 wind chill . . . obviously before global warming kicked in) including an amusing array of "store" fronts containing, in recognition of the importance of The Festivities,some fairly famous older local jazz/blues guitar wizard(s) (Bernie? Barney? with a K? Maybe Kessel)? in a flooded, deserted underground storefront selling some sort of trinkets?)--up some stairs and into . . . THAT!!! It was pretty darned amazing.

And it still is.
(So it remains.)
-amen-

I seem to recall that some ProtoRedDirt/Country Western/Big Band was playing . . . (excellent acoustics, btw)
Maybe The Flaming Lips could start marking the calendar for . . . =)

For sure, "Nonesuch" (that old timey semi-local "celtic" band) was at the other awesome downtown venue that year.
CitiPlace . . .CitiLobby . . . CityCenter . . .?

Quick Question: Have all of the details, regarding the continued preservation, of "The Golden Dome" @ 23 n' dC" been worked out yet?
I hope so. There are "banks" . . . and then there are "Banks" . . . and then there are memory banks =)

Edited to Add: Why didn't "Magnificent" gain the same public traction as "Awesome"?
e.g. The Photos Are Magnificent. Thank You.

Sid: The sidewalks are OK. And the Urbanity. Task: Get on that video.

Translation w/o BS:
Thanks for the photograph, Pete.
It was nearly perfect.

[RadicalModerate]

Oops . . . Almost Forgot . . .
(for the "Leningrad" ParadigmOptionComparisonComrade, Post #753, subref #755 =)

"All Things Considered, I'd Rather Be In OKC. In Fact, I'm Banking on it."


They could place ("The LenMeister") on that expedient, yet cheap and ineffective visual block interferring with the view of the authentic lobby.
Or not. This is, after all, a free country. =)

Fortunately for US . . . Great Buildings survive Stupid People. Most of the time (Pei). (sorry . . .

Thanks, again, Pete.
(with apologies and gratitude)

[Bellaboo]

I wonder if this building is still on well water ? Anyone know ?

[BoulderSooner]

Why can't the city do for this building what they did for the Skirvin? Take the MAPS 3 money and buy it, renovate it as a hotel, and call it the Convention Center hotel? Isn't there money in MAPS 3 to build a convention hotel? Does the hotel really have to be attached to the convention center to be called the convention center hotel?

yes the CC hotel needs to be attached to the CC ..

[CuatrodeMayo]

Also, most people don't realize that that is a real skylight above... This part of the structure is u-shaped all the way up to accommodate this feature and to add natural light.

Was a skylight. I was in the Department of Tourism offices awhile back and managed to sneak a peak outside expecting to see the skylight. I was shocked to discover that the skylight had been covered over by a roof. It is artificially lit now. It that was opened back with transparent glass, that would be stunning.

[architect5311]

.....

Also, most people don't realize that that is a real skylight above... This part of the structure is u-shaped all the way up to accommodate this feature and to add natural light.

Imagine it cleaned up and transparent, being able to see the sky above.

FYI, it used to be a skylight, became to much of a maintenance issue , leaking etc., covered over with roof structure and artificial lighting.

Still a great space though! Something of interest, if you get a chance to go up there, you'll notice in front of the each of the teller stations what appears to be a depression in the marble/granite? floors. It's actually wear from customers waiting while making transactions...

[CaptDave]

FYI, it used to be a skylight, became to much of a maintenance issue , leaking etc., covered over with roof structure and artificial lighting.

Still a great space though! Something of interest, if you get a chance to go up there, you'll notice in front of the each of the teller stations what appears to be a depression in the marble/granite? floors. It's actually wear from customers waiting while making transactions...

Surely it could be repaired with modern construction technology to make it weather tight and less of a maintenance issue. Just another project for the future owner I suppose.

[MikeLucky]

I wonder how many people in OKC have no idea this exists. This is a tremendous example of "they don't build them like they used to". This truly is a world class structure - the design compares well with similar buildings anywhere in the US. I swear if I were to win the Powerball tonight I would go to Capmark and force them to sell it to me somehow.

If you look back about 20 pages I said the exact thing. lol. If I won the powerball this building would be mine... and I wouldn't spare any expense on making it not only a place for me to live in style, but also a hotel/condo/retail facility. But, as it were, the odds are not on my side.

[Praedura]

A few more really nice pics of the banking hall can be found here:

OKC Daily Images: A Favorite Hide Away

[CaptDave]

I was able to see the upper floors of the FNC exterior from City Place today. It looks pretty rough. I also heard there is a lot of asbestos in the building. It will take someone with very deep pockets and a strong desire to save this great building to restore it. I sincerely hope it happens sooner rather than later so it doesn't deteriorate until it is too far gone. To lose FNC now would be tragic.

[wschnitt]

I was able to see the upper floors of the FNC exterior from City Place today. It looks pretty rough. I also heard there is a lot of asbestos in the building. It will take someone with very deep pockets and a strong desire to save this great building to restore it. I sincerely hope it happens sooner rather than later so it doesn't deteriorate until it is too far gone. To lose FNC now would be tragic.

That is a bit extreme. Detroit had skyscrapers sit open for 20 years that were then rehabed.

[CaptDave]

That is a bit extreme. Detroit had skyscrapers sit open for 20 years that were then rehabed.

I hope you are right. I was kind of surprised at the condition of the various ventilation inlets / outlets, roof, and other equipment. This was the first time I have ever seen any of this. Honestly, I think the asbestos abatement may end up being the most expensive part of putting this great building back to use.

[Rover]

Mold remediation can also be expensive if the building seal is violated and rain enters the walls or roof structure.

[JayhawkTransplant]

I was able to see the upper floors of the FNC exterior from City Place today. It looks pretty rough. I also heard there is a lot of asbestos in the building. It will take someone with very deep pockets and a strong desire to save this great building to restore it. I sincerely hope it happens sooner rather than later so it doesn't deteriorate until it is too far gone. To lose FNC now would be tragic.

The FNC was remediated for asbestos in 2010.

[Steve]

There is no asbestos left at First National - it was removed.

[CaptDave]

There is no asbestos left at First National - it was removed.

That is great news. I - like everyone else that likes the FNC - worry the longer it goes without proper maintenance the more difficult any restoration will be. Still, were I to come up with a winning PowerBall ticket I might give it a go.

[JayhawkTransplant]

Me too. I had the privilege of being in the top floor a few years ago, and it made me fall in love with this city. The amazing views, combined with the ornate architecture and the bank at the bottom, make this building my favorite.

[Steve]

Don't get too excited. Even with the asbestos removed, my estimate for bringing the historic tower, etc., to modern standards, code, etc. - a top to bottom makeover similar to what was done to the Skirvin - easily exceeds $80 million. And this is not a guess - this is an educated estimate based on many interviews I've had with knowledgeable sources.

[CaptDave]

Don't get too excited. Even with the asbestos removed, my estimate for bringing the historic tower, etc., to modern standards, code, etc. - a top to bottom makeover similar to what was done to the Skirvin - easily exceeds $80 million. And this is not a guess - this is an educated estimate based on many interviews I've had with knowledgeable sources.

It would definitely be a labor of love....and lots of money. I wonder what a restored FNC would be valued at? What ROI would a typical investor/developer need to take on a project with so much uncertainty?

[Rover]

Don't get too excited. Even with the asbestos removed, my estimate for bringing the historic tower, etc., to modern standards, code, etc. - a top to bottom makeover similar to what was done to the Skirvin - easily exceeds $80 million. And this is not a guess - this is an educated estimate based on many interviews I've had with knowledgeable sources.

Steve, is that $80 million for the entire center or just the main tower of 450,000 ft?

[Pete]

Don't get too excited. Even with the asbestos removed, my estimate for bringing the historic tower, etc., to modern standards, code, etc. - a top to bottom makeover similar to what was done to the Skirvin - easily exceeds $80 million. And this is not a guess - this is an educated estimate based on many interviews I've had with knowledgeable sources.

$80 million seems about right as the Skirvin was $55 million and isn't nearly the size and didn't have restrooms between floors like the FNC Tower.

[Pete]

BTW, the last loan extension is due to expire this week, but I've more or less stopped getting my hopes up that something is actually going to happen here any time soon.

[Lafferty Daniel]

$80 million seems about right as the Skirvin was $55 million and isn't nearly the size and didn't have restrooms between floors like the FNC Tower.

I've seen people say this before and it confuses me. What exactly does this mean? How are the bathrooms between the floors? I'm having trouble picturing this in my head.

[Just the facts]

I've seen people say this before and it confuses me. What exactly does this mean? How are the bathrooms between the floors? I'm having trouble picturing this in my head.

They mean that one floors has a men's room and the next floor has a women's room, which in turn means that one gender has to go to another floor to use the restroom. If a company only has one floor leased then someone is out of luck.