BancFirst Tower

[Laramie]

Downtown OKC needs more retail to get it over the hump. The time is ripe since internet sales are becoming risky with all kinds of traps for online shoppers.

Some strip store fronts may work as above ground retail signals that a return may be imminent--the metro concourse & the internet has had an impact on OKC's shopping strips & malls.

BancFirst Tower may have room to play...

[DowntownMan]

With the added barriers for pedestrians protection and now they are pouring a handicap ramp at the entrance on Main Street right outside the doors to the tower...

Months after construction started - wonder if someone filed a complaint that got ADA Regulations involved. There wasn’t really handicap accessibility it less you went all the way down to Gaylord and came back down the sidewalk. Don’t think that counts as accessibility.

[TheTravellers]

With the added barriers for pedestrians protection and now they are pouring a handicap ramp at the entrance on Main Street right outside the doors to the tower...

Months after construction started - wonder if someone filed a complaint that got ADA Regulations involved. There wasn’t really handicap accessibility it less you went all the way down to Gaylord and came back down the sidewalk. Don’t think that counts as accessibility.

Could've been triggered by the construction. I could be completely wrong, but I believe that if you're doing extensive remodeling like they are, you have to come up to current ADA compliance? Either way, glad they're doing something about it, huge, huge amounts of this city are unnavigable for someone in a wheelchair.

[DowntownMan]

Could've been triggered by the construction. I could be completely wrong, but I believe that if you're doing extensive remodeling like they are, you have to come up to current ADA compliance? Either way, glad they're doing something about it, huge, huge amounts of this city are unnavigable for someone in a wheelchair.

This it totally a temporary thing for construction only.

They are building the wheelchair ramp out onto the newly paved Main Street. Out towards the cones and barricades they have set up.

[TheTravellers]

This it totally a temporary thing for construction only.

They are building the wheelchair ramp out onto the newly paved Main Street. Out towards the cones and barricades they have set up.

Ah, gotcha, didn't know it was temporary, glad someone made them do the right thing, that's what must've happened.

[Pete]

From this morning. They are pulling out the old glass curtain wall in the lobby.

[Pete]

[G.Walker]

Just saw a sample of the Solarban 67 Optiblue glass that they will be using for the new facade on this tower. Its really modern, sleek, & blue. Its really going to change the skyline forever and look like a brand new building, I am excited!.

[David]

This stuff, I assume? Solarban 67 Solar Control Low‑E Glass

[David]

Reading the data sheets on that glass, I wonder if there's any chance BancFirst is going for LEED certification for the renovation.

[Pete]

It will likely look a lot like the glass on Devon Tower and BOK Park Plaza.

[Anonymous.]

It would be cool if they did a checkered or some variable of an alternating pattern.

[5alive]

Is the new glass curtain around the lobby going to be pushed out a bit farther? A side note: I never am quite sure when to use farther or further

[Pete]

Is the new glass curtain around the lobby going to be pushed out a bit farther? A side note: I never am quite sure when to use farther or further

Based on the renderings, I think it will stay pretty much in the same place.

Definitely not extended all the way to the outside columns.

[jn1780]

Is the new glass curtain around the lobby going to be pushed out a bit farther? A side note: I never am quite sure when to use farther or further

Yeah, it is being pushed out to the exterior columns.

Side note, the base looks so naked now, it looks funny seeing this tall building standing on what looks like match sticks, of course I now most of the building's strength is the interior core.

[jn1780]

Based on the renderings, I think it will stay pretty much in the same place.

Definitely not extended all the way to the outside columns.

I guess it just looks like its going all the way out, because the columns will be wider.

[Pete]

Yeah, it is being pushed out to the exterior columns.

I thought so at first, but if you look closely at their plans you can see that isn't the case. Example:

[DowntownMan]

I thought so at first, but if you look closely at their plans you can see that isn't the case. Example:

I can confirm this. They have started footings or something on the southeast corner where the new wall will go. It is basically the same as the old wall location.

[HOT ROD]

LED lighting at major mullions. Looks like this building will be able to have colors and/or words on its facade! Or i that just the crown?

should be way way cool

[Pete]

LED lighting at major mullions. Looks like this building will be able to have colors and/or words on its facade! Or i that just the crown?

should be way way cool

Just the crown.

[G.Walker]

Once the new facade is complete, all the major skyscrapers downtown will be modern. It will really make our downtown look appealing and attractive. I know some people wanted to keep some type of history, but I never was a fan of the black glass currently on the tower.

[Pete]

The biggest change will be at night when BancFirst and First National Center are both lit up with LED lights.

Should be a dramatic change.

[SEMIweather]

I'm a broken record on this, but OKC's nighttime skyline is always going to look underwhelming until Devon gets it together with their lighting. You just can't have a building that's 300-400 feet taller than the rest of the skyline have such crappy lighting. I'd honestly prefer if they just turned off all of the side lighting and only kept the crown on, if they're not going to spend the money to fix it.

[SagerMichael]

I'm a broken record on this, but OKC's nighttime skyline is always going to look underwhelming until Devon gets it together with their lighting. You just can't have a building that's 300-400 feet taller than the rest of the skyline have such crappy lighting. I'd honestly prefer if they just turned off all of the side lighting and only kept the crown on, if they're not going to spend the money to fix it.

The solid bars looked so much better than what they have now. I wish they’d go back to them even if a couple were out

[shawnw]

I'm a broken record on this, but OKC's nighttime skyline is always going to look underwhelming until Devon gets it together with their lighting. You just can't have a building that's 300-400 feet taller than the rest of the skyline have such crappy lighting. I'd honestly prefer if they just turned off all of the side lighting and only kept the crown on, if they're not going to spend the money to fix it.

IMO this will not get resolved until either 1) They get back to full strength and have some cash to work with or 2) They sell the building for cash and lease their needed space back from the new owners and those new owners take on the project.