Devon Energy Center

[jmarkross]

I can understand them not having an observation deck, for all the obvious reasons--but--I think someone ought to suggest they put a world-class camera system up there that would give everyone a great view of the city, not unlike this one here on OKC Talk that is such a draw to all of us. Would cost very little to install and maintain. A nice panorama setup would be nice...and innovative.

[Diesel54]

I may be mistaken but I could have sworn Larry Nichols made a definitive statement about this around the time the project was announced.

I'll do some research and see if I can confirm it.

You are correct. Nichols said there would be no observation deck when the building was announced.

[Pete]

Here's a post from 'Insider' on 8/20/2008 about the public/private parts of the project:

The tower will be secured and only available to Devon Employees. There will be no observation deck as this is an obvious security risk and takes away from usable space.

The round rotundra is only available to the public on the first and second floor. Floors 3-6 are secured and for Devon employees only.

The brown areas are only available to the public on the first and second floors. These will consist of restaurants, dry cleaners, coffee shop, etc. Floors 3-6 are conference rooms for Devon Employees only.

[ourulz2000]

Here's a post from 'Insider' on 8/20/2008 about the public/private parts of the project:

Maybe in 5-10 years it could change. You never know.

[HOT ROD]

I haven't heard anything about the pier. I doubt they would be jack-hammering it out because it was placed in the wrong location. More likely the rebar was tied wrong or the concrete was bad.

At least they discovered it early. Vegas has a new hotel at the new City Center Resort that is only half its planed height because all the rebar in the columns were tied wrong.

And Seattle has to destroy a 9-year old residential high rise downtown due to bad construction.

[jmarkross]

It is easy to think of the footprint of the Devon Building as being "small", I think do to it's height--it can look too "skinny". Here is a google-earth pic of the Chase Buidling a few blocks away to view, by way of comparison...

[laroux]

does anybody know when they start 2 shifts (24 hr operation)

[Troypin]

Looks like they could start on the second floor on the far left.

[jn1780]

The Northeast core inner forms are being lifted up to the next level now.

[Troypin]

How high are they going to go and how long will it take?

[Lauri101]

does anybody know when they start 2 shifts (24 hr operation)

They are working at 5 AM - aren't they already doing 24/7?

[architect5311]

It is easy to think of the footprint of the Devon Building as being "small", I think do to it's height--it can look too "skinny". Here is a google-earth pic of the Chase Buidling a few blocks away to view, by way of comparison...

Typical Devon Floor - Approx - 28,530 SF



Chase Tower Footprint - Rectangle - Approx-17,250 SF



The building is proportionately sound, it's not going to look too skinny....

[jmarkross]

Thanks Architect5311--the floorplan overlay was an excellent example. Perhaps I worded it incorrectly--what I meant was--to the casual observer, tall buildings SEEM to be smaller (in diameter) than they are because of their height -vs- footprint.

[West Coast]

Thanks for the floor plan. It helps those of us watching this from a distance gain a better perspective of this massive project.

[sroberts24]

It Rises! It Rises!!!!!!!!

[metro]

anyone know why they have only built that wood scaffolding on the southern side of the tower and not northern? It's weird they are starting the 1st floor above the basement level on it, but have not yet started it on the north side basement level.

[jn1780]

Will the floor their working on be a post tension slab? This floor will be different from all the other floors (ex. multi-level, connects to basement floor).

[jn1780]

anyone know why they have only built that wood scaffolding on the southern side of the tower and not northern? It's weird they are starting the 1st floor above the basement level on it, but have not yet started it on the north side basement level.

There was a big hole on the north side where they were working on a pier, maybe that has something to do with it. Not sure if they finished that work yet.

[okcmomentum]

Pictures from today. Awesome to see that first elevator core rise a level. But can't wait to see the entire floor poured. Maybe within 2 or 3 weeks? What do you all think?

[David Pollard]

Silly question maybe, but does anyone know if tornado shelters have been designed into the overall plan. Given the size of the core, it looks like there would be room there for the people on each floor to take shelter.

[David Pollard]

And to add to that, I imagine that this tower had to go through extra-stringent wind tunnel tests. Would be great if we could see a mock up of that, or see the results about how much force the curtain wall can sustain before breaking.

[kinggober]

Awesome pics! Thanks okcmomentum!

[jn1780]

Pictures from today. Awesome to see that first elevator core rise a level. But can't wait to see the entire floor poured. Maybe within 2 or 3 weeks? What do you all think?

Yeah, 2-3 weeks sounds about right. I think they will pour the northwest core later today. I'm beginning to think that something was wrong with the column on the north side, otherwise they would have been done with it by now and the shoring system would have been set up on the north side.

[CuatrodeMayo]

And to add to that, I imagine that this tower had to go through extra-stringent wind tunnel tests. Would be great if we could see a mock up of that, or see the results about how much force the curtain wall can sustain before breaking.

Those systems are designed to withstand a certain design load that is determined by location, height, etc., plus an additional factor of safety. Meaning the system is designed to withstand 95-97.5% of normal wind speeds (plus a bit extra) with the exception of tornadoes. The cost of making the system tornado-proof would be much more than the cost of just replacing the glass in the extremely unlikely event of a direct hit. It doesn't make economic sense.

The structure, however, will be able to withstand a direct hit by a tornado. The stairwells will likely provide the necessary shelter.

[jn1780]

Silly question maybe, but does anyone know if tornado shelters have been designed into the overall plan. Given the size of the core, it looks like there would be room there for the people on each floor to take shelter.

I guess people could take shelter inside the cores. I imagine they would try to evacuate everyone to the basement given enough time of course.