Devon Energy building new skyscraper downtown! (Oklahoma City, Tulsa: prices, moving, oil)

[happytown]

Originally Posted by okcpulse

Yeah, and how long will oil hover at $50 a barrell... a few months? Devon didn't decide this project on $140/per barrell oil. And besides, Devon is a mix of both natural gas and oil. Natural gas isn't even doing all that bad. Finally, what makes you people think that Devon didn't hedge against a fall? Who is to say they didn't create a department to oversee alternative fuels?

Why is it that no American thinks outside the box!?!? Go back to your plain mayonnaise sandwiches. So freakin' generic, I swear!

Thank you okcpulse, but dont expect BO to stop with the posts. He/She always has to have the last word.....

[BigOkie]

Originally Posted by happytown

Thank you okcpulse, but dont expect BO to stop with the posts. He/She always has to have the last word.....

Yep, especially when my posts are being misrepresented.

But I expect that on here.

[FutureArchitect]

Here is a projected picture they announced on the news; It will look like this or something like this. Hopefully it goes UP.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by BigOkie

Yep, especially when my posts are being misrepresented.

But I expect that on here.

Yep, last word.

[BigOkie]

Originally Posted by happytown

Yep, last word.

Last I checked there was an 'ignore' feature. Use it if you don't like my posts.

[happytown]

This is a great summary followed by the Colcord purchase.


Devon World Headquarters
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1.9 million gsf
Client: Devon Energy
Architect of Record: Kendall/Heaton Associates
Status: Schematic Design

Located in downtown Oklahoma City, Devon’s new world headquarters will create a new focal point for the company and the city by integrating civic-scaled spaces as a vital component of the development. The 1.9 million gsf corporate headquarters will consolidate the company’s Oklahoma City–based workforce into a single state-of-the-art facility and will be supported by numerous on-site employee amenities. The creation of a significant, beautifully landscaped park and plazas is a key element of the overall site strategy.
Rising 925 feet, the fifty-four floor office tower’s unique three-sided footprint allows it to be viewed from all of greater Oklahoma City. Each of the main faces is divided into two subtle facets and its triangular form is further articulated by a vertical feature wall recessed between each of the main faces. Typical office floorplates range from 25,000 to 28,000 gsf and have a clear ceiling height of ten feet and raised-access floors.

The tower’s curtain wall is composed of state-of-the-art continuous floor-to-ceiling glazing and a highly articulated mullion system. The uppermost portion of the tower tapers slightly to enhance its proportions and to produce an elegant, soaring form in the skyline. The three facades are chamfered to create a triangular form to reflect the sky and offer a subtly changing presence on the skyline. Illumination strategies respectfully enhance the drama of the tower on the nighttime skyline.

The focal point at the base of the tower is a six-story cylindrical glass rotunda which serves as the primary entrance and as a connecting hub for the entire complex. With a highly articulated structure, the rotunda will be a grand dramatic civic-scale space with glass walls, a series of balconies and skylit roof. It may also serve as venue for special events.

Creating a backdrop for the new park, a six-story podium contains 400,000 gsf for workspaces and employee amenities. A promenade extending the length of the podium creates a glazed interior corridor. At street level, the promenade provides access to various amenities, including several restaurants, and creates a series of intimate-scale indoor seating areas for dining and gathering overlooking the park.

A simple yet elegant 2 ¼ acre park and plaza acts as the foreground for the complex. At its base, the tower will be highly transparent and will allow pedestrians to view into the lobby as it appears to float in the reflecting pool that is bridged by the entry plaza. A cascading wall of water enhances the entry experience, projects the building’s geometry into the landscape, and buffers the park from the activity of the plaza and street.
A number of sustainable systems and technologies are currently being considered for the Devon project. The project has been registered with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) program with the intent to achieve LEED certification.

This will be great for the future tower...
Devon completes purchase of Colcord Hotel
September 22nd, 2008 ·
The Oklahoma County Assessor’s website has confirmed the sale of the Colcord Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City to Devon Energy has finally been completed. Devon paid approximately $19,533,000 for the hotel that is the oldest skyscraper in downtown. The 110,540-square-foot building sold on September 10. As previously reported by The Journal Record, Coury Properties will continue to operate the property. Devon has said they are being a “good neighbor” in acquiring the property since they will spend the next few years building their new 54-story tower next to the hotel.

One interest fact about the Colcord Hotel is that it hosted many of the visiting NBA teams during the New Orleans Hornets’ stay in Oklahoma City. Coury intentionally installed long beds in the hotel to cater to the unique needs of NBA players. It will be interesting to see if the Colcord will continue to host visiting teams in the next few years for the Oklahoma City Thunder in light of the extensive and possibly loud construction that will be taking place next door. Perhaps one of the Colcord’s competitors in downtown should consider converting a couple of their floors to cater to NBA players with longer beds and all the other necessary items that a person over seven feet would require.

[Tim Rankin]

I'm not sure I like the idea of this giant, new skycraper.

Granted the pics are impressive. But the whole idea of bigger is better seems kind of pointless. By all means, let's build new skycrapers if they're needed. But why do something that will so dramatically alter downtown? I've always loved the downtown area, and there have so may great changes over the last decade. The new museum, music hall, the library, all the new businesses in Bricktown, and the new residential developments going up. But none of them were so enormous as to alter the essential downtown itself - they all fit, in an eclectic kind of way.

But this skyscraper is just too big in scale, and will I fear have an unintended, towering presence over the city. The only benefit I really see is bragging rights for the owners, and that's not really a good reason to build it.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by Tim Rankin

I'm not sure I like the idea of this giant, new skycraper.

Granted the pics are impressive. But the whole idea of bigger is better seems kind of pointless. By all means, let's build new skycrapers if they're needed. But why do something that will so dramatically alter downtown? I've always loved the downtown area, and there have so may great changes over the last decade. The new museum, music hall, the library, all the new businesses in Bricktown, and the new residential developments going up. But none of them were so enormous as to alter the essential downtown itself - they all fit, in an eclectic kind of way.

But this skyscraper is just too big in scale, and will I fear have an unintended, towering presence over the city. The only benefit I really see is bragging rights for the owners, and that's not really a good reason to build it.

So would you go with a 750' footer?

This is a major complex and not just a tower. Its a center for the public to enjoy. If you read over all that Devon has planned then I think you would get a better understanding of their direction. IMO its incredible and so do many many people on skyscraper forums, all around the world and people that live here like me. This will make a major impact on the quality of life in OKC and give it major recognition. You need to remember that Devon is one of the largest energy companies in the world...Its just how they roll and I dont mind rolling with 'em.

Dont worry there will be more towers on the way, but Devon definitely set a very high bar to say the least. Remember that no one complained about the First National and the Ramsey Tower being built in 1931. They were extremely tall for their time and held the state record for 43 yrs. and dominated the rest of the OKC skyline. History repeats itself quite often and it looks like it will begin with this highly respected tower.

[Tim Rankin]

I like the idea of it being a complex, and something for the public to enjoy. And I really don't mind it being new construction, etc. The part I don't like is when they build these giganto, new skyscrapers that just tower over existing cities. I have no doubt that skyscraper enthusiasts are thrilled - I would be too, if I was one! I'm just not sure that it's in character with the rest of the city's architecture.

Anyway, you're right that I should read up some more about the project. We may look back years down the road, and think it was a brilliant addition to the city. I'm just not sure I like the idea at this time...

[happytown]

Everyone is entitled to their opinions. The structure actually does tie into the skyline. It gives a nod to FNC and other structures. I do think that it is massive and if it is scaled back then it will still be just fine. OKC needs more buildings downtown, so its really hard to argue against the idea of the addition. The empire state dwarfed NYC for a long time, so I dont see this as a sore thumb IMO and many other cities like Charlotte have similar supertalls that dwarf their skylines and they look great.

Here is a rep point to get you over the 299 mark.