I came across this website today from the OU College of Architecture. It is a student semester project concept that just so happens to be located on the Devon tower site. Although the pictures are student concepts, it is interesting to see what a new tower at the corner of Hudson and Sheridan would do for our skyline.

Forgive me if this has been posted before... I searched and searched and searched!!! :sofa:

OKC Studio (http://arch.ou.edu/arch/5595kbf01/syl.html)

Semester Project

The semester project will involve a comprehensive central business district (mixed use development) located in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. The idea is to create a business district which include office building, residential towers, and retail facilities (shopping mall) in lower and underground levels. All these components should be grouped around an architectural landscape open public space, connected by pedestrian walkways, roads, vehicular tunnels, and underground and on surface structured parking.


The most spectacular component of this business district is a sixty story skyscraper (office building). This is the only part of the project which has functional design requirements and the other parts will be designed in a conceptual massing in order to create a new urban central business complex integrated with downtown OKC.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC120.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC120.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC121.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC121.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC123.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC123.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC134.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC134.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC136.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC136.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC142.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC142.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC147.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC147.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC148.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC148.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC165.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC165.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC191.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC191.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC1.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC1.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC10.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC10.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC11.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC11.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC13.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC13.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC15.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC15.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC16.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC16.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC20.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC20.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC22.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC22.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC33.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC33.jpg)
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC35.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC35.jpg)

Several of those are very impressive. I would be ecstatic with something like those for the Devon tower. Thanks for posting.

I love #4, 7's good; 12 reminds me too much of our tornado alley status!

Thanks for posting these. It does give us a perspective of how things might look. We have been waiting a long time for a new tower downtown. Pete Brzycki and I began discussing rumors of a potential "crystal spike" building going up downtown way back in 1982 or so. There was so much building going on at that time, with the high price of oil. (Then of course everything stopped with a big thud shortly after that.) Pete and I would love reading the articles about new developments in the real estate section of the Oklahoman and then trade opinions about them. This was back when Pete and I were attending OU.

I'm not a big fan of any of them. It doesn't look like much effort was spent to make the new structures complement the existing skyline.

I am partial to 4 and 7... but mostly 4. I hate the Chase building but I like number 4 for some reason.

I like number 4 too. I think 60 floors is not enough. They should raise it to be higher than the twin towers.

A pyramid too!!!!

Pyramid YES.....building as tall as the twin towers, Na...

I wouldn't want to see it flying throught the sky when an F5 comes through.

What is it with #4? It just looks like a World Trade Center knockoff to me. I don't think we need a minature version of the twin towers in Oklahoma City - because that's exactly what visitors would think. It even seems tacky for that reason to me. But, maybe I'm missing something.

Oh, I kinda like #7.

I know I might be looking too much into these concepts but it looks like all of these would be built over the new parking garage that was built not to long ago.

The devon tower isn't going to bulldoze that is it? cause i was under the impression it was being built south of the parking garage.

I'm not a big fan of any of them. It doesn't look like much effort was spent to make the new structures complement the existing skyline.

I would agree in terms of scale and sheer size. I don't know if 60 stories was a program requirement, but it was a terrible idea. This was a semester project? I will respond more in depth later, I'm tired. As a matter of fact, I think I might design one...hmmmm.


I am partial to 4 and 7... but mostly 4. I hate the Chase building but I like number 4 for some reason.

Speaking of the Chase Tower...where are they in the site model? Leaving those out messes with the scale of the proposals.

I like several of them however these are old concepts. These were posted quite some time back, well before the Devon announcement. I doubt Devon will use these for consideration.

i think this one is pretty dope
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/th_OKC147.jpg (http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC147.jpg)

7 is a poor waste of floor space. It's not that efficient. 4, I don't see the twin tower knock off... but I do like #5.

I'm not a big fan of any of them. It doesn't look like much effort was spent to make the new structures complement the existing skyline.

OKC's existing skyline has a very dated look, that to me, almost exudes "Brady Bunch" which would be hard to work with. I think most architects would probably shy away from designing a 60-story tower in OKC. The tallest building in OKC is 500 feet exactly, 60 stories would put a tower at 900 or more, since the average floor height in skyscrapers these days is around 16 feet or so.

Expect Devon to be more around 700, which will take a lot of the edge off, but would still probably end up being exceedingly imposing on the rest of the skyline until we get used to it. You know, for so long, that has been our skyline, just like that, unchanged for decades. It's going to look funny at first to see some changes, and we will see a lot more than Devon announced in the next 5 years.

http://arch.ou.edu/arch/5595kbf01/schematics/OKC101.jpg

I know this dude. Goes to show what 5 years or so in the architecture business can do to one. Eeek!

7 is a poor waste of floor space. It's not that efficient.
with that being the case... it's still pretty sick!

btw, most of the others were just bizarre and like midtowner said "don't take into account the existing skyline"

I like several of them however these are old concepts. These were posted quite some time back, well before the Devon announcement. I doubt Devon will use these for consideration.

especially since they've already decided on an architect firm that has a distinct, recognizable style (who, for the most part, will most likely stick with).

OKC's existing skyline has a very dated look, that to me, almost exudes "Brady Bunch" which would be hard to work with. I think most architects would probably shy away from designing a 60-story tower in OKC. The tallest building in OKC is 500 feet exactly, 60 stories would put a tower at 900 or more, since the average floor height in skyscrapers these days is around 16 feet or so.

Expect Devon to be more around 700, which will take a lot of the edge off, but would still probably end up being exceedingly imposing on the rest of the skyline until we get used to it. You know, for so long, that has been our skyline, just like that, unchanged for decades. It's going to look funny at first to see some changes, and we will see a lot more than Devon announced in the next 5 years.

http://arch.ou.edu/arch/5595kbf01/schematics/OKC101.jpg

I know this dude. Goes to show what 5 years or so in the architecture business can do to one. Eeek!

I don't know a damned thing about skyscrapers except that they're tall and generally, that if you can put up with having to walk 30 minutes to your car, they're a fun place to have an office.

That said, there are other companies downtown which are growing fast and could conceivably be building their own buildings within the next decade or so.

Quest Resources is currently located in the Oklahoma Tower. They only have around 80 employees, but they just bought a big chunk of the Appalachian Shale.

Gulfport Energy is one of the fastest growing companies in America in terms of investment value. They're currently located in the NW part of town, but if downtown becomes a haven for energy companies, I could conceivably see them making a move as well within the next decade.

Maybe a big 'ol imposing tower would eventually attract complementary towers.

We can always hope.

While I can see the "twin towers" resemblance in number 4, number 15 really stands out to me. Although it has since be changed, 15 looks like the original design of the Freedom Tower, which will be the new World Trade Center.

http://www.danzfamily.com/hostedstuff/freedom-tower.jpg

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/OKC/OKC15.jpg

I know it's a professional model vs. student designs, but I still like the 'Project X' tower...

Since when did Leadership Square, The Pioneer Building, Chase Bank, and First National Center all look enough alike to match. Do they compliment one another?

You know, when I travel to Seattle or San Francisco or Chicago I always see such great, modern looking buildings. I would love to see us really go for it for once and do something like this. And not some dumbed/watered down version of what should have been, but really go for it. I hope we don't end up with another boring 1970s-esque building.

To tell the truth, I will be happy with anything that isn't made out of concrete with small (or no) windows. I personally would like to break every window in the Chase building so they could replace the entire facade. Now if I could just find the slingshot I had when I was 7.

if you can put up with having to walk 30 minutes to your car, they're a fun place to have an office.

Yeah, right. If you walk thirty minutes in downtown Oklahoma City, you'll be in mesta park.

First the Murrah bombing, then the Twin Towers saga, and now #4 could be haunting to people that drives by. I wonder who would actually feel safe to be in a building of #4.

If a tornado would just take a direct hit downtown, take away the old skyscapers, then the area will become more fancier with modern skyscapers and a giant oil derrick.

Hrmm... Definitely a student project and not real drafts for the Devon tower. It's my understanding that the existing 5-story parking garages on Sheridan & Hudson will remain. The Devon building's footprint will sit over the existing street level parking. Also, Devon said that they wanted approx 1 million square feet of space, which would put the building at around 40 stories tall based on the footprint area.

Impressive models, though. :)

i really like how they all have more than one tower, i think it adds a lot of character to the skyline and and u get 2 buildings in one, its a beautiful thing and i hope they have something like that in mind, or maybe proposed for the future

OKC's existing skyline has a very dated look, that to me, almost exudes "Brady Bunch" which would be hard to work with. I think most architects would probably shy away from designing a 60-story tower in OKC. The tallest building in OKC is 500 feet exactly, 60 stories would put a tower at 900 or more, since the average floor height in skyscrapers these days is around 16 feet or so.

Expect Devon to be more around 700, which will take a lot of the edge off, but would still probably end up being exceedingly imposing on the rest of the skyline until we get used to it. You know, for so long, that has been our skyline, just like that, unchanged for decades. It's going to look funny at first to see some changes, and we will see a lot more than Devon announced in the next 5 years.

http://arch.ou.edu/arch/5595kbf01/schematics/OKC101.jpg

I know this dude. Goes to show what 5 years or so in the architecture business can do to one. Eeek!

This dude looks pretty good compared to some of my former architecture classemates...

This dude looks pretty good compared to some of my former architecture classemates...



No homo???

Yeah, right. If you walk thirty minutes in downtown Oklahoma City, you'll be in mesta park.

Actually in 30 minutes from downtown, you could easily walk to NW 23rd.

No homo???

What?

Not gay? Not Homo Sapien? Not homogenized milk?

I m still in favor of the pyramid concept.

You know, when I travel to Seattle or San Francisco or Chicago I always see such great, modern looking buildings. I would love to see us really go for it for once and do something like this. And not some dumbed/watered down version of what should have been, but really go for it. I hope we don't end up with another boring 1970s-esque building.

Go ART DECO!! :artist:

These are quite clearly student projects only and not possible designs for the new Devon Tower. Most of them are far too elaborate and over-sized complexes to provide the space Devon expressed it will need. I cannot wait to see the design chosen. Hopefully Devon will look to the far east for inspiration as most skylines in North America are starting to look archaic in comparison. I've heard many people mention favorite towers in Dallas, Houston, or Atlanta.... I can only pray they shoot for better architecture than those cities have... those were impressive skylines 10 to 20 years ago, but architecture around the world has progressed dramatically. Look at the skylines of Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong... and although it's not the far east... Dubai. They should take this opportunity to build a tower people will come from around the world to see. Noone goes to Atlanta or Dallas to see architecture, we shouldn't go there for inspiration.

Here's some from China...

Diagrams - SkyscraperPage.com (http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=38078495)

These are quite clearly student projects only and not possible designs for the new Devon Tower.

I dunno why everyone has been debating this... when I posted those pics I pointed out that it a student project and had nothing to do with Devon except for the location.

This dude looks pretty good compared to some of my former architecture classemates...

Yeah he was always alright looking. If All-American is all you wanna look at, I recommend people not enroll to study architecture. Architecture students are a class all their own when it comes to style... A little over 5 years later this guy's nickname is "Pritch" (his last name is Pritchard).

I like his tower though. WOULD look good in Houston maybe. :congrats:

These are quite clearly student projects only and not possible designs for the new Devon Tower. Most of them are far too elaborate and over-sized complexes to provide the space Devon expressed it will need. I cannot wait to see the design chosen. Hopefully Devon will look to the far east for inspiration as most skylines in North America are starting to look archaic in comparison. I've heard many people mention favorite towers in Dallas, Houston, or Atlanta.... I can only pray they shoot for better architecture than those cities have... those were impressive skylines 10 to 20 years ago, but architecture around the world has progressed dramatically. Look at the skylines of Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong... and although it's not the far east... Dubai. They should take this opportunity to build a tower people will come from around the world to see. Noone goes to Atlanta or Dallas to see architecture, we shouldn't go there for inspiration.


We've already hashed this issue out, discussed it, and beat it to death in other threads. Search is your friend. Most of us are well aware that the Middle East and Far East have far more modern architecture. I personally love it, however most of this board prefers something iconic, yet more traditional to blend in with our current skyline, unless we get some unforeseable rush of additional skyscrapers and they all take a modern twist.

I don't think any of the buildings match downtown, why not something different.

It's going to look funny at first to see some changes, and we will see a lot more than Devon announced in the next 5 years.

I'd love to hear some speculation as far as that is concerned. Is there a feeling out there that more new scrapers are on the way?

I'd love to hear some speculation as far as that is concerned. Is there a feeling out there that more new scrapers are on the way?

JWil, reading most posts from a lot of users and myself, it's a good possibility more could be on the way. Paycom recently put their Memorial Rd. new HQ on hold (hopefully they could be convinced that far far west Memorial Rd. is not sustainable and that downtown would be a better fit). Also American Fidelity has already stated they want to be downtown and they have a decent size workforce. There are a few other companies considering it also. I imagine they are more followers than leaders and want to see Devon get down there, see if the NBA comes and possibly Core To Shore start. Once they see all the going-ons downtown will offer in the near future, I imagine many more companies will finally realize downtown is where it's at for quality of life options for employees.

We've already hashed this issue out, discussed it, and beat it to death in other threads. Search is your friend.

Not sure that was necessary. downtown20 may be new, but he/she has contributed good commentary to the forum so far. Take it easy.

When it comes to other company's following Devon's example and building downtown i don't think its happening, at least not in the next few years.

We had a member of the OKC Chamber of Commerce come to my P.R. class at U.C.O. yesterday and i asked him if we would we see more buildings in the near future with Devon building the new tallest, and he said no b/c there will be so much open space once Devon moves out of all the other buildings.


I really hope we can get the company's to move downtown instead of building some new place out by memorial for example, if we can get all the office space filled and that what Devon is going to leave vacant than i think there mite be possibilities of seeing some new highrises, but not likely

I believe Devon has already commented on all that empty space they are leaving. I think I remember them saying that they want to make sure it fills up quickly with quality tenants. You know someone out there knows about this and they are eyeing all that space already.

And I really don't think it would take that long to fill considering that its almost all class A right?

This dude looks pretty good compared to some of my former architecture classemates...

I know him too! He's my age- I don't know how long it takes to grad with an arch degree, but he started in 1998 and was a dedicated, intellgient guy. Maybe he teaches now or soemthing.

When it comes to other company's following Devon's example and building downtown i don't think its happening, at least not in the next few years.

We had a member of the OKC Chamber of Commerce come to my P.R. class at U.C.O. yesterday and i asked him if we would we see more buildings in the near future with Devon building the new tallest, and he said no b/c there will be so much open space once Devon moves out of all the other buildings.


I really hope we can get the company's to move downtown instead of building some new place out by memorial for example, if we can get all the office space filled and that what Devon is going to leave vacant than i think there mite be possibilities of seeing some new highrises, but not likely

We need to renovate and fill the First National, first. Just because it's a highrise downtown doesn't mean it's not a form of "sprawl" to build new when it's not needed.

Actually in 30 minutes from downtown, you could easily walk to NW 23rd.

You would think, but I'm starting to get the feeling that people in OKC just don't move very fast on their own feet.

We need to renovate and fill the First National, first. Just because it's a highrise downtown doesn't mean it's not a form of "sprawl" to build new when it's not needed.

Urban core sprawl? That would be a hard sale.

So Metro... You are yet another Oklahoman clinging tight to "tradition" rather than innovation, that's too bad. Great cities have skylines that make statements and many great skylines don't blend well. That being said... due to the space requirement for the Devon Tower, it's not going to grossly tower over the rest of the skyline... but that doesn't mean it cannot stand out. I guess since you have discussed this issue of design before... that means it is on people's minds... so why not continue discussing it? Just because you have put it behind you doesn't mean it is finished. I would like to see OKC move beyond traditional and boring architecture. You mentioned only building modern if we had more coming... but, where does it start? You have posted very rudely back to me twice now (maybe you had a bad day yesterday?)... thanks for the warm welcome!!

Urban core sprawl? That would be a hard sale.

The priciple remains intact in my opinion, Kerry. Silly to have empty buildings downtown and build more.

I've heard rumors that once Devon moves, American Fidelity will take Devon's place in the building with the Devon name on it (first national? I forget).

My thing is... once companies like that move downtown and the Sonics get here and OKC becomes more of a national presence... I can see companies who are looking to relocate consider OKC after all that.

OKCMallen - you are assuming all building are created equal. I would like to see FNC fill up also but I honestly think it would be better as a residential building. I just don't see how it can compete with a new class A office building. However, there is a demand for old residential properties. There is an old building similar to FNC that was converted to residential in Kansas City and it looks very cool. They would have to gut one of the additions to the FNC and mak it a parking garage but that should be do-able. The new Devon building will also contain more floor space than all 3 FNC buildings combined. It wouldn't make sense to move in to a building only to run out of space in 2 years.

OKCMallen - you are assuming all building are created equal. I would like to see FNC fill up also but I honestly think it would be better as a residential building. I just don't see how it can compete with a new class A office building. However, there is a demand for old residential properties. There is an old building similar to FNC that was converted to residential in Kansas City and it looks very cool. They would have to gut one of the additions to the FNC and mak it a parking garage but that should be do-able. The new Devon building will also contain more floor space than all 3 FNC buildings combined. It wouldn't make sense to move in to a building only to run out of space in 2 years.

Kerry, I am more than aware that there are different grades of office space. You're backing up your point with a personal dream (i.e.- FNC would become residential). I'm backing mine up with logic- empty buildings and half-empty buildings downtown is a bad thing when they can be brought up to par more cheaply than building a brand new skyscraper. You start with OKC's downtown, and I'll start with the same, and if we hypothetically made choices in line with our viewpoints, I guarantee mine will be more vibrant and economically successful.

So Metro... You are yet another Oklahoman clinging tight to "tradition" rather than innovation, that's too bad. Great cities have skylines that make statements and many great skylines don't blend well. That being said... due to the space requirement for the Devon Tower, it's not going to grossly tower over the rest of the skyline... but that doesn't mean it cannot stand out. I guess since you have discussed this issue of design before... that means it is on people's minds... so why not continue discussing it? Just because you have put it behind you doesn't mean it is finished. I would like to see OKC move beyond traditional and boring architecture. You mentioned only building modern if we had more coming... but, where does it start? You have posted very rudely back to me twice now (maybe you had a bad day yesterday?)... thanks for the warm welcome!!

downtown20, not in the least bit. I know your new, but I encourage you to read some of my old posts. I'm actually a young twentysomething trying to change the old image of OKC. I LOVEEEEEEE Dubai, Shanghai and that type of architecture. I am hoping Devon WILL do something like that. If you re-read my post, I simply summarized the last several years worth of posts on the new Devon Tower (pre-announcement speculation as well), that most posters on this site want something iconic, but not futuristic. I am a futurist 100%. I encourage you to go back and look at the other threads on Devon. I posted some renderings I'd like to see from NYC to Dubai to Shanghai. Sorry for the "bluntness" of my post. I was just trying to get to the point. I thought I did give a welcome in the "Introductions" section of the site. Maybe it didn't go through. Anyhow, I'm glad to hear about your comments from NYC and Tulsa and how you love and moved back to OKC! Welcome and you seem like you'll be a welcome addition to the site.:tiphat:

JWil, reading most posts from a lot of users and myself, it's a good possibility more could be on the way. Paycom recently put their Memorial Rd. new HQ on hold (hopefully they could be convinced that far far west Memorial Rd. is not sustainable and that downtown would be a better fit). Also American Fidelity has already stated they want to be downtown and they have a decent size workforce. There are a few other companies considering it also. I imagine they are more followers than leaders and want to see Devon get down there, see if the NBA comes and possibly Core To Shore start. Once they see all the going-ons downtown will offer in the near future, I imagine many more companies will finally realize downtown is where it's at for quality of life options for employees.

Paycom is building like not even 50,000 SF out on Memorial. Paycom is also a really small company, it's beyond me why you keep bringing them up. In fact Crusader Energy Corp and AAA are building a lot more office space on Memorial than Paycom is. There will be hundreds of thousands of SF of office space in QSV and at the Kilpatrick and Broadway (actually at 122nd). The far north OKC office submarket is growing and Paycom is actually one of the smaller projects up there, so it's strange, really, that you keep bringing Paycom up over and over. Paycom is just a company that has been suburban its whole life, it's workers live on the north side, it's President is most comfortable with Memorial, so they think it's a good fit to them. You can talk till you're blue in the face about style and sustainability but some people just want what they're most familiar and comfortable with, especially smaller companies.

I found this blip on a rotating building. Can you image the ruckas a building like this would cause? It in its self would be a tourist attaction.

Yahoo! (http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=8499855&ch=4226722&src=news)

I'm concerned Oklahoma may be too conservative a place to come up with anything really innovative. I mean when we think "big" we apparently think of building gigantic oil derricks. What the hell is that all about. Apparently we have a lot of architecture students and professionals here... maybe one of you can tell me that we have a firm here who is doing ground-breaking work and give me some hope.

Yes, there are firms in OKC that are doing ground-breaking work. TAParchitecture is a collaboration between Anthony McDermid and Hans Butzer (who teaches at OU), and they do a lot of really edgy urban design--they did most of the Triangle projects. Rand Elliott is pioneering his own style of Okie modernism by mixing elements that are native to Oklahoma with cutting edge contemporary design. There are several smaller guys who have an outstanding reputation for smaller projects. Brian Fitzsimmons is well known throughout the community for projects akin to his house in Midtown or his project at Lincoln and 7th (I think). Randy Floyd is very small scale, but she is well-respected as a good preservationist. There is a lot of creativity in OKC, a lot more than people who even live here and can't get past the "conservative city" stigma would imagine.

I'm a very conservative guy. A lot of architects are. A lot of very creative types are. So I don't really appreciate the innuendos of conservative bashing that exist when people bemoan the fact that we are "conservative city." Howabout when I'm out on my own and in charge of my own firm, I just take all of my ground-breaking projects to Houston, eh? jk..