http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3318/20110704201337.jpg

I love this picture Thunder, good job.

Re: the scale of the tower, from my usual perspective driving up and down I-235 every day it fits in nicely.

UnFrSaKn, you've got yourself a job at Devon!!! I wonder when they will call you up for something. :-D
Unless you know somebody that works there to refer you, good luck. Now and days it's all about who you know, not what know.

I'll say this once more. I'm not looking for a job at Devon. Doing what exactly? Having a hundred people in line waiting for you to screw up so they can get your job? No thanks. My $10 hr job pays fine, even though I hate doing what I do and working in a big car lot that feels like 120° all day.

Re: scale of DT compared to the rest of downtown:

1. I'm sure people felt the same way in 1931 when First National and Ramsey Tower went up to ne'er before seen heights. OMG, they dwarf the existing buildings!
2. DT is to the rest of the OKC skyline as BoA tower was in Charlotte when it was first built...and the Sear's Tower (or whatever it's called now) in Chicago...and the Burj Dubai (or whatever it's called now) in Dubai. There is precedent.
3. At least it's located in the CBD, not out in the 'burbs like the City of Faith hospital in Tulsa (or whatever it's called now)...or Williams Tower in Houston. Now those really seem out of place.
3. I like it alot and that's all that matters. ;)

Better comparison. From earlier this morning.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/devontower48thfloorrendercomparison2.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/935/img1673l.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1916/img1642aq.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9880/img1641ts.jpg
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/399/img1639cj.jpg
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/7605/img1638w.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/devontowerprogress7-6-2011-1.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/devontowerprogress7-6-2011-2.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/devontowerprogress7-6-2011-3.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/devontowerprogress7-6-2011-4.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/devontowerprogress7-6-2011-5.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/devontowerprogress7-6-2011-6.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/devontowerprogress7-6-2011-7.jpg

It shouldn't cause it's rather simple, but it makes my head hurt thinking about how the angles work with the concrete beams and how a sloping facade ties into a vertical facade...

So where does the concrete end and the steel starts? I'm assuming the very top of the inside corners is where the concrete ends and the steel will be starting where the concrete columns split off in a 'Y' and that steel goes all the way to top forming the three "triangular shapes"?

Concerning the scale of the tower and its dominance of the skyline, there is a particularly jarring precedent that I recall. I don't know how many on the board remember when the IDS tower opened in Minneapolis in the early seventies, but take a look at the following page:

http://nokohaha.com/2010/06/14/minneapolis-farmers-market-then-and-now/tn_large_225-minneapolis-skyline-in-1973/

Now go over to Wikipedia's page on Minneapolis tall buildings and look at the current skyline:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Minneapolis

The Wikipedia page includes dates of construction for other tall buildings, giving you an idea of how long IDS towered over the rest of downtown before other structures came along. I don't think we'll see anything like the flurry of highrise activity Minneapolis has seen in the past decades, but I do believe we'll eventually see other highrises join Devon.

$11 million building permit issued today for the restaurant / banquet facility that will be on the top two floors.

That's a lot of money... I'm sure it's going to be a showplace.


By the way, the official address of the the tower is 333 W. Sheridan.

... official address of the the tower is 333 W. Sheridan.

Contrary to reports from some, who act as though it must be 666

New Walker I-40 bridge.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Devon%20Tower/July%202011/okcskylinenewwalkeri-40.jpg

Photo from today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon7711.jpg

$11 million building permit issued today for the restaurant / banquet facility that will be on the top two floors.

That's a lot of money... I'm sure it's going to be a showplace.


By the way, the official address of the the tower is 333 W. Sheridan.

The overall height on this permit is listed as 844. Is that just for the floor that is being remodeled or is that the actual building height?

That's the total building height, Rod.

By the way, that's $11 million to finish out 45,000 square feet, so about $250 per square foot!! This is going to be a very high-end facility.

Excuse me, Pete, we dropped again from 850 to 844?!?!?!?!?!

Where was the camera in that last shot, Pete?

The June time lapse video is one view away from tieng the May video for second most viewed video out of all the ones on my Vimeo. They are both 15 views from being the most viewed. Thanks everyone for watching and sharing!

844 ft. ?????

Where was the camera in that last shot, Pete?

Near the top floor of Chase Tower.

I was hoping the Chase camera would be put online long ago as was hinted, the view is much better from there.

Unfortunately, we couldn't pull off the Chase live cam after much effort.

However, we've been uploading an image from that vantage point about once a week.

$11 million building permit issued today for the restaurant / banquet facility that will be on the top two floors.

That's a lot of money... I'm sure it's going to be a showplace.


By the way, the official address of the the tower is 333 W. Sheridan.

That is the part I'm most excited about. Looking forward to finding out more i.e. operating hours, type of food, etc.

I'm curious like Thunder. Is the height still going to be 850 ft.? I'm confused!

Perhaps 844 is the more exact number now that they are nearing completion.

Regardless, we are talking about a difference of six feet.

You have to allow for settling...and we did have an earthquake. :Smiley247
:wink:

You have to allow for settling...and we did have an earthquake. :Smiley247
:wink:

Seriously? I thought Oklahoma have tough dirt and that designers have that in mind to build something at the bottom to withhold this gigantic building.

Who cares if it is 844 or 850? Seriously, it is a magnificent structure frankly I wouldn't care if it were only 500 feet.

Who cares if it is 844 or 850? Seriously, it is a magnificent structure frankly I wouldn't care if it were only 500 feet.

Its very important. Its not just the sight of it. Its the numbers on record. This is extremely disappointing.

Its very important. Its not just the sight of it. Its the numbers on record. This is extremely disappointing.

nah, extremely disappointing would have been the building going up in Texas or Canada. Coming in under some arbitrary number is downright meaningless. But, if it really matters to you, just tell yourself it's over 850 and pretend the separate data center is there and not across town.

Its very important. Its not just the sight of it. Its the numbers on record. This is extremely disappointing.

You are being sarcastic, right?

http://www.realbollywood.com/up_images/11129090.jpg

I have a date with Ms. Universe tonight, but I am really disappointed. The polish on one of her nails is chipped.

Just saw a teaser for the channel 5 evening news about pieces of the Devon tower falling off. Must have been a glass panel. Watch at 5pm.

You are being sarcastic, right?

http://www.realbollywood.com/up_images/11129090.jpg

I have a date with Ms. Universe tonight, but I am really disappointed. The polish on one of her nails is chipped.

Sadly, I think he is serious..

Just saw a teaser for the channel 5 evening news about pieces of the Devon tower falling off.

Must be that missing 6 feet Thunder was worried about.

Must be that missing 6 feet Thunder was worried about.


I'm not too proud to admit it. I laughed.

Here's an old article from the last incident.

Falling Devon Debris Damages Building Below (http://www.newson6.com/story/14959450/falling-devon-debris-damages-building-below)

Hey guys, don't hammer on Thunder too much. He is just talking about that we had to deal with the downsizing from 925ft to 850ft, and we just got set on that number for awhile now and didn't want it to get any smaller. So when that 844 popped up, he was like, "hey, no more suprises on the height!" I think its going to be 870 to 890 with the remaining floors and crown to go, with the tower almost at 800ft right now.

Seriously? I thought Oklahoma have tough dirt and that designers have that in mind to build something at the bottom to withhold this gigantic building.

For the larger buildings in OKC they generally create pillars down to the bedrock that the foundation sets on.

Must be that missing 6 feet Thunder was worried about.

LOL! Good one.

View from the top of the Walker bridge is pretty good. Why cant they build the interstate at the rate they are building the tower..

View from the top of the Walker bridge is pretty good. Why cant they build the interstate at the rate they are building the tower..

Difference between private and public construction projects.

I would rather have 4 feet than lose 4 feet.

Difference between private and public construction projects.

Remember this when they want to run your healthcare. :)

Remember this when they want to run your healthcare. :)

Very true

Very true
I certainly agree w/ Plm's point as well, but it's also a question of putting the right contractors and enough resources to (any) project --- which probably all points back to the private vs. government-run too I suppose. Here in Dallas, I'm amazed at the 121 Hwy project over the last 4 years, it was government, and went private and over the last few years, it has just been incredible the progress to completion speed that has been accomplished. Example is the Highway 75 & Highway 121 intersection - amazing amount of work in about 18 months. They've been working on the remaining 121/North Dallas Tollway intersection and it's all but done, that's also less than 2 years. I'm not comparing the 2 cities or states, just saying it is all a function of how well funded and managed the projects are. I'm truly impressed by this Devon project. A first class operation through and through, though no project is without it's problems. We'll look back on this era as the beginning of the end of complacency about Oklahoma City. Forget Memphis, Amarillo, Little Rock or Albuquerque, OKC is the pride of I-40. Bricktown, downtown OKC can be a destination point for regional vacations - just need to market it more (like the Casinos of OK do in TX!) LOL - Anyway, I'm proud of what has been accomplished, everything points up for Oklahoma City.

Most of the highway delays occurred before construction started and phases needing to use space which has things on it that can not be built on until an alternate is completed. While Devon's construction no doubt has red tape, significant engineering work and complications in construction they can hardly be compared.

There are MANY reasons why highways take longer than the Devon Tower.

Some of the obvious and biggest reasons:
Right-of-way - Big difference between the government buying hundreds of different properties from citizens and a business buying one plot of land.
Funding - Devon already had the money to build the project in full. Government gets a set amount of money each year. That amount is also relatively unknown. If ODOT would have funded the crosstown all at once, there wouldn't have been any other road construction in the state for a couple years.
Laws - It is against the law for ODOT to have allowed one huge contractor build the entire crosstown. There are hundreds of specifics here, I'm not getting into them.
Railroad - Working with the railroad is just plain awful. They trump everybody else and you are at their mercy.
Design, Constructability, blah blah blah the differences are massive.

Just to be clear on my earlier comments, I'm not comparing Hwy to Building construction, but only saying that between two comparable projects, there can be big differences, as has been pointed out by others as well, in how a project is funded, scheduled, in short "managed" and that these differences can sometimes result in a long, drawn out project that takes long than it should have. (I am sure we have all been around a few of each!)

Saw this Devon Tower construction postcard!http://www.zazzle.ca/reflective+postcards http://rlv.zcache.com/oklahoma_city_devon_tower_construction_postcard-p239338184394828749trah_152.jpghttp://rlv.zcache.com/oklahoma_city_devon_tower_construction_postcard-p239748215696085565trah_152.jpghttp://rlv.zcache.com/oklahoma_city_devon_tower_construction_postcard-p239594860037726955td81_152.jpg

Funding - Devon already had the money to build the project in full. Government gets a set amount of money each year. That amount is also relatively unknown. If ODOT would have funded the crosstown all at once, there wouldn't have been any other road construction in the state for a couple years.
That is the reason why toll roads are built so quickly, they are started as soon as the bonds are issued so the projects assigned to that set of bonds are fully funded from day one.

Link # 1 (http://www.zazzle.ca/oklahoma_city_devon_tower_construction_postcard-239338184394828749) #2 (http://www.zazzle.ca/oklahoma_city_devon_tower_construction_postcard-239594860037726955) #3 (http://www.zazzle.ca/oklahoma_city_devon_tower_construction_postcard-239748215696085565)

Photo by:Jeff Basara http://jeffbasara.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/20110627-104846.jpg?w=500 (http://jeffbasara.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/20110627-104846.jpg)

photo from Waymarking.com http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/default.aspx?f=1&guid=03133ae5-8033-4542-89f4-81b34599f325&gid=2http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/large/d555e7eb-7e0e-45cf-aab4-4aff0444be8a.JPG (http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/d555e7eb-7e0e-45cf-aab4-4aff0444be8a.JPG)

hey you guys USG'60, therondo, and OKCisOK4me are exactly right! we can't be having negative nellys on our excellent and positive okc talk website. We need to gang up on and kick out anyone that doesn't have anything good to say about our city and new tower. I mean this is totally ridiculous! What do say? This "lake hefner breeze" has really pushed the wrong button here and really needs to hear about it! Anyone needs to chime in and let people like "lake hefner breeze" know that you either have good things to say or your gonna hear it from everybody!

Today, a building permit was issued for $600,000 to create a pedestrian walkway at 100 N. Harvey (address of east Galleria parking garage -- the one not owned by Devon).

I just talked to the architect that is handling this and he said that the walkway will actually be inside that east garage on the 3rd floor. They are taking some parking spaces and creating a link from the Devon complex through the structure and tying it into the skybridge that connects the east garage with Oklahoma Tower

God forbid anyone have to walk along the sidewalk for half a block... GRRRRR

What floor are they working on now and what's the height (approx.)?

Thunder,I like this shot of The devon tower in the background with pedestians in an alley on brick lined streets!http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2040/20110704205008.jpg

Way cool shot. Gives a real urban feel to OKC.

It would be cool if there were stores in that alley.