September 21 2011

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Does anybody know if they've started up on installing the glass again? I haven't been able to tell a difference in the glass since Devon topped out.

Well they need to bring down the outer elevators and finish the crown structure before they can do any more.

I guess I took it the wrong way cause I thought they were suppose to start again as soon as the crown was finished. My fault.

And aren't they done with the crown structure itself or am I having a mental break down and losing all sanity and credibility. Lol

Thanks for the pics, William.
Great vantage points providing some nice insight and artistic composition.

I having a mental break down and losing all sanity. Lol

This is going to happen to all of us once this is completed. We're gonna be waiting painfully for another tower to give us the pain relief of watching an erecting tower going up, up, up.

By the way, they opened up the vertical area of the building where the bucket hoists are (elevators). All the way to half way up. They still work of course, but it's no enclosed like it used to be.


Do you see what I mean from watching the video?


I haven't gotten to watch it yet. An 11 minute video on a 3g phone is a bit troublesome to Uploads. Will watch at work later though!

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Devon%20Tower/Septembe%202011/devontowerprogress9-21-11-28.jpg

Downtown's elevation is right around 1,260 ft. above sea level. Add 844 ft. to that and you're at 2,104 ft. above sea level at the top. FYI
So -- I'm correct?

Also, Devon is 850. I haven't figured out yet why everyone keeps saying 844. The company has never wavered from saying it is 850, including in reporting done by Steve. Why the 844 number I keep hearing?

The 844 number comes from detailed construction drawings I have, which I'm sure are correct.

However 850 vs. 844 is really just splitting hairs.

Visited w/ Devon folks today on this. It's 844. Somewhere along the lines communication broke down, but ultimately, it's my responsibility for what appears in my stories. I made a mistake and please accept my apology.

They are still working on the crown. The last beam ceremony is the the tallest beam erected. They are still working on the mechanical floor that is in between the 3 crown points. I can tell from the pics above that there will be glass panels put above the last concrete slab, in the indentions. Plus, they will need to drop the elevator and equip through the top.

Pete, are you able to share those detailed drawings via PM?

I wonder how much longer until they have the internal elevators working?

Thank you for correcting me, holm1231. I got confused over that but now I get it.

Ok, here's the final say on the height: the officially reported height is 850 feet. But apparently it's not uncommon for these figures on tower construction to be rounded a bit. If one were to get out a measuring tape and do an exact sizing, the height would be 843 feet and 11 inches. After some further discussions, I'm going to follow the official height of 850 feet.

So -- I'm correct?

Also, Devon is 850. I haven't figured out yet why everyone keeps saying 844. The company has never wavered from saying it is 850, including in reporting done by Steve. Why the 844 number I keep hearing?

No, because there are mountains with trees on them in SE Oklahoma that are over 2,500 ft. above sea level, as well as most of the Wichita Mtns and practically all of the Panhandle is above 3,000 ft. Tallest man-made structure with a tree? Yes, you're correct.

I took this from the top of the Gaylord Stadium parking garage at OU, looking north toward downtown Oklahoma City.

http://i53.tinypic.com/34gptaf.jpg

Nice. When it lights up you'll really be able to see it at night. Especially if it's lit up red (after an OU win)..

Nice. When it lights up you'll really be able to see it at night. Especially if it's lit up red (after an OU win)..

Does that mean they'll light it up orange after Bedlam? ;-)~

Wanted to add this today from yesterday:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6186187729_253130ebde_b.jpg

I Stylized it as you can see.

Awesome shot OKCisOK4me!

Thank you very much. It looks better that way anyway because we were in the ski chairs and it's blurred since we were moving.

Yeah that's a very cool pic and I really like the way you edited it.

LOL

I didn't realize what all of that in the front was until you said the ski chairs. This was taken at the Great State Fair of Oklahoma!!! Can you show us the original pictures? Man, if I was out there this year, I would have attempted to get the skyline shots at some high rides.

No, because there are mountains with trees on them in SE Oklahoma that are over 2,500 ft. above sea level, as well as most of the Wichita Mtns and practically all of the Panhandle is above 3,000 ft. Tallest man-made structure with a tree? Yes, you're correct.
Uh, you're trying to argue with the wrong guy. I'M the one who pointed out that there are 2,500+ peaks in SE OK, and I'M the one who pointed out the elevation of Mt. Scott. But, whatever. Pete has already shown annoyance that the thread has deviated in this direction. It's my last post on the matter.

Ok, here's the final say on the height: the officially reported height is 850 feet. But apparently it's not uncommon for these figures on tower construction to be rounded a bit. If one were to get out a measuring tape and do an exact sizing, the height would be 843 feet and 11 inches. After some further discussions, I'm going to follow the official height of 850 feet.
I'm good with that. 850 it is!

Although now I see where 844 came from.

One year ago...

August 12 2010

http://vimeo.com/14113206

August 25 2010

http://vimeo.com/14445489

September 11 2010

http://vimeo.com/15042811

I wonder how much longer until they have the internal elevators working?

The elevators that don't go all the way to the top may be close to operational since they have had more time to work on them. They started taking down some of the construction elevator doors on the lower levels in preparation for cladding installation so they need some way to access those floors other than having to use the stairs.

On the discussion of rounding numbers, Steve, you have it wrong. You say the most accurate measurement is 843 feet and 11 inches. Rounding that figure will take it to 844 feet. However, rounding it by the tens will take it to 840, not 850, because it is not 845+ feet. So the rounding figure actually go down to 840 feet. But...who cares. LOL We are all going to follow it at 850 feet and keep it that way for years to come. In a few years, the tower will settle and it will probably go down to 830 feet or somewhere around that when measuring from the grounds upward.

how tall's the building momma?

hurt your neck high son

yes'um, it does.

Sho nuf. Want some ice cream?

Yes'um!


... After all, not everybody grows up urban or packs a ruler around.

I vote we sneak out in the dead of night and dig a six foot, one inch deep trench around the foundation.

I vote we sneak out in the dead of night and dig a six foot, one inch deep trench around the foundation.

Or just one side and watch the tower slowly lean over. In a year or two after its opening, it will probably be declared not structurally sound. lol

I vote we sneak out in the dead of night and dig a six foot, one inch deep trench around the foundation.

I'm in.

I vote we sneak out in the dead of night and dig a six foot, one inch deep trench around the foundation.

I wonder if they use the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate height or if they stand at the base of the tower and shoot a laser at a reflector at the very top of the building.

Ok, here's the final say on the height: the officially reported height is 850 feet. But apparently it's not uncommon for these figures on tower construction to be rounded a bit. If one were to get out a measuring tape and do an exact sizing, the height would be 843 feet and 11 inches. After some further discussions, I'm going to follow the official height of 850 feet.

If the measuring tape said 857 feet and 1 inch, would you stick with the official 850'?

Nice. When it lights up you'll really be able to see it at night. Especially if it's lit up red (after an OU win)..


Does that mean they'll light it up orange after Bedlam? ;-)~
I hope they don't light it up with either color...that is a Whorn thing to do.

My friend who works out there said the glassing should be done by end of October, including the crown...we will see. That is the goal. He does not think they will hit it. He does not know anything about the restaurant, other than they are looking for tenants.

I hope they don't light it up with either color...that is a Whorn thing to do.

Sorry, sir or ma'am, Devon will never...ever...not now, not ever...light up in Texas' color.

Sorry, sir or ma'am, Devon will never...ever...not now, not ever...light up in Texas' color.
What I was saying is they shouldn't light it up in any school color, that is what UT does to the campus tower when they have "big wins". If they were to do a solid color, Thunder blue is the only color they should use.
If they were to light it up orange for OSU, then that is too close to the Whorns orange. The UT tower orange looks closer to OSU orange rather than that orange color they use down here.

What I was saying is they shouldn't light it up in any school color, that is what UT does to the campus tower when they have "big wins". If they were to do a solid color, Thunder blue is the only color they should use.
If they were to light it up orange for OSU, then that is too close to the Whorns orange. The UT tower orange looks closer to OSU orange rather than that orange color they use down here.

I think they should only use it for the Thunder as well, but if they use it for OU or OSU it would be no skin off my back. The more colors the marrier. :-)

Got to admit, though, that Austin skyline at night is really something to behold.

Sorry, sir or ma'am, Devon will never...ever...not now, not ever...light up in Texas' color.

Whether or not they will or won't has nothing to do with your collegiate affiliation and the politicalness of what color the Devon Tower will be lit on any given night for whatever rhyme or reason.

Im not going to look away from the tower when it is lit in crimson just as you won't look away from it when its lit any shade of orange. More often than not, it will be lit Thunder blue as to not hurt anyones feelings or it will be based on seasonal or holiday colors. Don't worry, they probably won't consider Halloween a holiday, so no orange then!

Solved (all tongue-in-cheek, of course):


Red - South (toward Norman)
Orange - NE (toward Stillwater)
Blue - NW (NBA Division)
All blue on Thunder game nights...especially home games.
All orange during OSU bowl game
All red/crimson during OU bowl game
All white if colleges and Thunder play simultaneously (Thunder blue may prevail)
-
White or alternating colors for New Years celebrations
Red, white, and blue for Independence Day timeframe
Alternating red and green during Christmas...yes, I call it Christmas.
Black on Halloween...okay, maybe black lights.
Green for spring.
Yellow for summer (maybe alternating blue and yellow for Thunder games)
-
All major events topped with white searchlight atop the tower pointing straight up.

Solved:

Red - ESE
Orange - North
Blue - WSW

And we have a winner!!!

I have been following this thread since the get go and really appreciate all the contributions to the building of this magnificent tower. I hope my question isn't too off topic, or maybe it has been discussed in another thread. Are there any pictures or stories available that discuss past tower proposals for downtown? I have read here at one time that Leadership Square was originally designed to be only one tower around 600 feet tall. If my memory is correct, wasn't there three towers planned for I.M. Pei's Galleria; Galleria I, II, and III, with III being the tallest? I have also wondered what downtown OKC and Tulsa would look like if all the buildings were combined in one picture. Anyone of you photo geniuses ever put anything together like that? Thanks!

Something like this...

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

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p314/Dulahey/Devon Tower/IMG_2305.jpg

Slideshow here: Link (http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p314/Dulahey/Devon Tower/?albumview=slideshow)

I have read here at one time that Leadership Square was originally designed to be only one tower around 600 feet tall. If my memory is correct, wasn't there three towers planned for I.M. Pei's Galleria; Galleria I, II, and III, with III being the tallest?

The only other proposal I saw for the Leadership Square site was this monstrosity:

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

And yes, as originally proposed the Galleria was to have a third office building. It was to be about 50 stories and would have been located where the Norick Library is now:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/galleriaplan2.jpg

Saw this on the Museum of Art website, so I thought I would share.

Devon Tower Designer to give lecture October 5 (http://www.okcmoa.com/2011/09/21/devon-tower-architect-to-give-lecture/)

Devon Tower Designer to give lecture October 5
September 26th, 2011

On October 5, 2011, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art welcomes architect Jon Pickard FAIA, RIBA and his discussion “Place Purpose Form,” as part of the James C. Meade Friends’ Lecture Series. Pickard is Principal and Cofounder of Pickard Chilton, a firm that practices exclusively as Design Architect in collaboration with Architects of Record. The firm is located in New Haven, Connecticut, across from Yale University.

What happened to the tree? Is it still on the tower? I drive by daily and have never seen it. I remember the tree on the finish line tower, it was huge and could be seen a long ways off. It was there for awhile too.

What happened to the tree? Is it still on the tower? I drive by daily and have never seen it. I remember the tree on the finish line tower, it was huge and could be seen a long ways off. It was there for awhile too.

Its on the top center. The crowns are blocking the view.

What I was saying is they shouldn't light it up in any school color, that is what UT does to the campus tower when they have "big wins". If they were to do a solid color, Thunder blue is the only color they should use.
If they were to light it up orange for OSU, then that is too close to the Whorns orange. The UT tower orange looks closer to OSU orange rather than that orange color they use down here.

Light it up orange or red only after Bedlam football games...or if one of the schools wins the national championship. Definitely Thunder blue on game nights and throughout the playoffs. Maybe green for St Patricks. Red and green at Christmas.

Tonight I drove up to Piedmont to the Sonic. On the way back home, along Piedmont Road north of NW Hwy, I could clearly see the Devon Tower. It was amazing that could see it that far away at night. I didn't have my camera, but I think I will go back some night and try to take some pictures. Not sure how far that is as the crow flies, but I would guess 15-20 miles.

Not sure how far that is as the crow flies, but I would guess 15-20 miles.

As the crow flies, Sonic to Devon Tower is 18 miles.

Out of State Quote:


I only visited Ok City once in my life. But from my experience and judgement, it seems like this tower and park are going to set a new standard of quality in the city. It looks absolutely beautiful. And for me, I love watching cities in the US transform into better, more beautiful, and more livable places. This building certainly seems to have that kind of impact.

Kind of off topic... but sheesh that Sandridge building is an eyesore. Wouldn't be a bad idea to dress up the outside of it or just tear it down.

Kind of off topic... but sheesh that Sandridge building is an eyesore. Wouldn't be a bad idea to dress up the outside of it or just tear it down.

Meh, I hate it too but sometimes the only thing you can do is look the other way cause nothing will be done about it.

The Sandridge Building looks good in the OKC skyline.

^^Haha okay. It looks good for our skyline but it's still an ugly building.

Check back here in a while...

Check back here in a while...

To translate: This guy will be returning with new videos and pictures. Stay tuned!