Will there be a formal ground-breaking on October 6th?

If so, that would be a good date to switch over to a new Devon construction thread.

I've been working on summarizing the most pertinent facts and have collected most the renderings and plans.

It's October 1st - i thought construction started today...

Will there be a formal ground-breaking on October 6th?
If so, that would be a good date to switch over to a new Devon construction thread.

I've been working on summarizing the most pertinent facts and have collected most the renderings and plans.

Yes there will.

NewsOK (http://newsok.com/devon-tenders-95m-to-city/article/3403554)

I'm looking forward to the new thread Pete. Tuesday will be a special day for OKC, it's been a long time coming!! I remember Libery/Chase/? going up, my dad took me to the top while it was still under construction. Watching Devon Tower get started will be sweeeeeeeet.

EDIT: I just noticed this thread has had 70,235 views. Wow.

It's October 1st - i thought construction started today...

Have you driven by? Construction equipment has been arriving each day this week.

Was near the area at lunch. Hudson is nearly blocked off with tons of large equipment and Sheridan is completely blocked off. Site prep work has been and is well under way.

Have you driven by? Construction equipment has been arriving each day this week.

I like in Texas. :ou2

i like in texas. :ou2

wtf???

wtf???

Yes, I'm a Sooner in Texas.

I believe he meant to say "live"

Jack hammering has begun!

Begin new thread!

I'd like to contribute to this mega-thread before a new one is started...as a Texan who is looking at relocating to OKC, I LOVE that y'all are getting such a beautiful skyscraper.

That, along with your pride in your city with the various MAPS projects and general improvement over the last 20 years has made OKC a very attractive place for my family. Reading these threads it seems like some of you are a little hard on your city sometimes but that is with every city.

You really do have a jewel to be proud of and I hope that our transfer gets approved - OKC IS WHERE IT'S AT!!!

Was near the area at lunch. Hudson is nearly blocked off with tons of large equipment and Sheridan is completely blocked off. Site prep work has been and is well under way.

I believe that Sheridan is blocked off as part of the street and sidewalk upgrades for downtown.

I believe that Sheridan is blocked off as part of the street and sidewalk upgrades for downtown.


There are two lanes of traffic closed on both Sheridan and Hudson due to the construction of the tower. These lanes will more than likely be closed for the next few years as they construct the tower.

The other lanes of traffic on Sheridan have been closed for the past few weeks for installation of new electric lines by OG&E. This construction should be completed soon and sheridan reopened to one lane in each direction soon.

Is there a construction web-cam online ala centennial on the canal construction web-cam?

Everybody sing

Should old long threads be forgot
and never reopened
Smile at the hole dug by Devon
for auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, Devon,
for auld lang syne,
we'll see that tower soon enough,
for auld lang syne.

I drove by Hudson and found no nearby parking and Sheridan was totally blocked off so I decided not to stop, particularly not knowing whether there was a gatekeeper letting only invited people attend. But, I did hear the applause and took a couple of distance shots from my car window. They appear below.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/devon_tower/devongroundbreaking1.jpg


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/devon_tower/devongroundbreaking2.jpg

It has begun, 11:05 a.m. October 6, 2009, less than 1 hour ago.

Time to start a new thread now that the tower is officially under construction.

Let’s start with the facts:

• 50 stories (originally announced at 54 stories)
• 850 feet tall (originally announced at 925 feet)
• 1.8 million square feet (originally announced at 1.9 million sq. ft.)
• Six story “podium” building due west of the tower (originally announced at 7 stories)
• Six story atrium/rotunda centered on Harvey Avenue
• Large public park with water features
• Auditorium on the corner of Hudson & Sheridan, approx. 250 seats (not in the original announcement)
• Will be connected to the Colcord Hotel (also currently owned by Devon)
• City Center west parking garage purchased by Devon for its exclusive use and will be increased to 10 floors (from existing five).

Estimated completion late 2012; construction start Oct. 2009 (groundbreaking Oct. 6)
Estimated cost is $750 million.
Estimated TIF district at $115 to $175 million over a 25-year life ($95 million line of credit extended to OKC in September of 2009).

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon3.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon4.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon5.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon6.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon7.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon8.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon9.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon10.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon11.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon12.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon13.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon14.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon15.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon16.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon17.jpg

Time to closer 'er down.

Here's the link to the original thread, which has lots of old articles and other information:

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/13866-devon-tower.html

Love these as well:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon19.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon20.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon21.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon22.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon23.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon/devon24.jpg

So excited!!!!!!!!!! I get to see a skyscapper built on a daily basis!!!! =)

There is a backhoe behind the Colcord right now pulling out trees and landscaping.

I snapped some pics of their lunch and the ice sculpture (in the shape of the tower)...
I will post them when I get off work.

Things that happened on October 6-

- Iron Starr Norman opens
- University of Oklahoma selects the Sooner Schooner as the official OU mascot (1980)
- Devon tower begun
- I was born

w00t w00t!

so is this the only building being built or is planned for downtown, any new hotels or office building to go along with the soon to be new skyline?

The Devon Tower - Information on Oklahoma City's Upcoming Downtown Devon Tower Skyscraper (http://okc.about.com/od/attractionsandevents/a/okcdevontower.htm)

Why does this say 50 floors, 908 ft?

Does anyone know how the building will be connected to the Underground?

Nichols had said this was a priority.

I attended this morning's groundbreaking and it was a short but sweet show, over in about 15 minutes.

I'm not sure how to insert images, so you can see a few on my site here (http://www.okcreview.com/news.php?news_id=48&page=1).

See if you can find the pic of our resident "Steve" interviewing Jon Pickard.

Someone already beat you to the new official thread for Devon. :LolLolLol

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/19439-devon-tower-officially-under-construction.html

Someone already beat you to the new official thread for Devon. :LolLolLol

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/19439-devon-tower-officially-under-construction.html

Well, Thunder, what made you think he was trying to start the new "Official" thread for Devon.

Does anyone know how the building will be connected to the Underground?

Nichols had said this was a priority.

I'd imagine the TIFF money would be used for that. If I had to guess, I'd guess that they either tunnel under the district courthouse (which would be way expensive) or they'd connect a new tunnel to the existing tunnel running between the courthouse and Liberty Tower. Might as well connect the Oklahoma Tower and the Library while they're at it.

I'd imagine the TIFF money would be used for that. If I had to guess, I'd guess that they either tunnel under the district courthouse (which would be way expensive) or they'd connect a new tunnel to the existing tunnel running between the courthouse and Liberty Tower. Might as well connect the Oklahoma Tower and the Library while they're at it.

It has been said that the tower would be connected to the tunnel system. However, it will be connected via skywalk to Oklahoma Tower or Corporate Tower. Larry says that he wants to get away from the below ground system and bring people to the street level. That is why he wants to use TIFF money to improve the street scape so that it is cleaner and more pedestrian friendly.

Well, Thunder, what made you think he was trying to start the new "Official" thread for Devon.

Now that's what I love about message boards, or rather some of the people on message boards... they have ALL of the answers. I could care less about "official" threads that run 49+ pages long. I attended the groundbreaking, I took some pics and I wrote it up for folks to see. That's what I do.

Maybe others on here will comment on the substance of the pics/story and what a great event this is for OKC. Thanks.

I look like more of a slob in that photo than usual. Of course, my hero is the great sportswriter Oscar Madison.

Now that's what I love about message boards, or rather some of the people on message boards... they have ALL of the answers. I could care less about "official" threads that run 49+ pages long. I attended the groundbreaking, I took some pics and I wrote it up for folks to see. That's what I do.

Maybe others on here will comment on the substance of the pics/story and what a great event this is for OKC. Thanks.Why don't you change the name of this thread to the "Official Devon Groundbreaking Pics", then the world would be right. Oh, I almost forgot. The pictures were very nice.

Someone already beat you to the new official thread for Devon. :LolLolLol

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/19439-devon-tower-officially-under-construction.html

yup, they had to close the official thread someone started yesterday about the construction(http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/19435-let-construction-begin-new-devon-tower-thread.html) so they could have the official official thread start today.
apparently yesterdays thread wasnt good enough.

Might as well connect the Oklahoma Tower and the Library while they're at it.

Would be nice but unfortunately the library does not have any public access in the basement - not sure if the courthouse does either (plus the security issues).

Yay!!! Please doG don't let them chop it down anymore! Hope it stays 850'!

I attended this morning's groundbreaking and it was a short but sweet show, over in about 15 minutes.

I'm not sure how to insert images, so you can see a few on my site here (http://www.okcreview.com/news.php?news_id=48&page=1).

See if you can find the pic of our resident "Steve" interviewing Jon Pickard.
I see in the 1st pic at your website a rendering of the tower. Did you get a close enough look to see which of the renderings we've already see that it is like, or is it different that both? Did you get any hi-res photos?

BTW, to embed an image here, just put its literal web address, complete with file name, between a pair of opening and closing codes.

Nice if it does, but it'll still be a stomping big addition to DT even if somehow it should lose 150+ in height. Big day for OKC irrespective of the final height tag

Fantastic! I am pumped, I will have to detour to downtown everytime we come to OKC so I can snap pics.

Another great thing about this building is that it will fill in the skyline view from I-44 near the airport. Right now there's a big gap between the clump of buildings (Cityplace, 1st National, and rectangular modern) and Chase (Liberty). I know I got upset when they shortened it, but honestly I'm so happy for OKc and its skyline.

Hopefully, when the economy can recover some and some credit is available, some of the other projects on the drawing boards can start to take off. This will get us some attention.

What about the pedestrian bridge to be built vertically from the Devon Tower? When will that start? I think it is the one with the bird design. Devon have any involvement with that project, too?

If you mean the Skydance Bridge (modeled after the scissor tail flycatcher) which will be built along what would be Harvey (if memory serves) to cross the realigned I-40, that was a decision made by the city earlier and is unrelated to the Devon project. I don't know when it is supposed to start but it is supposed to be completed, I think, around the same time that the I-40 realignment is done.

Yeah, let's not confuse the Skydance with a skybridge. Doug points out how the Skydance is completely unrelated.

I'm somewhat dissapointed that they would have that view on the underground though. That influx of people that the tower could bring to that end would make a big difference. One problem is that it would be very expensive to tunnel downtown. There are so many lines underground that would have to be moved...whew. So from that side, it's far easier to go the pedestrian street-level route. Even if it's not as exciting.

But if it were to happen, the library wouldn't neccessarily need access from the basement. Take a cue from Liberty Tower (or whatever the damn cowboy calls it now), and put the access outside in the plaza.

I know people have asked but I haven't seen a response to if there is going to be a webcam or not?

I'm sure someone will put one up once the tower starts rising from the ground.

Even if it's unofficial, there are plenty of vantage points from surrounding buildings and I bet we'll see multiple cameras before long.

Would be nice but unfortunately the library does not have any public access in the basement - not sure if the courthouse does either (plus the security issues).

The courthouse kind of does. The underground lets out in the county building which is connected to the courthouse. You still have to go through security though.

Larry says that he wants to get away from the below ground system and bring people to the street level.

This is good. We need people on the streets to give it more energy and make it more exciting, as well as give retailers more exposure. I don't mind the underground in theory, but our downtown is too small and has too few people in it to basically have two levels of services (street and underground). Hopefully one day we can fill both with traffic, but right now it just makes downtown seem like a ghost town compared to most business districts and city centers.

Don't understand how using a skywalk rather than an underground tunnel gets more people on the street.

Unless the plan is to have some sort of enclosed walkway at street level.

Pics from the top of the Colcord today.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/Devon100709a.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/Devon100709b.jpg

^^ awesome

Does anyone know how long Sheridan will be closed between Hudson and Robinson?
I'm in DC this week but one of my co-workers emailed me that the only way to walk from the red brick parking garage at 17 N. Hudson west to the IRS building is to walk north on Hudson to street north of library, then east to Robinson. Is Sheridan not even open to pedestrians on south side?

Thanks for pictures, Platemaker. I'll be able to get some from my office soon!

Currently the sidewalk is closed on both sides of Sheridan.

I talked to construction workers today and was told Sheridan will reopen only to the the back drive of the Colcord in about two weeks. (that's only a few yards of street) The rest will be closed awhile longer eventually opening the two south lanes (one in each direction).

Currently the sidewalk is closed on both sides of Sheridan.

This is not true...The South sidewalk along the Myriad Gardens on Sheridan is open to Pedestrians.

This is not true...The South sidewalk along the Myriad Gardens on Sheridan is open to Pedestrians.

It is true... although the signage is pretty damn funny... and confusing...

I just took these... here is the north side by the Colcord
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/northsidewallk.jpg

And here is the 'other side' LOL it's blocked off all the way down with that orange mesh stuff.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/southsidewalk.jpg

This is not true...The South sidewalk along the Myriad Gardens on Sheridan is open to Pedestrians.

I hope you're right! Guess I'll scope it out on Sunday before I come in to work next week and walk in wrong direction.

Does anyone know what the schedule is for them to actually start the construction of the structure? IE foundation, steel framing, etc?

Pics from the top of the Colcord today.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/Devon100709a.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/Devon100709b.jpg
Holy crap. Those guys aren't screwing around.