I would think some sort of subdued lighting designed into the three "grooves" that delineate the three slabs of glass would be most attractive--especially if they were a nice blue color--like that of the blue-flame of natural gas. It would be attractive--not garish and "shouting" like some in DFW, and tasteful instead of bright white or red "holiday" lighting. The top of this structure offers all sorts of possibilities...I suppose they will slowly leak out details--but--it will be a long time. An icon like this is the quintessence of advertising opportunity and visibility...I am sure that facet has not been overlooked. The apex also seems to lend itself to some sort of spire, utilitarian or decorative.

I bet it's going to look something like this............
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/DevonRendering-Night.jpg

Thanks for the photo Architect5311...you are most likely right. Most of us are impractical folks who want things a certain way, not having to deal with the realities involved. I still have a suspicion the triangular shape and "pointy" apex is, in fact, some sort of reference to a gas flame...the odd inset at the base with the exposed columns does resemble the base of a gas burner...but I may be just looking for things that are not there--though the triangular shape does beg the question--why? The top does resemble a flame--to me anyway. We all have a mystery to look forward to...anticipation--a strong lead-up to exposition and fruition...great!

South core going up

Unless you're there and seeing it with your own eyes, I can't agree with you. It's still the same height as the other two. There's a slight deviation between the cores and the floors if you look closely on the cam. Plus, the south core is farther from the cam and at that angle it looks taller.

Unless you're there and seeing it with your own eyes, I can't agree with you. It's still the same height as the other two. There's a slight deviation between the cores and the floors if you look closely on the cam. Plus, the south core is farther from the cam and at that angle it looks taller.

Looks like they moved it up a few feet to me. The exposed rebar is now level with the form. I guess we'll know by the end of the day.

I concur prior to the third level last third pour last evening you could see the forms at the furthest southern end of the 4th level and now the view of it is obstructed by the climbing southern core.

I will go and take pics in about 1-2 hrs. So, maybe someone will be able to tell from the pics.

Unless you're there and seeing it with your own eyes, I can't agree with you. It's still the same height as the other two. There's a slight deviation between the cores and the floors if you look closely on the cam. Plus, the south core is farther from the cam and at that angle it looks taller.

I'm not there seeing it with my eyes. Maybe these web cam shots will help you!

Yesterday
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4712489152_7841927abd.jpg

Today
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4711849029_d2ec8698a8.jpg

This thing is going to be breathtaking when its finished!

There's probably workers in the core right now installing mounting brackets for the form support structure. Once their done they will lift the form the rest of the way.

I forgot to upload this one the other day. Sorry for the blurriness. It appears they've started the columns on the west end of the site.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1304/4711840199_2ea2c2b773_b.jpg

I forgot to upload this one the other day. Sorry for the blurriness. It appears they've started the columns on the west end of the site.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1304/4711840199_2ea2c2b773_b.jpg

Why is the tower going up faster than the podium?

I noticed that the western most crane is smack dab in the middle of the group of podium columns? Odd.

I'm not there seeing it with my eyes. Maybe these web cam shots will help you!

Yesterday
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4712489152_7841927abd.jpg

Today
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4711849029_d2ec8698a8.jpg

Yes, in a matter of 25 minutes from my post to yours, things are bound to change. And now, obviously, 3 1/2 hours later, the thing has gone Viagra on us. MY BADD YA'LL. Thanks for future pics King (bowing like Obama)...

:artist:

Looks like they moved it up a few feet to me. The exposed rebar is now level with the form. I guess we'll know by the end of the day.

I have nearly perfect vision. If you can see two feet from a shotty cam that is inside of a building on a floor that's 150 feet above ground level looking at a structure that's half a block away then I say sign up for the marine core and be a sniper by God! Cause that's some skill...

Why is the tower going up faster than the podium?

I would guess because the tower is going to be 850 feet tall and the podium is going to be about as tall as the Colcord (145 feet.)

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Its only been around 12 hours since the floor pour and their already setting the northern columns.

From the drawings in post 1814 the footprint of hte building looks like an arrowhead. How cool is that!

I'll have pics from today up soon. I got run off by Devon, who threatened to call the police on me for taking photos. Pete and mods, excuse me, but chicken ****.

I'll have pics from today up soon. I got run off by Devon, who threatened to call the police on me for taking photos. Pete and mods, excuse me, but chicken ****.

Seriously? Is there any legal backing to that what-so-ever? If you were in/on their garage I suppose they can say what they want. But if you're on public property it seems like they have no business.

I told them the city garage was public property, if I didn't have somewhere to be I would have told them to go ahead and call the police. I'm arrogant and I normally stand my ground.

Thanks for the time lapse Kinggober...I am with you SkyWestOKC. I would have been fuming over this heavy-handed act by the "security" people. I just wonder...is everyone so damn terrified of "evil forces" around us today that anyone who takes a picture is a suspect? I think someone needs to contact Devon, tell them what we do here and we promote THEM and to let us take a damn picture or two! It is classic PC crap and needs to be halted. Did they make you take your shoes off and search them too? I hate all this stupid bird-brained PC sh**!

I told them the city garage was public property, if I didn't have somewhere to be I would have told them to go ahead and call the police. I'm arrogant and I normally stand my ground. Good for you SkyWest. So now they have Devon Nazi's on city property?

I've had a gun pulled on me before (at the airport) for taking pictures. I know the drill. Really fun stuff. It's like, dude, I can work inside the airport, I can go in all the little secret behind the scenes places, and I can go out on the ramp and touch an airplane. But if I take a picture of it on public property you're going to make me put my hands up while you draw your gun. Please.

I'm thinking about writing a letter to Devon, let them know how I feel about them now. So, it is what it is. They were fine with me taking pictures until they saw my camera, then I was told to "get lost or we're calling the cops."

Just to be clear, the East garage (the one closest to the Colcord) is no longer city/public property. It's owned by Mark Beffort and some investors; the same people that own Oklahoma Tower and Leadership Square.

And of course the West garage is owned outright by Devon.


Not sure why anyone would object to photographs. Seems silly since there are tall buildings all around with many great vantage points.

I was run off by security when I was there last Sunday too

Why is the cam stuck. Every time I refresh it stays at 16:26 or something like that.

Ok so this has been on my mind. Everyone remebers when they poured the towers fondation right? So the structure behind it, I never say that happen. how come it doesn,t have a fondation? Isn't it going up six floors?

Ok so this has been on my mind. Everyone remebers when they poured the towers fondation right? So the structure behind it, I never say that happen. how come it doesn,t have a fondation? Isn't it going up six floors?

It does have a foundation, each individual column is connected to a pier which goes deep into the ground. The tower is much taller so it requires a core. This core requires multiple piers that go even deeper into the ground. These core piers need to be tied together so a foundation mat is poured on top of all these piers which essentially turns them into one giant pier and the core is directly on top of the mat.

I received a response back from Devon, they are looking into what happened.

Thanks for the time lapse Kinggober...I am with you SkyWestOKC. I would have been fuming over this heavy-handed act by the "security" people. I just wonder...is everyone so damn terrified of "evil forces" around us today that anyone who takes a picture is a suspect? I think someone needs to contact Devon, tell them what we do here and we promote THEM and to let us take a damn picture or two! It is classic PC crap and needs to be halted. Did they make you take your shoes off and search them too? I hate all this stupid bird-brained PC sh**!

It sounds like they went a bit overboard but in reality, folks, many arrested terrorists worldwide have been in possession of photographs, computer stored pictures and video of possible targets. There have been terrorist attacks that have been preceeded by someone taking photographs or video. It didn't happen one time but it has happened multiple times around the world. So, when you have a building, like Devon, that will be significantly taller than any other downtown, I can understand them being sensitive to having photographs taken. Understand their side of things, too. Perhaps the security needs to pipe down a bit, too, however.

It sounds like they went a bit overboard but in reality, folks, many arrested terrorists worldwide have been in possession of photographs, computer stored pictures and video of possible targets. There have been terrorist attacks that have been preceeded by someone taking photographs or video. It didn't happen one time but it has happened multiple times around the world. So, when you have a building, like Devon, that will be significantly taller than any other downtown, I can understand them being sensitive to having photographs taken. Understand their side of things, too. Perhaps the security needs to pipe down a bit, too, however.

I don't know what terrorists are going to learn from taking pictures of the construction site. The tower's weakest points are going to be the 21 exterior columns on the ground floor, but those are in plain sight. Hopefully security is tight at the entrance to the underground excutive parking / loading dock, steel pillars that rise from the ground should do the trick. I also imagine Sheridan will be lined with concrete pillars to prevent trucks from driving toward the tower. There's also the shallow moat which surrounds the tower.

Edit: I looked at the site overview rendering and it looks like there's a wall along Sheridan and lots of trees.

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Seeing those cranes sway back and forth is kinda scary..

I can actually see myself getting chewed out in the timelapse....cool!

I can actually see myself getting chewed out in the timelapse....cool!

Ooo where at?!? I wanna see! lol

It's very hard to see, but between :40 and the end of the video, near the "black box" on top of the west garage by the elevator. You should see a little fuzz of people, that would be me getting chewed out. If you track it carefully a little before, you can also see me walk across the garage to the edge.

It's very hard to see, but between :40 and the end of the video, near the "black box" on top of the west garage by the elevator. You should see a little fuzz of people, that would be me getting chewed out. If you track it carefully a little before, you can also see me walk across the garage to the edge.

I think you deserve some sort of combat ribbon for that campaign...or at least a Thomas Jefferson round of applause...

:tiphat: :bow: :bow: :bow: :tiphat:

I don't know what terrorists are going to learn from taking pictures of the construction site. The tower's weakest points are going to be the 21 exterior columns on the ground floor, but those are in plain sight. Hopefully security is tight at the entrance to the underground excutive parking / loading dock, steel pillars that rise from the ground should do the trick. I also imagine Sheridan will be lined with concrete pillars to prevent trucks from driving toward the tower. There's also the shallow moat which surrounds the tower.

Edit: I looked at the site overview rendering and it looks like there's a wall along Sheridan and lots of trees.

Way to give the terrorists a 1-up. That's like Geraldo when US forces were marching toward Baghdad and he gave away their coordinating efforts by drawing a map in the sand showing what they were gonna do, lol...

Way to give the terrorists a 1-up. That's like Geraldo when US forces were marching toward Baghdad and he gave away their coordinating efforts by drawing a map in the sand showing what they were gonna do, lol...

I suspect, sadly, they are not behind the curve on these matters. They knew how weak the structure was of the WTC in NYC---a couple of hopelessly fragile buildings that should never have been built.

I'll have pics from today up soon. I got run off by Devon, who threatened to call the police on me for taking photos. Pete and mods, excuse me, but chicken ****.

Skywest are you still planning on posting your pics?

I suspect, sadly, they are not behind the curve on these matters. They knew how weak the structure was of the WTC in NYC---a couple of hopelessly fragile buildings that should never have been built.

Oh, of course. I, lol, just have to entertain myself in the morning with my dry humor. Makes the work day go by that much faster...

Kinggober, later tonight. I just got back from 6 hours of the airshow and am absolutely beat.

It will be interesting when they finish the northern part of the current floor being built...it will give us the first good look at the base of the Tower and set the stage for the rest of it. Reminds me of little kids in the back seat saying..."are we there yet?" Does anyone have a current prediction for the topping out date? It is time for CNG-driven automobiles and trucks...maybe this will be the home of that revolution. Hell--you could even fill your own car at home with some degree of modifications I suppose...anyone know about that? Electric cars will be around some day in the future--no time soon in any real numbers. CNG is the answer...just like T. Boone Pickens says.

Another question for those who know construction...the two cranes on either side of the Tower will be (or are now) physically connected to the structure itself as it rises--right? Sounds silly to ask--but I just would like to understand all I can about how these things are erected. :doh:

Another question for those who know construction...the two cranes on either side of the Tower will be (or are now) physically connected to the structure itself as it rises--right? Sounds silly to ask--but I just would like to understand all I can about how these things are erected. :doh:

As seen here during The Pinnacle tower construction in Nashville, tower cranes are connected to the tower as it rises. Notice how closely the glazing system (glass) follows the tower as it rises.

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/Pinnaclefromconstructioncam1-18-09.jpg


....They knew how weak the structure was of the WTC in NYC---a couple of hopelessly fragile buildings that should never have been built.

Disagree, not many, if any buildings with steel or partial steel structure could withstand what occurred to the WTC......

As seen here during The Pinnacle tower construction in Nashville, tower cranes are connected to the tower as it rises. Notice how closely the glazing system (glass) follows the tower as it rises.

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/Pinnaclefromconstructioncam1-18-09.jpg



Disagree, not many, if any buildings with steel or partial steel structure could withstand what occurred to the WTC......

Your right. They weren't thinking about people wanting to fly airplanes into buildings in the 1970's or how big planes would be in 30 years. I think most of the new skyscrapers being built today has a concrete core.

Thanks architect5311...as usual you have the answers to questions regarding construction--and with such great visual aids. It is like talking to your lawyer--at no charge! Imagine that! Perhaps I was unkind, architecturally, to the designers of the WTC--I suppose what I meant more was the miscreants knew just what building to choose--and not just by height. I believe the evil one behind it had some training in the field...

Hi everyone... I heard about this thread and thought i'd check it out. I'm Big Gene:gossip:... I operate tower crane number one .. The Easternmost.... night shift. I'm here from Las Vegas (by way of Dallas). I have 32 years experience operating cranes.... The last 12 in Las Vegas building high rises. Las vegas construction is dead, sooo... here i am. Closer to home anyway, lol. It should be a great project for the next couple of years. The Holder/Flintco folks seem to be really great to work for... a pleasant surprise from just being another number on a payroll as most jobs are nowadays. Someone said there was some comments about the birds attacking the operators as we climb tower one.... so i wanted to read on it, but haven't found it yet. They are just protecting their babies. They built a nest on level five and hatched four of the five eggs they layed. They fly around our heads chirping and sometimes slapping us with their wings to distract us from their nest....lol. Hell, we only try to help them by putting out food and water for them, but it's just their nature i guess. Lol. I'll try to put up some pics from time to time. I like Oklahoma City so far. It should be fun here! Cheers...

Welcome Big Gene!

Thanks architect5311...as usual you have the answers to questions regarding construction--and with such great visual aids. It is like talking to your lawyer--at no charge! Imagine that! Perhaps I was unkind, architecturally, to the designers of the WTC--I suppose what I meant more was the miscreants knew just what building to choose--and not just by height. I believe the evil one behind it had some training in the field...

The Designers of the WTC DID in fact consider the possibility of a jet liner accidentally crashing into the towers. You will notice that it was not the impact that did them in, as they remained in place for nearly 40 mins following the impact before the global structural failure.

If anything was overlooked it would be the temperature range that the jet fuel burns at and the ability of the fireproofing to resist such high temperature for the duration.

Steels weakness is heat and fire, under such conditions it loses its rigidity and once the steel had been exposed to the extreme heat of the burning jet fuel for such a long duration, that is exactly what happened and when the fist floor gave way it lead to a impact load that far exceeded any designed threshold and we all saw with horror the devastating result of a global structural failure.

There was nothing structurally lacking with the WTC buildings.

The point is that anytime you have a group of people who have the vilest of intentions to inflict mass harm through the destruction of a building, given enough time, resources and expertise they can and will find a way to succeed if given the opportunity. This applies even to concrete buildings.

Every structural system has inherent weaknesses that can be mitigated to some degree through the design and recognition of its strengths and weaknesses and allowing the design to respond accordingly.

I know that this is a bit off topic however your comment confused me as it seemed dismissive as if the WTC buildings were somehow inherently flawed and that everyone should have know that to be the case. When they in fact absolutely were not, nor were the designers at fault in any way. If anything the designers, Minoru Yamasaki, (Architect) & Emery Roth and Sons consulting Engineers, should be lauded as heroes because of the way that when they did finally succumb that the exterior structure of the skin of the building acted as a sort of containment fence that prevented much greater damage to the buildings in a much wider area surrounding the two doomed towers.

The lives that might have been lost had the towers not performed so well and resisted collapse for as long as they did allowed who knows how many more husband, wives, father and mothers who were able to actually come home from the buildings that horrid day.

Please don't take this as personal, rather just want to make sure the record is straight on your statement that you made previously.

Hi everyone... I heard about this thread and thought i'd check it out. I'm Big Gene:gossip:... I operate tower crane number one .. The Easternmost.... night shift. I'm here from Las Vegas (by way of Dallas). I have 32 years experience operating cranes.... The last 12 in Las Vegas building high rises. Las vegas construction is dead, sooo... here i am. Closer to home anyway, lol. It should be a great project for the next couple of years. The Holder/Flintco folks seem to be really great to work for... a pleasant surprise from just being another number on a payroll as most jobs are nowadays. Someone said there was some comments about the birds attacking the operators as we climb tower one.... so i wanted to read on it, but haven't found it yet. They are just protecting their babies. They built a nest on level five and hatched four of the five eggs they layed. They fly around our heads chirping and sometimes slapping us with their wings to distract us from their nest....lol. Hell, we only try to help them by putting out food and water for them, but it's just their nature i guess. Lol. I'll try to put up some pics from time to time. I like Oklahoma City so far. It should be fun here! Cheers...

Your name suites you well! lol. Welcome!

It will be interesting when they finish the northern part of the current floor being built...it will give us the first good look at the base of the Tower and set the stage for the rest of it. Reminds me of little kids in the back seat saying..."are we there yet?" Does anyone have a current prediction for the topping out date? It is time for CNG-driven automobiles and trucks...maybe this will be the home of that revolution. Hell--you could even fill your own car at home with some degree of modifications I suppose...anyone know about that? Electric cars will be around some day in the future--no time soon in any real numbers. CNG is the answer...just like T. Boone Pickens says.

for what it's worth jmark - here in China, all or almost all transit bus and taxi are already doing CNG; and I am in the middle of China (not in Shanghai as most of the west ONLY sees). I imagine that all (or at least all big cities) in China (there's 50+ cities over 1 million people) use CNG in transit.

Oh, Sinkansen-type (bullet trains) are in service and being built everywhere; here in the middle of China - 2 hours from Chengdu, Sichuan to Chongqing (the world's biggest municipality - 32 million people) at 330 km. Will be just over 1 hour once the dual track is complete. With more highspeed lines to radiate from Chongqing. It is faster and cheaper (only 119 CNY/$17) to take the bullet train than flying. ... This in the MIDDLE of China!!

If only the same could be said for the USA. But I digress, .....

Welcome to OKC, Big Gene - I (born/raised expat from OKC) hope you enjoy your stay and could consider staying/adding to my wonderful up coming hometown. Definitely appreciate your insight and prospective into the construction and Im sure I speak for everyone on the forum. ....

Welcome to the forum Big Gene. That'll be me, waving at you this morning as I get in at 5 AM!
Nice story about the birds. We've worried about them from the ground and if they'd cause an operator to hurt himself.

Thanks OKC@heart for the comments on the WTC...you are right, of course, and I am happy to learn more about all these things. I certainly do not take any offense--instead--I appreciate enlightenment. And what a joy to have someone like Big Gene on this forum...that is about as good as it gets! I hope he has a good time while here...there is always a lot to see/do anywhere, if you have the time and look for it. And I see HotRod is in China now--another great asset. Hats off to Peter for laying the groundwork for this extraordinary group here. I enjoy it immensely.

Gene, your perspective should be incredible for photos. Thanks for coming to see us.

How tall is the structure now from the top core?

Hi everyone... I heard about this thread and thought i'd check it out. I'm Big Gene:gossip:... I operate tower crane number one .. The Easternmost.... night shift. I'm here from Las Vegas (by way of Dallas). I have 32 years experience operating cranes.... The last 12 in Las Vegas building high rises. Las vegas construction is dead, sooo... here i am. Closer to home anyway, lol. It should be a great project for the next couple of years. The Holder/Flintco folks seem to be really great to work for... a pleasant surprise from just being another number on a payroll as most jobs are nowadays. Someone said there was some comments about the birds attacking the operators as we climb tower one.... so i wanted to read on it, but haven't found it yet. They are just protecting their babies. They built a nest on level five and hatched four of the five eggs they layed. They fly around our heads chirping and sometimes slapping us with their wings to distract us from their nest....lol. Hell, we only try to help them by putting out food and water for them, but it's just their nature i guess. Lol. I'll try to put up some pics from time to time. I like Oklahoma City so far. It should be fun here! Cheers...

Welcome Big Gene! We are excited to have another set of eyes on the site! Man I bet you have a great view from where you sit! Do you know at what intervals or floor levels they will need to jump the tower cranes? I assume that it is once they are high enough to tie the base back to the structure, but was just curious as to how often they tie it back to the building and how close they let the crane get to the floors they are working on prior to jumping the crane.

I hope that you enjoy your time in our city! It certainly is a different pace than Vegas, but we think it has its own unique feel about it that makes it great! There are several forums on things that are going on in and around the city so you can get info on things to do in your off time. Again welcome and thanks in advance for any perspective that you can provide that will further our understanding on this fantastic project!

Some shots from the noon-hour today:

1. Perspective shot from east ground level of the east parking garage.
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9117/kdk0389.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/kdk0389.jpg/)

2. Perspective shot from east ground level of the east parking garage.
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1049/kdk0388.jpg (http://img155.imageshack.us/i/kdk0388.jpg/)

3. Looking towards west side of site thru 3rd floor of east garage
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6026/kdk0387.jpg (http://img717.imageshack.us/i/kdk0387.jpg/)

4. Looking southeast from westernmost side of 3rd floor of east garage
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/8407/kdk0386.jpg (http://img713.imageshack.us/i/kdk0386.jpg/)

5. Forms going on the west core
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/8444/kdk0385.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/kdk0385.jpg/)

6. Looking southwest from westernmost side of 3rd floor of east garage
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8935/kdk0384.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/i/kdk0384.jpg/)

7. Looking south from 3rd floor of east garage
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/1129/kdk0383.jpg (http://img689.imageshack.us/i/kdk0383.jpg/)

Looks like the podium is starting to go up as well!

Thanks, Vandy.