The Key Inc., owners of The Key auto dealership at 208 W. Interstate 240, have started work on the Frayer Office Building at 4105 W. Memorial.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/frayernew3.jpg

The design of the unusual 6-story building features two tornado-shaped structures with a soaring glass atrium. It will be located on the north side of Memorial Road very near Mercy Hospital.


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

The president of The Key is David Frayer who last year proposed a 92,000 square foot residence (http://www.okctalk.com/edmond/37077-92-650-square-foot-mammoth-mega-mansion-built-edmond.html) in northeast Edmond, which would be the large private home in the country. To date, work has not started on that project.

The plans were approved last year by the planning commission and some work has already commenced, including the clearing of the land and the installation of a construction trailer.

Johnson & Associates of Oklahoma City are the project engineers.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/frayernew1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/frayernew2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/frayernew4.jpg

Easily one of the coolest & most unique buildings in OKC.

Very interesting building. I just don't know how much faith I have in it being constructed.

^

They've already started.

I like it. Wish it was downtown though, of course without the surface parking.

I'd be careful into how much faith you put into the Key. I'll believe this thing will be built when I see it and can walk in it. I'd love it if happened though.

^

They've already started.

Then I will watch and wait

Weird.

I think this is better and more functional than that tornado tower proposed in Tulsa. Will definitely be one of the most unique buildings in the metro.

Who is the "architect?"

Very cool design, I hope we see it to completion.

I too am curious about the architect. While just having an architect doesn't necessarily lend credence to a project, I would be curious if it's at least a legitimate development team.

Moving some dirt around doesn't really mean a whole lot. Oklahoma's economy is in free fall at the moment and this type of project seems more typical of the wild boom years.

"Under construction" or not, I'll be shocked if this actually gets built in any way that remotely close to this sketchup model.

I hope its built just as depicted, bold not bland like most OKC architecture

utilities were laid for the project over the summer. if you drive by the site you'll see the fire line for the building stubbed up out of the ground where it will pass through the foundation into the sprinkler room.

I'm all for unique building designs. Build the Tornado tower, build Rand's Turbinomic Tower, rebuild the Stage Center, build something with vertical gardening in the design, etc. But this seems to be a waste in this area. A unique building surrounded by surface parking? Visitors aren't going to drive out there to see it.

I'm all for unique building designs. Build the Tornado tower, build Rand's Turbinomic Tower, rebuild the Stage Center, build something with vertical gardening in the design, etc. But this seems to be a waste in this area. A unique building surrounded by surface parking? Visitors aren't going to drive out there to see it.

Yeah no one is ever out this way...ever. Forget about all the offices, the hospitals, the traffic bypassing the city to get to I-40 west, all the other attractions.

It's a building not a tourist attraction.

While just having an architect doesn't necessarily lend credence to a project...

Johnson is a Civil Engineering firm. Having an architect on a project of this nature not only adds "credence," it satisfies the law. (My guess is this sketchup design was done by a student.)

Yeah no one is ever out this way...ever. Forget about all the offices, the hospitals, the traffic bypassing the city to get to I-40 west, all the other attractions.

It's a building not a tourist attraction.

Man, someone ate some peed in cereal this morning.

It can double as a tourist attraction in the proper location. Wouldn't it have been awesome if the Devon Tower was built on Memorial road? How about the Skydance bridge? Maybe put Chesapeake arena in Moore. The new Central Park in Yukon. Whitewater Rapids...Stanley Draper Lake.

Man, someone ate some peed in cereal this morning.

It can double as a tourist attraction in the proper location. Wouldn't it have been awesome if the Devon Tower was built on Memorial road? How about the Skydance bridge? Maybe put Chesapeake arena in Moore. The new Central Park in Yukon. Whitewater Rapids...Stanley Draper Lake.

Sorry I just get tired of the general belly aching that prevails so often, but way to take my comment and spin it as an endorsement for major tourist attractions to be placed on the outskirts.

The Key huh. Okay.

The Key huh. Okay.

must be good money in the tote the note car lot business

That looks ridiculous...

I like it.

must be good money in the tote the note car lot business

Yes, there is a ton of money.

Charge very high rates then pay collection agencies for those who don't make their payments.

Yes, there is a ton of money.

Charge very high rates then pay collection agencies for those who don't make their payments.

This should be example number one of why you're getting ripped off when buying from one of these places.

This should be example number one of why you're getting ripped off when buying from one of these places.

But with The Key, YOU'RE APPROVED! ;-)

This is the same guy , that submitted plans to build the castle house up in Edmond last years it was supposed to be like 50 or 60 thousand sqft, or something to that nature.

This is the same guy , that submitted plans to build the castle house up in Edmond last years it was supposed to be like 50 or 60 thousand sqft, or something to that nature.

You're about 30,000 sq ft off...

You're about 30,000 sq ft off...


Dang you're right it was 90k sqft

92,650 Square Foot Proposed Super Mansion In Edmond, OK | Homes of the Rich ? The #1 Real Estate Blog (http://homesoftherich.net/2014/03/92650-square-foot-proposed-super-mansion-in-edmond-ok/)

But seriously, that is a very schematic sketchup model. Is there an architect attached to this?

Johnson is a Civil Engineering firm. Having an architect on a project of this nature not only adds "credence," it satisfies the law. (My guess is this sketchup design was done by a student.)

No offense I just meant projects with good teams still can die. Having a good architect behind a deal only gives so much confidence, having money behind it gives much more. This probably has neither is what I'm getting at.

But seriously, that is a very schematic sketchup model. Is there an architect attached to this?

The only name I saw on the drawings and plans was Johnson's.

An engineer would be required for the site plan, parking lot, drainage, etc., and also one would be required for structural engineering of the building. I doubt Johnson had anything to do with the design of the building itself.

must be good money in the tote the note car lot business

That's not where he made all his money.

Remember the house he was planning on building but never got it going? It was supposed to be the largest private residence in the U.S. Given his track-record of not following through on crazy ideas, I'm like the others. I'll believe it when the doors open.

http://youtu.be/rs80H6XKJdQ

Video of the building.

^^^
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs80H6XKJdQ&feature=youtu.be

^^^
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs80H6XKJdQ&feature=youtu.be

I hope this is a real project, but the unprofessional, low quality of that video gives me zero confidence that it isn't.

I agree. It does look like someone put a little effort into the design, but the way the video was presented sucks. Time will tell I guess.

I too am curious about the architect. While just having an architect doesn't necessarily lend credence to a project, I would be curious if it's at least a legitimate development team.

Moving some dirt around doesn't really mean a whole lot. Oklahoma's economy is in free fall at the moment and this type of project seems more typical of the wild boom years.


Curious as to why you believe Oklahoma City's economy is in a free fall? Its not. Check the new housing permits and jobs being added. Okc hasn't been hit as hard as most thought by the downturn in oil. You seem to make a lot of definitive statements. Might want to check on your facts.

To put my statement in perspective, my mom is vice president of a mortgage company in okc. They are swamped. Builders are still struggling to catch up with the demand here. So, that free fall hasn't happened.

^ This. I had my doubts about the housing market as well. But during my real estate class today they presented us with the raw data (granted it was from summer) that shows sales, pending transactions, ect were all up across the board vs the previous year.

Curious as to why you believe Oklahoma City's economy is in a free fall? Its not. Check the new housing permits and jobs being added. Okc hasn't been hit as hard as most thought by the downturn in oil. You seem to make a lot of definitive statements. Might want to check on your facts.

To put my statement in perspective, my mom is vice president of a mortgage company in okc. They are swamped. Builders are still struggling to catch up with the demand here. So, that free fall hasn't happened.

The city just instituted a hiring freeze and may have to lay off. The state has a $1B budget crisis, after tough cuts were already made to plug last year's $500-700M budget crisis (if I remember right).

A lot of out of state developers are taking note of the energy industry's problems.

The city just instituted a hiring freeze and may have to lay off. The state has a $1B budget crisis, after tough cuts were already made to plug last year's $500-700M budget crisis (if I remember right).

A lot of out of state developers are taking note of the energy industry's problems.
Source(s)? Not saying you are wrong, just genuinely interested in learning more about this.

Any update pictures? Would really like to see what the current site looks like.

Here is the aerial imagery from Sep. 25th

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5630/22769580315_f7102ccfcd_o.png

Thanks Plutonic Panda. If this building is U/C it sure will stand out in a good way.

I went to Jarman Jr. High and Midwest City High School with David Frayer. He was always a nice fellow and a pretty good wrestler. However, I think that he is compensating for growing up in this house:

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1446669571456!6m8!1m 7!1s68rOCwNSNLEmSMmT1d_p_g!2m2!1d35.44070508417226 !2d-97.39897572393014!3f90.74952795783149!4f1.03492074 07358563!5f0.7820865974627469" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Source(s)? Not saying you are wrong, just genuinely interested in learning more about this.

Local developers freaked out by out of state developers getting involved. Quotes in this article indicate they are conscious of the energy trends.
In downtown OKC, more than 1,000 apartments and homes will open in the next two years | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5415832)

Downtown Oklahoma City projects may pause amidst energy industry uncertainty | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5389990)

https://www.kansascityfed.org/en/publications/research/oke/articles/2015/oil-downturn-okc-economy

Local developers freaked out by out of state developers getting involved. Quotes in this article indicate they are conscious of the energy trends.
In downtown OKC, more than 1,000 apartments and homes will open in the next two years | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5415832)

Downtown Oklahoma City projects may pause amidst energy industry uncertainty | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5389990)

https://www.kansascityfed.org/en/publications/research/oke/articles/2015/oil-downturn-okc-economy

Did you see the dates on the stuff you just linked? June was the closest thing to November. I'll help you. Steve just said that national investors and retailers haven't shied away from okc since the downturn. Employment hasn't dropped, etc. All said in his chat today. If your gonna link something, let's have it more current than nearly 6 months ago.

I hope this is a real project, but the unprofessional, low quality of that video gives me zero confidence that it isn't.

I think you may have some skewed views on this, they are pretty much just going through bullet points of things to show to an approval board on a model that was probably built more for simulation of loads, estimating clearances and reviewing basic aesthetics. This is not an area they can expect much return on investment so are not going to prioritize to the point of being anything near photo realistic, it is likely heavily influenced by how their software works and what the board and people like the fire martial want to see. It is almost the exact style that was made for each of the boathouses downtown, the renderings were only slightly higher quality for the airport's next renovation.

I would hope before the OKC city council approves this proposed building that the city could force David Frayer and The Key to remove all of the former signage of every car lot he and his company has owned. I hate that OKC never penalizes companies that leave up visual pollution.

I would hope before the OKC city council approves this proposed building that the city could force David Frayer and The Key to remove all of the former signage of every car lot he and his company has owned. I hate that OKC never penalizes companies that leave up visual pollution.

I believe this has received all necessary approvals and is actually entering the physical construction phase. Not that I don't disagree with any of your points...

... I hate that OKC never penalizes companies that leave up visual pollution.

Agree wholeheartedly, all the signs left up on all the vacant strip malls (as well as standalone bldgs) are just horrible, hundreds upon hundreds. However, not sure how much the companies could be penalized, they're already out of business (usually), so what can the city do to make them take a sign down?

Went by this the other day and nothing has happened. I would love to see this come to fruition.

They are trying to get a couple of variances so this project is stalled until that goes through.

Any update on this?

I don't think this ever got off the ground... Literally and figuratively.

Even though the rendering don't really describe the materials, this could be a really cool building and I was very excited about it. Until I found out the guy behind it was David Frayer. Then I knew it wasn't happening. I wish I would be proven wrong, though.