Convention Center

[Rover]

I really don't care about construction project management and inspections. I do know there were a bunch of trades there that hired people with disdain about working on that job. I just don't think those people should be on any jobsite whatsoever. It's just disheartening. That's all.

Why don’t you just come out and tell us what your real beef is? If you have FACTS showing the public has been harmed just lay them out. In the very least, give the facts to Pete and I’m sure he will investigate if you indeed have names, dates, places, and actual details. Otherwise, this is more boogieman paranoid dreams. It sounds like you or someone you are close with may have lost out on a contract perhaps, and have sour grapes. Is that it?

[Rover]

For anyone who hasn’t taken a nighttime stroll down the promenade in the park (north from Flycatcher bridge) I highly suggest it. The view including CC and Omni is impressive and elevates the image of OKC substantially. As a citizen of OKC it should make you proud.

[Pete]

Press release:

*************

Construction of MAPS 3 OKC Convention Center complete
12/30/2020

Construction of MAPS 3’s $288 million Oklahoma City Convention Center is complete after more than a decade of planning. The state-of-the-art facility is debt-free and elevates the OKC’s capacity for hosting meetings and conventions.

“The timing of the Convention Center’s completion is bittersweet,” said MAPS program manager David Todd. “We hoped to celebrate the building with a ribbon cutting and public tours, but to keep people safe we are waiting until the pandemic subsides in 2021.”

The center will draw events that bring attendees from around the region and world. It will provide a boost to Oklahoma City’s economy and serve as an ideal venue for local events.

“The Convention Center is the largest single MAPS project ever and promises to bring a long-term economic impact worthy of that investment,” said Mayor David Holt. “It’s the linchpin to what is now the finest meeting destination in the country, at least for a city our size. The synergy is unparalleled between the Convention Center, Scissortail Park, the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel, Chesapeake Energy Arena and the OKC Streetcar that links it all to Bricktown and the rest of downtown. When we’re past COVID-19, this will draw interest to OKC we’ve never seen before. None of this would be possible without the voters of 2009, the taxpayers, and the leadership provided by former Mayor Mick Cornett, our other predecessors on the City Council, and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, which specifically championed this project. We are grateful to everyone who made this possible. Also, thanks to those who helped design and construct such a beautiful building, especially our MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board and our MAPS office.”

The building is east of Scissortail Park along Robinson Avenue between SW 4th and SW 7th streets.

“This venue is a vision realized for the Chamber, as we have been championing its construction for nearly 15 years. This is undoubtedly a game-changer for Oklahoma City as we emerge as a strong convention destination,” said Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President and CEO Roy Williams. “We’re already seeing great interest and convention bookings from meeting planners who are excited that OKC provides the full attendee experience their groups expect.”

Like the park and many other important landmarks downtown, it is served by the OKC Streetcar.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime project for the MAPS 3 office, Citizens Advisory Board, Convention Center Subcommittee and consultants,” added Todd. “It is an architectural gem from the floor to the ceiling, and we are proud to have completed the project on time and on budget.”


About the Convention Center
The Oklahoma City Convention Center captures the spirit and beauty of Oklahoma City. The interior design and art reflect Oklahoma City’s culture and history while the soaring glass walls and spacious balconies show off our remarkable sunsets and sweeping views of Scissortail Park.

The building’s sleek and modern design features materials intended for energy efficiency and resiliency against the weather.

The massive 500,000-square-foot interior includes a 200,730-square-foot exhibit hall on the first floor, which is divisible into four halls.

About 45,000 square feet of meeting spaces are on all levels of the building, and many have operable walls to make the spaces flexible. The rooms can be configured to provide up to 27 meeting spaces.

A 9,700-square-foot junior ballroom is located on the third floor and boasts sweeping views of Scissortail Park.

The building’s fourth floor features a 30,000-square-foot ballroom along with pre-function space and a large balcony overlooking Scissortail Park.

SAVOR is the building’s in-house catering partner that offers chef-driven creativity, seasonally available local ingredients, and distinguished hospitality.

Landscaping outside the convention center uses native plants and trees well-suited to the local climate, with a focus on sustainability, comfort and beauty. A central plaza and other inviting spaces will help the convention center’s exterior come alive with activity.

The Convention Center is next door to the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel, set to open Jan. 26 as the 605-room headquarters hotel.

A skywalk connects the Convention Center to a multi-story parking garage.

The convention center is managed by ASM Global, the same company that manages Chesapeake Energy Arena and former Cox Convention Center building.

The center will begin hosting events in January, with the first large convention scheduled for March.

“The Oklahoma City Convention Center is a game changer for the OKC destination and will attract new customers from the meetings industry,” said ASM Global/OKC Convention Center General Manager Al Rojas. “There are 16 national conventions on the books through 2026 that will contribute significant economic impact to the local economy.”

Although the building is considered complete, workers remain on site to finish punch list items.

Visit okcconventioncenter.com for more.


Virtual Sky
The convention center’s atriums are home to a monumental public art experience called Virtual Sky. The sculptural artwork is an array of anodized titanium rods suspended on aircraft cable alternating with strands of LED lights.

Each individual light is programmed for color, intensity, and duration, emitting light that is then reflected and enhanced by the titanium. The result is a matrix that can display three-dimensional forms moving through space much like clouds.

The artwork was created by Los Angeles-based Narduli Studio led by artist and architect Susan Narduli. At $1.5 million, Virtual Sky is one of the most valuable works in the City’s public art collection and was funded as a part of the City’s 1% for Art ordinance. The ordinance requires 1% of the construction budget for public projects to be spent on public art.


Cox Convention Center
The City’s former convention center building, formerly known the Cox Convention Center, is being leased to Prairie Surf Media and will be transformed into a film studio and soundstage.

[Plutonic Panda]

Looks like that thing is going to fall down any second due to that loose bolt afoot.

[Bellaboo]

Looks like that thing is going to fall down any second due to that loose bolt afoot.

I hope they caught that guy that did it. lol

[Pete]

In the second photo, you can see they have installed the signaled crosswalk between the convention center and Scissortail Park:

[dcsooner]

FABULOUS area, Really done well

[Plutonic Panda]

I wish that was a raised crosswalk. Good deal.

[David]

Convention Center website has been updated: https://okcconventioncenter.com/

[Bellaboo]

I think in the third pic above ^^^ there is smoke coming from the old building in the COOP ?

[Pete]

Robinson is now open in front of the Omni and Convention Center.

The portion south of the center and north of I-40 is still under construction.

[CCOKC]

My goodness, look at all the cars in that parking lot!!

[amocore]

Drove by it, after leaving brick town, before 1pm, and there was a crowd waiting for something or to get in on the southern entrance.
First event ? It looked like a lot of families.

[catch22]

Drove by it, after leaving brick town, before 1pm, and there was a crowd waiting for something or to get in on the southern entrance.
First event ? It looked like a lot of families.

Tour for the families who worked on it?

[catcherinthewry]

Tour for the families who worked on it?

Even the guy who sabotaged it?

[mugofbeer]

Just wait. In a few days the whole thing will start Kraken apart.

[catch22]

Just wait. In a few days the whole thing will start Kraken apart.

I'm kraken up

[codiejoe]

They had a cheer competition today.

[Ian Drake]

Folks, I finally have the info on the guy that sabotaged this place. It was the lead Forman for the fire detection system. This will be on the local news within the next couple of days. This company worked under the electrical contractor, and they are not happy that this person was on the job. I also have also notified the fire marshal’s office, because this guy has intentionally placed lives in danger, and rightfully belongs in a prison cell. You will see this on the news very soon. I have all my ducks in a row on this guy. I would expose him here, but I assure you the authorities are on it. David Todd who works for the city was very pissed that his facility was compromised and is taking appropriate measures to see that the facility is being fixed to be completely compliant at no additional cost to the city.

[Dustin]

Folks, I finally have the info on the guy that sabotaged this place. It was the lead Forman for the fire detection system. This will be on the local news within the next couple of days. This company worked under the electrical contractor, and they are not happy that this person was on the job. I also have also notified the fire marshal’s office, because this guy has intentionally placed lives in danger, and rightfully belongs in a prison cell. You will see this on the news very soon. I have all my ducks in a row on this guy. I would expose him here, but I assure you the authorities are on it. David Todd who works for the city was very pissed that his facility was compromised and is taking appropriate measures to see that the facility is being fixed to be completely compliant at no additional cost to the city.

What the heck? This is so strange... What is this guy's deal? Is he angry at the city? Angry at a city official? Bizarre bizarre bizarre

[catcherinthewry]

Folks, I finally have the info on the guy that sabotaged this place. It was the lead Forman for the fire detection system. This will be on the local news within the next couple of days. This company worked under the electrical contractor, and they are not happy that this person was on the job. I also have also notified the fire marshal’s office, because this guy has intentionally placed lives in danger, and rightfully belongs in a prison cell. You will see this on the news very soon. I have all my ducks in a row on this guy. I would expose him here, but I assure you the authorities are on it. David Todd who works for the city was very pissed that his facility was compromised and is taking appropriate measures to see that the facility is being fixed to be completely compliant at no additional cost to the city.

Sir, this is an Arby's drive-thru.

[Ian Drake]

Here is the deal. This guy *permanently disabled* the fire alarm signals *AFTER* the fire marshal signed off on the facility. Rest assured this is being fixed, but the fact that this guy did this is reprehensible. This guy is in big, big trouble. Prison time for sure. And the suppression contractor has corroborated that story, reporting him after bragging about it.

[catch22]

Sir, this is an Arby's drive-thru.

omg lol

[Plutonic Panda]

Sir, this is an Arby's drive-thru.

I went to an Arby’s in NW OKC somewhere and said “hey I’m not from around here and I heard if that is true you get free food” and I was denied service. Not even Arby’s will be able to help this guy.

[Ian Drake]

The scary part is that this same guy is leading a project to upgrade the system at Harold Hamm Diabetes center. Their contacts have been notified too. No telling what kind of damage would have been done had he not been caught now. Federal pound him in the butt prison is a bare minimum of what should happen to him. Endangering people who are having medical problems is subhuman. There is a place in hell for this guy.