BancFirst Tower

[BoulderSooner]

That is really a bummer. Did they not have to go through an approval process?

was approved on 6/20

[Plutonic Panda]

was approved on 6/20

Do you know if there was any conversation about preserving the current architectural style or it was just rubber stamp approved?

[BoulderSooner]

Do you know if there was any conversation about preserving the current architectural style or it was just rubber stamp approved?

there was no discussion

[Pete]

BancFirst set to start complete renovation of city's 2nd tallest tower

After purchasing the former Cotter Ranch Tower last year and announcing plans for a major renovation inside and out, BancFirst has filed building permits to start the work on Oklahoma City's second-tallest building.

[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

The bank currently owns and occupies a building directly west of the tower and plans to move its downtown and other workers into the tower once their space is ready.

The renovation will include completely replacing the black exterior glass with new, blue-tinted glazing, adding lighted signage and an extended crown, removing half of the ground-level pillars and completely reworking the large surrounding plaza and lobby. The lower-level space that connects to the city's Underground tunnel system will also be reworked with a large banking area and glass light wells.

Originally built as the headquarters for Liberty Bank in 1972, at 500 feet it reigned for almost 3 decades as Oklahoma City's tallest building until the completion of Devon Energy Center in 2012.

The property changed hands several times before the most recent 14-year ownership by the Cotter Family which was often tumultuous with frequent complaints of lack maintenance and a slow bleeding of tenants that has resulted in a near 50% vacancy rate.

BancFirst has worked to secure several existing long-term tenants such as Hall Estill law firm and the Petroleum Club.

The bank also teamed with Continental Resources to purchase the adjacent Santa Fe Parking Garage from the city of Oklahoma City.

Design work on the tower is by Bockus Payne Architecture.

[gopokes88]

I love this project so much.

[Pete]

The changes at street level will be massive.

That huge plaza surrounding the building is in embarrassingly terrible shape. Very sad that all the visitors that stay at the Skirvin are hit in the face with that ugliness.

Hopefully that part happens sooner rather than later.

[Sooner.Arch]

Love the changes! Do hope they add more trees in those planters ( similar to the Devon planting trees all around their campus)

[5alive]

Basically they are building a new building without having to build a new building.

[OkieNate]

Do you know the order and time frame of the renovations?

[Anonymous.]

I would assume the order is the building's skin before plaza, as equipment and (cranes?) will be tearing up the current plaza by simply being present.

[chuckchuck]

I think work will begin in the lobby and concourse levels, as the Petro Deli has a sign up saying they are moving upstairs, and other things such as the Red Earth group has made mention they will be moving in that direction soon.
I would expect the plaza to begin probably before year end. I know that area is a nightmare right now with project 180's sidewalk from heck and the FNC. The tower plaza demo will just add more drama to that whole corner, lol.

[HOT ROD]

just curious if they'd want to risk damage to the new/extended podium doing it before re skinning the tower. ...

[GoldFire]

They provided more information to tenants yesterday and said that work will begin on October 21. The glass will take about 2 years to complete and will begin next spring. They'll be doing the lower half before starting at the top and going down. The glass will be installed on the outside of the current glass before removing the inside glass. The entire plaza will be closed during construction with only the south entrance opened in phase 1 and then switching to the north entrance as they redo the lobby in two phases.

[DCARS]

Is it just me or does it look like the BancFirst logo on the top is just on the North and South side and not on the East or West side?

[GoldFire]

They also mentioned that they were working on some "interesting" lighting for the crown, but that there weren't any renderings for what was planned. It'll be really nice for the skyline to have the building is lit up properly.

[SOONER8693]

They also mentioned that they were working on some "interesting" lighting for the crown, but that there weren't any renderings for what was planned. It'll be really nice for the skyline to have the building is lit up properly.

Amen!

[David]

I like the sound of that, but am curious to know what they have in mind.

[tyeomans]

I would love to see some LEDs run the length of the building much like the one in Dallas! Don't know the name of the building though.

[OKCDrummer77]

I would love to see some LEDs run the length of the building much like the one in Dallas! Don't know the name of the building though.

Sounds like the Bank of America Tower - the 72 story building with green LED lighting.

[SOONER8693]

Some interesting info on the lighting of that Bank of America Tower.
The building's facetted facade was first accented at night by nearly 2 miles (3 km) of green argon lighting running primarily at the edges and corners of the tower. Green was chosen over red or blue because it is more visible from a distance. It has also been reported that the second tower, if built would have been accented with purple lighting.

Several months later, many of the argon tubes had burnt out due to a combination of several high voltage phenomena—one of which is referred to as the "corona effect" that discharges high voltage at the ends of the tube connections burning them out. After an intensive study, the developer shut down the entire lighting system and replaced it with a "mid-point grounded" system and larger, 18 mm tubes. Cold temperatures continued to plague the replacement system's performance.

In a renovation project that began in May 2013, the original green argon lighting was replaced with multi-colored LED tubes. The renovations were 90 percent complete by November 14, 2013, when the LED outline was showcased at the re-lighting ceremony. This was made possible by Innovative Lighting in Irving, and Turner Construction.

[turnpup]

Some interesting info on the lighting of that Bank of America Tower.
The building's facetted facade was first accented at night by nearly 2 miles (3 km) of green argon lighting running primarily at the edges and corners of the tower. Green was chosen over red or blue because it is more visible from a distance. It has also been reported that the second tower, if built would have been accented with purple lighting.

Several months later, many of the argon tubes had burnt out due to a combination of several high voltage phenomena—one of which is referred to as the "corona effect" that discharges high voltage at the ends of the tube connections burning them out. After an intensive study, the developer shut down the entire lighting system and replaced it with a "mid-point grounded" system and larger, 18 mm tubes. Cold temperatures continued to plague the replacement system's performance.

In a renovation project that began in May 2013, the original green argon lighting was replaced with multi-colored LED tubes. The renovations were 90 percent complete by November 14, 2013, when the LED outline was showcased at the re-lighting ceremony. This was made possible by Innovative Lighting in Irving, and Turner Construction.

Very interesting! So is the "green building" now lit with varying colors, or have they kept it green?

[OkieNate]

Very interesting! So is the "green building" now lit with varying colors, or have they kept it green?

I was in Dallas a few weeks ago and it varies in color now. It looks great!

[OkieNate]

Wow they are truly building a new building around the old skeleton! Very excited for the final outcome!

[Bullbear]

I was in Dallas a few weeks ago and it varies in color now. It looks great!

I've seen it candy cane striped at Christmas and Rainbow during pride. they do a great job using the functions of that LED system

[chuckchuck]

Beginning this weekend 10/19, any and all entrances via the concourse into the Banks tower will be shut down. I think you can still get concourse access to the Santa Fe garage but walking past that old teller area on your way to continental will now be cut off.