Oh and if Oklahoma City is the "tiniest city" to ever get an 800+ skyscraper then we must be doing something right, right?

Can we stop all the "large city" boosterism? It's embarrassing.

To define a place as a "large city" there are many requirements beyond mere population size that Oklahoma City does not meet. It does not have 2 or more major sports franchises. It does not have iconic structures or a skyline that people throughout the country would see and immediately think "Oklahoma City". It does not have any cultural institutions known and revered beyond its very small region, nor can it claim any unique cultural identifiers (e.g. there is no "Oklahoma City school" of architecture, "Oklahoma City style" pizza, etc.). It has a relatively miniscule GMP. The city has no nationally-known celebrities living in it. The "downtown" could be walked end to end in 5 minutes. It has no tourist attractions that can draw beyond 100 miles, much less internationally. I could go on and on. Large city? Not by any stretch. Clearly Oklahoma City could never hope to be any more than a medium-sized city at best. But that doesn't mean it can't be a pleasant place to live.

Oklahoma City is the tiniest city ever to get a 800+ ft skyscraper. The several residents of the city should take pride in that.
I didnt realise a city had to have known celebrities living there in order for it to be considered large. :bash:

Do you know the difference between "large" and "iconic"? obviously not.

idiot.

I think it's time for a mod to step in here and give a warning.

This is ridiculous.

He's trolling, report his post, don't take it so personally, and move on.

^^ some one doesn't have a life.

Early I had requested that you stay classy. Now I realize that that's cutting against the grain for you. Apologies for imposing.

Can we stop all the "large city" boosterism? It's embarrassing.

To define a place as a "large city" there are many requirements beyond mere population size that Oklahoma City does not meet. It does not have 2 or more major sports franchises. It does not have iconic structures or a skyline that people throughout the country would see and immediately think "Oklahoma City". It does not have any cultural institutions known and revered beyond its very small region, nor can it claim any unique cultural identifiers (e.g. there is no "Oklahoma City school" of architecture, "Oklahoma City style" pizza, etc.). It has a relatively miniscule GMP. The city has no nationally-known celebrities living in it. The "downtown" could be walked end to end in 5 minutes. It has no tourist attractions that can draw beyond 100 miles, much less internationally. I could go on and on. Large city? Not by any stretch. Clearly Oklahoma City could never hope to be any more than a medium-sized city at best. But that doesn't mean it can't be a pleasant place to live.

Oklahoma City is the tiniest city ever to get a 800+ ft skyscraper. The several residents of the city should take pride in that.

DF, I think your description is for MEGA City, because all of what you describe sounds very much like the city of Chicago - which is a mega-world city. NOBODY ever claimed that OKC was a mega-world city on those lines, we all just recognized that OKC is a large US City, which has near 600,000 residents city proper and has a nice GROWING population and list of attractions that many people (including DF) does not know or realize.

OKC doesn't really trumpet its horn much and does NOT advertise almost at all. But I think as people visit or see the city on tv moreso, they will begin to associate OKC moreso than before as one of the large cities of the US. OKC may be one of the smallest major cities, but it is large by almost every definition - so realize that and let's celebrate the city's first really tall/beautiful skyscraper!!!


By the way, there are MANY world known celebrities living in OKC and it's metro area, take the blinders off. And it takes about 1 minute to walk one block in downtown OKC, and last I checked, there were many square blocks that constituted downtown - many more than just the CBD (which itself is compact but will take longer than 5 minutes to walk). And what is it with this "OKC can never hope to be any more than mid-sized" stuff? Did all of the other major cities just pop-up one day with metro areas over 2 million people? I think all cities started somewhere, including New York City. Just look at Dallas, at one point not too long ago, OKC and Dallas had very similar populations (see Austin similarly, and Las Vegas and Phoenix were significantly smaller than OKC not too long ago, and Salt Lake STILL IS smaller than OKC - but is in the club of large cities nonetheless). ...

It is not boosterism, in fact - it is INFORMATION. ... since many people probably don't know or realize and these points are being made saliently on a thread about its new tallest (and NOT on every forum/newspaper around - which would be boosterism).

Hot Rod, just for the sake of asking but isn't Oklahoma City larger than St. Louis as well?

St Louis metro is bigger and they have the all important, 3 major sports teams lol.

okc is larger than many central cities - but in all fairness, those said central cities are smaller in geography usually, and MUCH MORE DENSE - ie. STL, New Orleans, KC (I think), ATL; all are smaller in population in city limits but their limits are smaller.

And yes, it is very true those cities are larger in metro than OKC. KC is almost 700K larger, STL is a little more than double.

But the key is, we're talking city limits when we say large city, and OKC surely beats the 500K cut-off, even if you trim out 250 sq miles of rural/watershed it would still have almost the same 600K population that it has WITH all those 622 sq miles. I would tend to agree that OKC is a mid-sized metro area until it surpasses 1.5 million (probably 5 years) and definitely a mid-sized city/metro on the world stage (MOST US cities in fact, that are 'large/major' in US categorization would be mid-sized in the world stage).

On a similar but constructive note:

I, for one, wish OKC would trim off the waste, er umm - watershed, and the state allow ACOG/Oklahoma County to zone/manage those lands with OKC Water Trust the right to manage the resources. I am sure this is why OKC includes such a large area of nothing, so it can directly control the water, but there must be a better way to do it than artificially inflating the city limits. ...

I think OKC's density would double to 2,000 people per sq mile if the rural/watershed was trimmed out as there are certainly areas in the city with significant density both in the inner city and suburban sectors. By trimming out the rural, we could focus services where the people are and still have significant growth opportunities without creating more sprawl (as people today are chosing to live closer and closer to the watershed and rural/ranches).

Construction Workers Celebrate Devon Tower In OKC (http://www.news9.com/story/15510813/devon-tower-marks-major-milestone-for-downtown-okc-skyline)

Dana Hertneky, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Devon Tower is a major milestone for the Downtown Skyline. It has reached its peak and construction workers will celebrate with a topping out ceremony Wednesday.

The ceremony is for the 1200 to 1400 construction workers who have been working on the tower.

Let's get back on topic, please. Any further off-topic posts will be deleted.

As a Fort Worth resident, I must say.... YOU LUCKY BASTARDS!


Seriously though, it's looking good. It definately improves the skyline by a mile.

Not sure of this has been mentioned, but the permit issued for the restaurant on floors 49 and 50 was for $11 million. Looks like it will be a restaurant with a dress code and reservations required. And rightfully so. I can't wait to dine there for a special occasion.

Devon Tower Officially Tops Out As OKC's Tallest Building (http://www.news9.com/story/15519863/devon-tower-tops-out-as-okcs-tallest-building)

Ed Murray, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY – Over the past two years, the Devon Tower has grown from a concrete slab to the city's tallest building. On Wednesday the construction project reached a milestone with the traditional topping out ceremony.

Devon tops 50-story tower (http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-devon-tops-50story-tower-20110921,0,3007821.story)

Ali Meyer Reporting KFOR-TV

5:00 p.m. CDT, September 21, 2011

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Devon Energy is topping off their new headquarters in downtown Oklahoma City. The two-year project is nearly complete. Wednesday, the construction company hoisted a small pine tree to the very top.

By Pete Brzycki, Sept 21st.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon92111.jpg

Absolutely wonderful.

Great to see the thread changed to "T/O"

Topping out ceremony

September 21 2011

-YwuvUn6zeQ

Also putting a tree on top. They have the same ritual here in the Netherlands. :)

Also putting a tree on top. They have the same ritual here in the Netherlands. :)

^^It started there didnt it?

Kinda,The 49th and 50th floors will be a resturant!

That's just awesome!!!!

September 21 2011

5bYTkiKBofQ

The Devon Tower is beautiful! The Tower really improves the skyline. :)

Been a week since an update.

Here you go...

September 2011

29753165

Excellent video, wonderful job!

By Dulahey,

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p314/Dulahey/Devon%20Tower/IMG_2305.jpg

Slideshow (http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p314/Dulahey/Devon%20Tower/?albumview=slideshow)

I can't wait to see the cladding topped out. The crown is going to look so sick when it's finished. Hope it's done by the time I go home for Thanksgiving.

Very nice design, it gives the small skyline of Oklahoma City a big boost, to become the landmark.

Topping out ceremony

September 21 2011

-YwuvUn6zeQ

Nice tradition! In Aruba we just put the flag on every structure when topping out, even one story homes ;-).

Here are some recent pics posted by architect5311 of how Devon Tower will interact with the Myriad Gardens across the street. In the coming decade this park will be even more surrounded by activity as an elementary school is built just to the west, the convention center is torn down and replaced with development to the east, and a new convention center is built on the parking lots to the south.

Devon Tower definitely has a nice neighborhood shaping up.

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/MG-4.jpg

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/MG-1.jpg

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/MG-3.jpg

Here is a bonus of a water feature in the Myriad Gardens from the City of OKC Twitter:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6192843467_e9e1ea2448_b.jpg

Aren't they going to build a school just south of Myriad Gardens ?

wait wait there gonna tear down a convention center they just renovated it.

wait wait there gonna tear down a convention center they just renovated it.

I hope so. It's a blight on its increasingly pleasant surroundings.

wait wait there gonna tear down a convention center they just renovated it.

The present renovation will be about 20 years old by the time they are ready to tear it down toward the end of this decade- with this new park, all the development in downtown, and the new transit hub (which could be offering Amtrak, commuter rail, streetcar, bus, and maybe even HSR by 2020) on the other side of this convention site, it just doesn't make sense for a superblock with blank walls to be there anymore. Plans are not set in stone of course, they could always save portions of the convention center (for instance the arena might be worth keeping)

It would be sweet to eventually replace Cox with a mixed-use development of some kind. That would really ramp up the synergy in the CBD.

Looking good!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6166/6205195745_fcb5c83416_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kojo_46/6205195745/)
Devon Tower (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kojo_46/6205195745/) by Kojo_46 (http://www.flickr.com/people/kojo_46/), on Flickr (Oct 1st).

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/6205706804_542483bfbb_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kojo_46/6205706804/)
Devon Tower (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kojo_46/6205706804/) by Kojo_46 (http://www.flickr.com/people/kojo_46/), on Flickr (Oct 1st)

Very beautiful!

Really nice against that deep blue backdrop! This tower is a total 15/10! :)

Rise, cladding, rise!


I'm not sure how Devon is going to end up "interacting" with the Myriad Gardens, but does that mean Sheridan will have limited or no motor vehicle access between Robinson and Hudson, like how it is right now? I would think they would need that traffic flow, especially with the significant vehicle increase that Devon will create in that area.

The street will be reopened eventually. I'm not even sure it's gotten the Project180 update due to the staging area for the Devon tower.

By racnokc (http://www.flickr.com/photos/okcpics/). Oct 8th.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6236/6225452602_3bae548844_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/6224912233_ed61bba9be_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/6224911227_ec24189b05_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6108/6224907833_b17d2d8829_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6058/6225403032_de54bd5a1a_z.jpg
The Myriad Garden's Band Shell. Kinda looks familiar... :)

photos by russelc http://www.flickr.com/photos/68442632@N04/

By racnokc (http://www.flickr.com/photos/okcpics/). Oct 8th.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6236/6225452602_3bae548844_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/6224912233_ed61bba9be_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/6224911227_ec24189b05_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6108/6224907833_b17d2d8829_z.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6058/6225403032_de54bd5a1a_z.jpg
The Myriad Garden's Band Shell. Kinda looks familiar... :)

Now these are some sweet photos...

more good pics by racnokc

08 October 2011

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6100/6224935429_7c4431b497_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6223/6225425134_b863175271_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6221/6225423658_6e776763b3_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/6225415618_a0f4c89299_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6033/6224891939_ac44f13414_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/6225408794_5fd228cef2_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6225/6224888233_9565c3ec59_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6170/6224877243_bb85534733_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/6224044977_fc9be9e3ea_b.jpg

Best photos in a while.

Thanks for posting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Mad_Monk/DevonTower/DSCN1189.jpg photo by MadMonk @ OKCTalk!

Amazing building, will have to visit OKC!!

The cladding's stark blue actually feels a little out of place in the rest of the skyline, imo. I like it, but I don't feel this tower really fits in.

Congratulations.:okay:

The cladding's stark blue actually feels a little out of place in the rest of the skyline, imo. I like it, but I don't feel this tower really fits in.

I agree. I do like this building as well. But it's sheer size, color and "newness" make it hard for it to fit in. But maybe that's because it stands out? :D

I agree. I do like this building as well. But it's sheer size, color and "newness" make it hard for it to fit in. But maybe that's because it stands out? :D

So, for the skyline to look good OKC needs to build a skyscraper that's thin, brown and old? This building may be a bit "different" but it's supposed to be the crown jewel of a new downtown renaissance. You aren't gonna get new development by adding 1970s style boxes. This building symbolizes a new OKC. I think it's perfectly appropriate. And Beautiful as well.

I do see what azn_man is saying when this was first announced I was hoping hoping for a art deco tower. But I knew that wasn't going to happen and if it did happen people would say "it looks tacky." But I like the tower it'll look right if a few more new towers are added to the skyline

I never said that the OKC skyline would look good with old boxes and I didn't say it looks ugly with this. Read my entire post. I said that it doesn't fit in because it stands out.

As much as people talk about a few more towers being built, I'm starting to think we're a good 5-10 years off before another building is really even talked about. Not including SR's highrise.

from MadMonk (http://www.okctalk.com/member.php?u=1218), from the west about 12.5 miles away

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Mad_Monk/DevonTower/DSCN1189.jpg

from Pete (http://www.okctalk.com/member.php?u=1190), from the near East

http://photos.newsok.com/2/showimage/1534386/gallery_large?recordView=0

from SkyWestOKC (http://www.okctalk.com/member.php?u=8177), skyline from the OKC Airport

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/561/img6223v.jpg

As much as people talk about a few more towers being built, I'm starting to think we're a good 5-10 years off before another building is really even talked about. Not including SR's highrise.

Why are you starting to think that ?

Why are you starting to think that ?
I have no real reason, I just am starting to feel like no one else needs a tall skyscraper in Oklahoma City for the time being. Maybe I'm wrong and someone does need a new skyscraper but who knows for now.

Or even a highrise or midrise. Again, not including SandRidge.

I think that Devon not "fitting in" with the OKC skyline is a huge positive. When a skyline consists entirely of buildings that were built before Lebron James was born, I don't WANT a building being finished in 2012 to blend in with the surroundings. The color and newness of Devon don't match Chase and First National? Uhhh, good. I would hope not.

Chase looks like a turd now next to Devon.

Chase looks like a turd now next to Devon.
Most buildings would look like a turd next to Devon, but yeah Chase definitely does.



I can't think of a single city where all the buildings match in size, color, and newness. That would look stupid. And boring. Of course Devon won't match the other OKC buildings. It was built anywhere from 27-80 years later. If I park my 2011 car in a lot full of vehicles from the 30s, 70s, and early 80s, would it fit in?

I'm glad OKC is starting to look like a modern city. Hope the progress continues.

very good points. Colcord was built in the 1900's, FNC was built in the 1930's, Chase Tower was built in the 1970's, Devon is built in the 2010's. All of these buildings are different and CHANGED the skyline from what it was - hence all of these are landmark and tallest buildings of their time.

I think this is a good thing, and it is NOT unique to Oklahoma City - but it is a good thing that OKC even has this track record, as there ARE cities that dont.

very good points. Colcord was built in the 1900's, FNC was built in the 1930's, Chase Tower was built in the 1970's, Devon is built in the 2010's. All of these buildings are different and CHANGED the skyline from what it was - hence all of these are landmark and tallest buildings of their time.

I think this is a good thing, and it is NOT unique to Oklahoma City - but it is a good thing that OKC even has this track record, as there ARE cities that dont.

Hard to believe that there is a 30-40 year time-span between the construction of the city's tallest, but it is a good point. Let's hope that it is not ANOTHER 30-40 years before that happens.

In 30-40 years there will definitely be more infill with towers in between 500 and 800 feet, but I would be surprised if Devon tower was surpassed in the next 50 years.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Mad_Monk/DevonTower/DSCN1189.jpg

I've never been in OKC but I love this shot since it says you are getting close to a big city! Since it says it's from the West I'd imagine this is a early morning shot? OKC could use a few more infill towers over 500 feet and have a decent skyline in a few years! Cheers to OKC !

October 12 2011

Part 1
Hul_qMc1CGY

Part 2
Gs5AjnfVXwQ

October 19 2011

mIkSwUEYfnk

By shawnw, some cladding on the "V" appears.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8EUUwYC4A_I/Tp-wSxyUKII/AAAAAAAAOPI/tZDsZ8X9mOU/s640/IMG_2055.JPG

Looking good!

Cool shot taken from the OKCTalk thread.

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300666_10100380701822387_9610074_50131283_787001700_n.jpg

^Lol, makes it look even taller.

That is an Awesome pic!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6168/6273987399_d622b6fe0e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvinok/6273987399/)
clearing fog at the Devon Energy Tower (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvinok/6273987399/) by Marvin Bredel (http://www.flickr.com/people/marvinok/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6236/6277444645_521e34be88_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvinok/6277444645/)
Crystal Bridge and Devon Energy Tower (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvinok/6277444645/) by Marvin Bredel (http://www.flickr.com/people/marvinok/), on Flickr


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6101/6271380239_31dc829e73_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/absolutwade/6271380239/)
Skyscraper (http://www.flickr.com/photos/absolutwade/6271380239/) by absolutwade (http://www.flickr.com/people/absolutwade/), on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayneshots/6256402289/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayneshots/6256395897/in/photostream/

Cool shot taken from the OKCTalk thread.

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300666_10100380701822387_9610074_50131283_787001700_n.jpg

That's just flipping outstanding. :applause: I wish my hometown (Leeds, UK) could resemble something like that in the future.

Beautiful tower!!!

That miles high picture reminds me of Seattle skyline back in 1985. When Columbia Center was under construction and it is somewhat similar skyline without Space Needle.

and the small buildings peaking from the distance looks like an old Bellevue :D

almost complete lovely.

Looking Real Nice! I wish San Antonio could follow in Oklahomas example...:(

28 October 2011

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6226/6290185202_d5a54e026e_b.jpg
by lynrc (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynrc/6290185202/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6289669405_29db3abe1d_b.jpg
by lynrc (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynrc/6289669405/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6119/6290190708_d839a437b8_b.jpg
by lynrc (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynrc/6290190708/in/photostream/)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6235/6290185124_58234dc0f5_b.jpg
by lynrc (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynrc/6290185124/in/photostream/)

^^nice finds kanye!

OMG, I didn't know soomething about this project. It's really awesome.
What's the roof height at the moment?

reminds me on the tower in Santiago.

Looking west towards downtown OKC.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayneshots/6300282767/in/photostream

OMG, I didn't know soomething about this project. It's really awesome.
What's the roof height at the moment?

It's topped out at 844'ft

30 October 2011

http://i43.tinypic.com/301loqe.jpg
by Marvin Bredel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvinok/6295227366/)

Nice looking building, really crowns the skyline.

edit

It's dominating the skyline!
The ^^ picture is great!

By Nash.zach on flickr, lake and northwest skyline in the distance

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6299473271_f677ca9820_b.jpg

Great pics, gotta visit the OKC threads more often. I had no idea you guys were getting a new tallest.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6300000724_fcab5edab9_b.jpg

Here's a similar shot from 1996

http://s3.amazonaws.com/newsok-photos/1550196/gallery_photo.jpg

Someone said this not too long ago on this thread, but I must say it again: this tower completely redefines the look on the skyline. Before Devon, you saw a bunch of tall buildings downtown. Now, you see one tall building and a bunch of medium height buildings downtown. I love this :)

Good progress on the building.

So who is going to get the Google Earth model made?

Wow, this building looks awesome. It's nice to see talls rising even outside of NYC :master::cheers:

Have any of you guys in the OKC area been feeling these 21 earthquakes ranging from 2.7 to 5.6 over the past few days?

Just curious.

I've learned about the earthquake today in the news. Is the building alright?

The earthquakes have been fairly significant and easy to feel. The 5.6 last night shook downtown for a good 30 seconds. Definitely not something that would cause damage to Devon Tower though. However I'm sure that the construction workers had an interesting experience 50 stories up. There was some structural damage on a few old houses (chimneys collapsing, cracks in walls, etc) very close to the epicenter about 40 miles from here.

I'm glad to hear all is OK :cheers:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6046/6288736264_8d27a9df8d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28381904@N06/6288736264/)
Devon Tower 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28381904@N06/6288736264/) by alnbbates (http://www.flickr.com/people/28381904@N06/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6288215459_7c364d8152_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28381904@N06/6288215459/)
Devon Tower 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28381904@N06/6288215459/) by alnbbates (http://www.flickr.com/people/28381904@N06/), on Flickr

Thanks for the response Shane. The cluster on the USGS map makes it look like a significant geological event for your area.

I would think that Devon Tower has been engineered to survive a large quake better than the older buildings in the city.

This tower is going to suprise a lot of people I think. When a person first gets interested in skyscrapers, you see all the big city downtowns and buildings at first but then you dig a little deeper and there are quite a lot of smaller-small citys with a building that looks disproportionately tall compared to the population. This happend to me when I looked at Albany, Mobile and Oklahoma City.

This tower is going to suprise a lot of people I think. When a person first gets interested in skyscrapers, you see all the big city downtowns and buildings at first but then you dig a little deeper and there are quite a lot of smaller-small citys with a building that looks disproportionately tall compared to the population. This happend to me when I looked at Albany, Mobile and Oklahoma City.

To be fair, Oklahoma City is significantly larger than Albany and Mobile - I am sure OKC is not in the same league as those cities, no offense.

If anything, OKC is NOW getting the quality downtown skyline it should have had for a long time now, being a 1M+ metro/500K+ city for more than 15 years. (I am sure Albany and Mobile are not as big).

But yeah, I agree that people might be somewhat surprised if they didn't know that OKC had 1.3M+ metro. For people that do know, then it really isn't a surprise - in fact, it's more like ABOUT TIME!!!

I do agree, I was very surprised when I drove the Gulf Coast freeway and went through Mobile and saw that beautiful mini-monster pointy tower. :)

The earthquakes have been fairly significant and easy to feel. The 5.6 last night shook downtown for a good 30 seconds. Definitely not something that would cause damage to Devon Tower though. However I'm sure that the construction workers had an interesting experience 50 stories up. There was some structural damage on a few old houses (chimneys collapsing, cracks in walls, etc) very close to the epicenter about 40 miles from here.

I think the designers will be more concerned about tornados or strong winds in general than earthquakes here?

^^ I think a good designer should be concerned about everything that could cause harm to a building :cheers:

By Nash.zach on flickr, lake and northwest skyline in the distance

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6299473271_f677ca9820_b.jpg
Wow, I love this photo!

^^ I have to agree with you. Just great :)

Wow, such a small skyline, but cute, great pic!

now imagine that same view at night with Devons LED's working.
:omg:

Night shots of Devon tower is going to be amazing.

09 November 2011

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/6329445372_8919a0cd86_b.jpg
by AnnaK7 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/annakontheroad/6329445372/)

10 November 2011

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6231/6334194250_9639482660_b.jpg
by .Kayne. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayneshots/6334194250/in/photostream/)

You're a legend Kanye. This has to be one if the best forms u/c now, war to go OKC

11 November 2011

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6106/6335577761_0ec4723b7d_b.jpg
by absolutwade (http://www.flickr.com/photos/absolutwade/6335577761/)

When you see how Devon dominates the rest of the OKC skyline, (and especially being there in person to see how massive it is) it's crazy to think how small it still is when compared to the world's tallest. Imagine how some of these other scrapers would overwhelm that skyline..




http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9719/devong.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/26/devong.jpg/)

This Emporis link shows that the Devon Tower is the 13th most expensive tower in all of North America and 10th in the U.S.!http://www.emporis.com/statistics/most-expensive-buildings-northamerica

OKC needs a Burj Khalifa to balance out the skyline. It's going to look funny with just Devon.

Great, hopefully one day I get to drive Highway I 35 so I get to enjoy on my way to Kansas City.

I get the feeling that those comparisons are quite a bit out of scale *particularly girth wise.

12 November 2011

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/6341346761_f02cf97f97_b.jpg
by dlh87 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dlh87/6341346761/in/photostream/)

Cheasapeake now needs to build a HQ to help balance out the skyline. Nice tower.

I can't wait till they resume the cladding for the crown.

I get the feeling that those comparisons are quite a bit out of scale *particularly girth wise.

those diagrams are usually near dead on.

Some different angles

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/6347967277_9b2ef9a6e1_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/6348783416_56497e8b8e_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6235/6348043251_12e55b28ab_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/6348043997_61eb275809_b.jpg

^^ Great photos! It's an awesome project!

I'm just trying to think of what the skyline would look like if Leadership Sqaure was built to it's original 60 story proposal?I have heard that LS was announced to be 60 floors then scaled down and I have also heard that it was never proposed as 60 floor concept?

19 November 2011

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6019/6369003559_0867187b4a_b.jpg
by Paul L McCord Jr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plmccordj/6369003559/)

http://i41.tinypic.com/3uhyf.jpg
by Paul L McCord Jr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/plmccordj/6369003559/)

Wonderful :applause:
I think, next year I'll visit Oklahoma City :cheers:

This building reminds me of the Chevron Tower in Houston, Texas.

By Just the facts,

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon1118.jpg


By Pete Bryzcki,

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon1122.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon1121.jpg

this building is architectural marble and building standards (http://www.bsb.co.in)are higher than any other building in that town Oklahoma and its like new jewel to its crown .

November 17 2011

Cw99dUotb4Y

24 November 2011

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6407513297_a20418657f_o.jpg
by wras23 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wras23/6407513297/)

that is a really cool pic with heartland flyer and freight train side by side.

By Just the facts,

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon1118.jpg



Still a lot of emptyness around this tower..

^Rumor has it that OKC is about to go through a MASSIVE building boom ;)

Still a lot of emptyness around this tower..

In my opinion that's only good cause it makes the tower appear more dominating :cheers:

Still a lot of emptyness around this tower..

It's Oklahoma City? Lol.

Still a lot of emptyness around this tower..

Give it a few years,there will be a new downtown Elementary school and a new convention center with 650 room hotel just to the South!Within 5-7 more years there will be a new streetcar line just to the East of this tower!

Lighting tests

http://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1042&d=1322788703

^^ There's no picture....

By Pete Brzycki,

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon1201led3.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon1201led2.jpg

webcam shot,
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon1201led1.jpg

By OKCMacGruber,

http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/ad131/LordOfDeception/5d092645.jpg

When is the opening?

It really does stand out, doesn't it?! I mean, Oklahoma City doesn't have much of a skyline, and this is akin to a tall silo in the middle of a flat prairie.

December 3 2011 Sunset

0igJ-cmuN7Y

It really does stand out, doesn't it?! I mean, Oklahoma City doesn't have much of a skyline, and this is akin to a tall silo in the middle of a flat prairie.

OKC has a great skyline for it's population!I think you dont even know what the skyline looks like,and I bet you only scrolled through this last page only,which doesnt even show the entire skyline!Compared to Philly,Yes ofcourse OKC has a small skyline,but when I rate a skyline it's based off of population!

OKC has a great skyline for it's population!I think you dont even know what the skyline looks like,and I bet you only scrolled through this last page only,which doesnt even show the entire skyline!Compared to Philly,Yes ofcourse OKC has a small skyline,but when I rate skyline it's based off of population!

Jesus, sensitive much? Grow a spine.

im just curious hoosier, if somebody went on a phily thread (or your hometown) and people consistently degraded your city's skyline, calling it tiny or small when it is NOT as those of us who have been to or live in OKC know. ..

would YOU be called 'spineless' or sensitive if YOU pointed out that people are not recognizing there are buildings other than the giant new one. ....

It almost seems, people come on here and want to point out negatives against OKC. I dont get it. ... The city is getting a new tallest, that is 350 feet taller than the old tallest; yet OKC apparently doesn't have a skyline, the new tower completely dwarfs the anything else, there's nobody on those streets, ...... yada yada yada.

You know, what if it happened to YOUR city - wouldn't you get sick and tired of that chatter? Particularly when it is not true.

I've seen pics of Chicago and New York where there were no people on the streets or the pic only had a shot of a few buildings, but NOBODY went on there complaining or comparing them to an always busy Tokyo or whatever.

I think people from OKC would be LESS sensitive about those comparison comments if they were at least constructive OR if the person making the comments grew a brain. I think it is perfectly fine for Dmoore and others to correct otherwise IDIOTIC troll posts that people like to come on to almost all OKC threads making.

Personally, I think Phila has a tiny skyline considering its population/history, but I dont go on Philly threads (like Comcast Center or whatever their new tallest is) talking down their otherwise wonderful, historical city which I have visited and therefore know is more than just their relatively 'puny' skyline.

I wonder why Bud had the 'balls' to come on OKC's Devon thread and do that to them? Who is the spineless one? ....

Jesus, sensitive much? Grow a spine. :lol: Yes Sir!

OKC wasn't built in a day.

XD

By Thundercitizen, Dec 9th.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/1910/dsc0082ek.jpg

http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/11/dsc0050x.jpg

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/3000/dsc0055ya.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4651/dsc0061fq.jpg

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/7613/dsc0062wl.jpg

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/5795/dsc0068gs.jpg

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/5735/dsc0081kac.jpg

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9971/dsc0073nj.jpg

By Urban Pioneer,

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon12911b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon12911c.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon12911d.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon12911e.jpg

^^:applause:
@the last picture, the upper floors: Do they have any benefit?
They're looking so useless. Too small.

^^Thats just the internal crown structure!

^^ Yeah, but looks like useless floors!

i think thats why it wont be used, just technical floors. but i give probs to every building that tries to make use of most of its floors on top. not a fan of only comsetical floors..

not a fan of only comsetical floors..

Yeah! I also don't like theam

nice,nice...

Yeah! I also don't like theam

nm

yeah thats for sure. what i mean is the fact that technical floors, crowns etc are usually clad excactly the same way standard office floors are clad. but this started with the beginning of curtain walls, i guess. so its pretty standard for todays architecture.

Those upper "levels" are merely ornamental. In an interview with a rep from Hines, I recall him describing the top as a "shroud" to conceal the mechanical equipment on the roof.

Well, that clears it up!I retract my previous posts' from the record!Thanks spectre000

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6494220891_4f1856778c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/absolutwade/6494220891/)
When the lights go down in the city (http://www.flickr.com/photos/absolutwade/6494220891/) by absolutwade (http://www.flickr.com/people/absolutwade/), on Flickr

I want to upload a photo here from my computer, how do I that?

December 10 2011

Rwrfp6KzGxo

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6494220891_4f1856778c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/absolutwade/6494220891/)
When the lights go down in the city (http://www.flickr.com/photos/absolutwade/6494220891/) by absolutwade (http://www.flickr.com/people/absolutwade/), on Flickr

Truly gained more respect for OKC after seeing this pic. The skyscrapers showing crosses is awesome! What's it for

That is a nice shot.

Christmas and December Holiday period. ...

OKC has a nice skyline for a city with less than 700000 people.
Especially the new tower is great! :banana:

Oklahoma city is very developed...

Nice one for OKC. Can someone tell me what those buildings with the lighted crosses are? Very interesting.

A major addition to downtown.

Chase Tower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chase_Tower_%28Oklahoma_City%29)

SandRidge Center (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SandRidge_Center)

First National once had crosses too.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Old%20Oklahoma%20City/First%20National/NightviewofFirstNationalBankBuilding120NorthRobinsonAvenue-2.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Old%20Oklahoma%20City/First%20National/NightviewofFirstNationalBankBuilding120NorthRobinsonAvenue.jpg

why doesn't the little Devon building have a cross? I fear a boycott coming their way.

All, the crosses are just lighting displays that the two building owners do for the Christmas/Holiday season. ...

Similar to how other US cities will light the tops of towers in Green/Red during this time.

Also, to Matsky - while OKC does have a city population less than 700,000 as you stated (it is around 600K now), it does have a metro population over 1,350,000 and it is metro population that most cities worldwide use for comparisons.

Only wanted to note this, that normally we would say OKC has over 1.3m people (instead of central city pop) for worldwide/national comparisons sakes - meaning OKC is a small metro with quite a nice downtown skyline comparatively. In my opinion, OKC finally looks like a city that has a metro pop significantly over 1 million.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6494220891_4f1856778c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/absolutwade/6494220891/)
When the lights go down in the city (http://www.flickr.com/photos/absolutwade/6494220891/) by absolutwade (http://www.flickr.com/people/absolutwade/), on Flickr

Awesome picture.

Great to see the status changed to "Topping Out!"

All, the crosses are just lighting displays that the two building owners do for the Christmas/Holiday season. ...

Similar to how other US cities will light the tops of towers in Green/Red during this time.

Also, to Matsky - while OKC does have a city population less than 700,000 as you stated (it is around 600K now), it does have a metro population over 1,350,000 and it is metro population that most cities worldwide use for comparisons.

Only wanted to note this, that normally we would say OKC has over 1.3m people (instead of central city pop) for worldwide/national comparisons sakes - meaning OKC is a small metro with quite a nice downtown skyline comparatively. In my opinion, OKC finally looks like a city that has a metro pop significantly over 1 million.

OKC is not too big and not too small but just right......

Also, to Matsky - while OKC does have a city population less than 700,000 as you stated (it is around 600K now), it does have a metro population over 1,350,000 and it is metro population that most cities worldwide use for comparisons.

Only wanted to note this, that normally we would say OKC has over 1.3m people (instead of central city pop) for worldwide/national comparisons sakes - meaning OKC is a small metro with quite a nice downtown skyline comparatively. In my opinion, OKC finally looks like a city that has a metro pop significantly over 1 million.

The 2010 cenus had Oklahoma City metro at 1.25 million.

However, I am digging the crosses. :)

The 2010 cenus had Oklahoma City metro at 1.25 million.

However, I am digging the crosses. :)

^^He's probably using the CSA,which is 1.35 million.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyGWNKMIm40

That isnt my video I just wanted to show everyone.

Nice shots of Devon but a truck driver, in the left lane, recording the skyline = stupid decision.

I agree, and through all that crazy construction on I-40? He's crazy.

ya, csa; which is what most use for comparison worldwide (entire city 'space').

Looking south on Harvey Avenue. Great perspective and I love the density of this perspective.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6521926895_de54ff055d_b.jpg

very nice pic, doesn't even look like Oklahoma City. ....

very nice pic, doesn't even look like Oklahoma City. ....

Ditto.

Went down to OKC yesterday.

I was around the Capitol area and didn't get to go to downtown. But, you can see this building from anywhere in the city now. It's HUGE. Looks awesome also.

December 17 2011

Skydance Pedestrian Bridge construction

rH7P2uYRlaM

i think it is a very nice looking building, and i really like the picture of what appears to be an atrium-like structure at the base of some of the building construction. very pretty, and it gives okc a very different look. too, i like the triple wave-looking building to the extreme left of the devon tower.

i has been a while since i have been to okc, but i know building buffs and your citizens, in general, have a right to be proud. i would like to see memphis get some ht in downtown. we are sort of hung at 12-18 stories. i would be happy to see the 5 and 6 hundred ft range for m-town. anyways, thanks for sharing the photos and the close ups, and who is going to be concerned w/ useful space, as one drives by? more likely that everyone will take in the beauty of the entire structure and wonder how they get these large buildings up. again, congrats to ya'll. kingchef

kingchef, does memphis have height limits?

I often wondered why the city (long considered a major city) has such a low height skyline. ... Wonderful history and culture though. ... :)

Peek inside the Devon Tower (http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-peek-inside-the-devon-tower-20111219,0,1609748.story)

Chellie Mills Reporting KFOR-TV

December 19, 2011

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Devon Tower reached its final height a few weeks ago. While it has been easy to see the outside of the building taking shape, it has been mostly up to the imagination to see the inside, that is until now.

Amid the pain, an incredible transformation is taking place in downtown Oklahoma City (http://newsok.com/amid-the-pain-an-incredible-transformation-is-taking-place-in-downtown-oklahoma-city/article/3633395#ixzz1h301qPVE)

BY STEVE LACKMEYER Business Writer slackmeyer@opubco.com
Published: December 20, 2011

Standing on the 40th floor of the new Devon Energy Center Monday, I had already been mesmerized by a view of the project itself when I stopped to gaze out on the new Interstate 40, the Skydance pedestrian bridge and the Myriad Gardens.

I had traversed through one minefield after another, thanks to Project 180, just to get to this place. The street closures are bad enough. A walk through the pitted, muddy crosswalks and sidewalks while being soaked by the rain was quite another story.

hot rod, memphis downtown and midtown, as i understand it, has an ordinance known as the "euclidian" laws. the buildings which are to exceed any limit beyond 150 feet (might possibly be 1oo feet), must be presented before the city council and a prelimanary counsil.

i really can't tell you why and the exact time frame in which they were insituted, although i believe it may have been the late 70's or possibly the early 80's. remember, the international airport is located between winchester and slightly to the east of I-55 and I-240 loop, which is slightly to the south of this loop. consequently, though several large mid-rise coporate offices are located near by, ht is definitely not a significant problem. too, the lates building just completed in the last few months is the le bonheur children's medical center tower. it rises approximately to 251 feet. other recently completed downtown is the horizon, at 16 stories, and it sits on the bluffs. they have begun work on another 8 story research building downtown, which will connect to an identical building, competed in the last three years. 8 stories. the high rise marriot, next to the convention center, is about to begin construction of a wing, which will hold 150-60 rooms. original building is about 17 or 19 stories, they added a 2nd addition about 4 years ago of 13 stories, and now this new wing. an 11 story luxury hilton is supposed to begin construction by the end of this november. it is supposed to have a 11 story parking garage, w/ a two story mixed retail component on the bottom floors. it will have a turret entrance w/ a copper dome. another downtown marriot was just completed at courtsquare downtown, it is 9 stories. many building projects, buy not a great deal of ht. it is disappointing, because memphis has some really nice ht at the 240 business corridor. look under bill cobb, urban photos memphis. cd has some pretty decent pictures of east to west density of about 12-16 miles of memphis that are fairly inclusive of the midle of the city. the newly completed air control terminal at memphis inter is 3336-340 ft, the third tallest in the us. however, m-town needs some really slick and different skyscrapers like ya'll are sporting. are more coming in the near future? really changes the entire looks of all that flat land, and i think, in this kind of terrain a building of this size is the perfect thing to detract a bit from those not use to pasture land, etc. how is tulsa taking the news. i have close friends in okc, and i didn't realize the rivalry was so deep. for its size, tulsa looks pretty good. one last comment about memphis, not really knocking any of the people particularly, w/ the exception of the developers, memphis has 4 or 5 of the biggest development companies and management corporations in america, but they just don't seem to have any real investment of large projects in memphis. e.g. peabody place luxury suites took a back seat to the orlando project, which was completed about 2 or 3 months ago. something like 450-60 million development. about a year ago, the media here in memphis told that the memphis addition and project would probably be shelved for about a year or year and a half, to finish up the orlando luxury project. memphis is in need of luxury rooms somewhere in the range of 1200-1600 in downtown, at this time. even w/ the case, memphis has lost at least two conventions to other cities, due to the lack of hotel space. both conventions were 25,000 and 45,000 respectively. it will take about 24 months to get additional hotel space built, inculding the new convention center hotel, its size, in relation to the pyramid, etc. just sort of aggravating, in my view. will the devon tower be the tallest skyscraper in the midwest? i don't remember a great deal about denver, but i hope okc really shines, when i fly in this summer. again, good for your city.

thanks for the info king, I figured there must have been some reason.

As for Tulsa, I think the rivalry is finally winding down as OKC has taken significant leaps that I think many Tulsans are actually proud of, and probably more proud to say OKC as the state's largest city (since it looks like it now). I think both sides have come together a lot more as the "competition" is much much less now, but there are still hold-outs Im sure.

Tulsa definitely does have a great skyline for a city its size, no doubt about that. Arguably the best skyline in the usa for a city less than 500K. I do like what Tulsa is doing with residential density surrounding their CBD; it doesn't get as much press as OKC but Tulsa seems to move a bit more organically whereas OKC moves in BIG chunks/BIG projects and plans. Different methods and outcomes, but definitely good moves respectively for both cities.

Personally, I think OKC needs to develop the way it has. Being the state capital, it is probably a little more difficult NOT to have a master development since 'funding' that has nothing to do with a project could easily/quickly be diverted - but that politics could derail little organic developments (see OKC's growing yet fledgling inner city neighbourhoods VS. OKC's downtown neighbourhoods). Tulsa seems to be the OTHER way around (easier for organic, small development not so easy for BIG civic projects).

That's my take, but Im an expat so Im sure there might be other views.

oh yes, Devon Tower is the tallest in the 'midwest' outside of Chicago. It is the tallest in the Plains and between the West Coast and Chicago outside of Texas (Dallas and Houston).

LA has a few towers that are taller and Seattle's Columbia Center is taller. Devon would more or less be a middle skyscraper in Chicago's cbd forests. ... hard to imagine that when looking at Devon in OKC.

Truly gained more respect for OKC after seeing this pic. The skyscrapers showing crosses is awesome! What's it for

Awesome shot! And beautiful building! :)

thanks for the info king, I figured there must have been some reason.

As for Tulsa, I think the rivalry is finally winding down as OKC has taken significant leaps that I think many Tulsans are actually proud of, and probably more proud to say OKC as the state's largest city (since it looks like it now). I think both sides have come together a lot more as the "competition" is much much less now, but there are still hold-outs Im sure.


It goes both ways.

I know I am very proud of what OKC is doing and I never got into the rivalry thing, pretty silly if you ask me.

Both cities are great and have their own positives and negatives.

oh yes, Devon Tower is the tallest in the 'midwest' outside of Chicago. It is the tallest in the Plains and between the West Coast and Chicago outside of Texas (Dallas and Houston).

LA has a few towers that are taller and Seattle's Columbia Center is taller. Devon would more or less be a middle skyscraper in Chicago's cbd forests. ... hard to imagine that when looking at Devon in OKC.

According to the wikipedia data for Chicago's tallest, Devon would be number 11 I think. Even in NYC it would crack the top 20. That being said, I think it would still stand out even in Chicago (though obviously not in the same way it stands out in OKC), similar to the way Aqua (which is shorter than Devon, btw) stands out and makes an impression on the skyline.

What Devon lacks in height (relatively speaking, of course) it makes up in quality. This building stands head and shoulders above MOST tall buildings in the US in terms of quality from what I've seen in this thread. Strictly in terms of aesthetics (which is obviously subjective), Devon has very few peers outside of NYC (or inside for that matter).


OKC certainly has reason to be proud. :)

thanks for the info king, I figured there must have been some reason.

As for Tulsa, I think the rivalry is finally winding down as OKC has taken significant leaps that I think many Tulsans are actually proud of, and probably more proud to say OKC as the state's largest city (since it looks like it now). I think both sides have come together a lot more as the "competition" is much much less now, but there are still hold-outs Im sure.

Tulsa definitely does have a great skyline for a city its size, no doubt about that. Arguably the best skyline in the usa for a city less than 500K. I do like what Tulsa is doing with residential density surrounding their CBD; it doesn't get as much press as OKC but Tulsa seems to move a bit more organically whereas OKC moves in BIG chunks/BIG projects and plans. Different methods and outcomes, but definitely good moves respectively for both cities.

Personally, I think OKC needs to develop the way it has. Being the state capital, it is probably a little more difficult NOT to have a master development since 'funding' that has nothing to do with a project could easily/quickly be diverted - but that politics could derail little organic developments (see OKC's growing yet fledgling inner city neighbourhoods VS. OKC's downtown neighbourhoods). Tulsa seems to be the OTHER way around (easier for organic, small development not so easy for BIG civic projects).

That's my take, but Im an expat so Im sure there might be other views.

:lol:
As much as Tulsans envy the Devon Tower (if they know about it), I don't think "winding down" is the right word. I would say that Oklahoma City and Tulsa have parted down different paths. Tulsa will never become Oklahoma City because we lack the State Government's Gleeful Handouts, the Good City Government, and the Land Area to become Oklahoma City. I think the past two years has seen Tulsa look inward and decide that we can't compete with Oklahoma City on size, or population or industrial might. I think what has happened has been Tulsa striving to become an Austin "hip and artsy" kind of place. From the Brady Arts District to the Blue Dome, Tulsa's city leaders have tried to brand Tulsa as a very "Austin-meets-Memphis-meets-Native America-meets-the 50s " kind of city. Oklahoma City has gone a different route. They've decided that they have all the factors needed to grow precipitously in the next decade. Rather than becoming Austin, Oklahoma City wants to become a mini-Dallas (~2 million by 2050) or so. Oklahoma City has the area, the capital, the capitol, the economic stability and the location to boom for the next decade. So while Tulsa is trying to emulate Austin, OKC is trying to emulate Dallas. I guess at the end of it, the rivalry isn't so much winding down as it is evolving.

Manitopiaaa, I do agree with your thoughts; I suppose what i meant is that the rivalry "as it was" is winding down but parting ways is probably a better description. But I suppose there is still some deep seeded feelings or resentments particularly from Tulsa given that OKC has the capital and is the largest city; maybe that is 'natural' given OKC has both titles (I wonder if CO Springs feels similarly toward Denver).

I do agree with you that Tulsa seems to have given up on competing directly with OKC and has gone a different 'austin' eclectic route. Totally agree with that and I definitely think Tulsa will be very successful with that niche civic development model. I visited the city a few years ago and got that impression - big civic, corporate industrial ambitions seemed to give way to microbrews, IT, and specialty shops. Just think, Austin followed many ideas from Vancouver - which is arguably one of the most successful cities in the world, so Tulsa hopefully should expect great things indeed without going all out the way OKC needs to with its model.

I totally agree with your assessment of OKC that it is trying to catch up with and compete with the national players. Actually, I think that is good for Oklahoma to have a city that CAN compete and win sometimes against the big boys. I think maybe OKC is probably moreso becoming a mini-Houston in a way rather than Dallas, but anyone could have a valid point on the model city that OKC is following.

One thing is for sure, you can tell just from these past few posts that the OKC-Tulsa rivalry has changed, because the things that used to be 'fightin words' really aren't as much anymore. It seems as if both cities are saying and respecting the good the other is doing, since both cities are doing things on different levels. I think that is the key and should make Oklahoma more successful in the long run as hopefully the two cities can compete nationally in their respective 'roles'.

Most states have One really large city or metro of cities, be it capital or not, and then everybody else in the state is significantly smaller. Only these few states have two + historically similarly sized and/or resourced cities but one had to go one direction and the other had to go another.

I suspect other states with two large but disconnected cities have had to learn similarly how to thrive. What did LA and SF do? Houston and Dallas? Phily and Pitt? Cleveland and Cincy? And now OKC and Tulsa.

Any other ideas or thoughts?

oh yes, Devon Tower is the tallest in the 'midwest' outside of Chicago. It is the tallest in the Plains and between the West Coast and Chicago outside of Texas (Dallas and Houston).

LA has a few towers that are taller and Seattle's Columbia Center is taller. Devon would more or less be a middle skyscraper in Chicago's cbd forests. ... hard to imagine that when looking at Devon in OKC.

^^The TransAmerica pyramid tower in San Fran is six feet taller also!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transamerica_Pyramid

So while Tulsa is trying to emulate Austin, OKC is trying to emulate Dallas. I guess at the end of it, the rivalry isn't so much winding down as it is evolving.

Yeah Tulsa is doing great but I would actually say that OKC is matching or surpassing Tulsa in terms of local alternative culture at this time. Tulsa has a lot of stuff coming up, but OKC is boiling over with creative talent, everything from music (ACM@UCO, Flaming Lips) to fashion (Plaza District) and technology (Quibids, Medical District), and especially dining (Ludivine, Big Truck, Iguana Lounge, etc) and microbrewing (COOP, Redbud). OKC's growth is being driven by this surge of Austin-style youthful creativity as much as it is by Dallas-style corporate and population growth.

540. i agree w/ your statement totally. i have a good eye, along w/ modesty, lol, and as i wrote my first comments regarding devon, i was thinking about the very subject of beauty, portions, ht, movement, and all of those things that make this building more than just a skinny tall building. first, most cities go nuts over ht, not really caring about the other things that make the building an icon in the city for, hopefully, the next 100-125 years. some cities would just about stick a pencil in the ground, and be happy, if it were 2000+ feet. the devon building has a top that looks as if it has had the time to rise gracefully, taper appropriately, and crown. i love the movement going up the building, as the multiple sides don't stop the eye, as it moves up. in short, it doesn't look as if it is an economy skyscraper, and i think most of us know those when we see them. one last thing, i think the city will be able to place another skyscraper in the downtown business district that will meet the intermediate distance between the devon and the current highest tower. to me, this is good planning.

one comment about tulsa centers around my belief that it is a city of old wealth from the oil companies. is tulsa not doing well in the oil economy? i have never been there, so i don't know about the diversification of their economy. as for the balance of cities in a state, i do think that it can be a bit of a headache sometimes. being a memphian, our metro is split between the three states of tn, ms, and ark. of course, nashville-davidson county is a metrogovernment. consequently, it is a bit strange, as nashville is where our capital is located. memphis is the largest city in the state, and shelby county is by far the largest county. memphis proper is slightly over 700,00, and shelby county is over 1 million. the metro area is 1.4 million+. it is an 8 county metro. nashville-davidson-franklin-williamson-murfreesboro-rutherford county and 10 additional counties compose the greater metro area. it is a bit silly the way things are set up. so, politics in tn can be a headache, as most of middle and east tn are republican, and most of west tn is democratic.

Most states have One really large city or metro of cities, be it capital or not, and then everybody else in the state is significantly smaller. Only these few states have two + historically similarly sized and/or resourced cities but one had to go one direction and the other had to go another.

I suspect other states with two large but disconnected cities have had to learn similarly how to thrive. What did LA and SF do? Houston and Dallas? Phily and Pitt? Cleveland and Cincy? And now OKC and Tulsa.

Any other ideas or thoughts?

There are several other states with 2 similar sized cities metros to look at. I don't know if all of them had a rivarly the way OKC and Tulsa did.


Houston and Dallas
Philly and Pitt
Cleveland and Cincy
OkC and Tulsa

Nashville and Memphis
Baton Rouge and New Orleans
Miami and Tampa
Richmond and Virginia Beach
Orlando and Jacksonville
Lexington and Louisville
Charlottle and Raleigh
San Diego and Sacramento
Austin and San Antonio
Kansas City and St. Louis

Well, that's all the big ones I can think of.

This is the only one I can best speak of: Baton Rouge and New Orleans have never had a real rivarly. New Orleans historically has always been the bigger city. In 1960 New Orleans had a city proper of 627,00 while Baton Rouge only had a city population of 152,000. Since Katrina hit both metros have become much closer but the rivarly still does not exist b/c having a similar population is not an argument here. Baton Rouge can not compete with New Orleans's history, architecture, events, downtown, tourism, and national preception. Baton Rouge is just happy being Baton Rouge.

I have lived in Austin Texas but those folks never talk bad about San Antonio. They always make fun of Houston and Dallas though. Mostly comments about the lack of culture/vibe and also to much concrete in those cities. I can only imagine what Houston/Dallas say about Austin with all the hippies/liberals/weird people in that city. But I don't know if that's a true rivarly though. Obviously all four cities are able to co-exist b/c they are all thriving great.

There are several other states with 2 similar sized cities metros to look at. I don't know if all of them had a rivarly the way OKC and Tulsa did.


Houston and Dallas
Philly and Pitt
Cleveland and Cincy
OkC and Tulsa

Nashville and Memphis
Baton Rouge and New Orleans
Miami and Tampa
Richmond and Virginia Beach
Orlando and Jacksonville
Lexington and Louisville
Charlottle and Raleigh
San Diego and Sacramento
Austin and San Antonio
Kansas City and St. Louis

Well, that's all the big ones I can think of.

This is the only one I can best speak of: Baton Rouge and New Orleans have never had a real rivarly. New Orleans historically has always been the bigger city. In 1960 New Orleans had a city proper of 627,00 while Baton Rouge only had a city population of 152,000. Since Katrina hit both metros have become much closer but the rivarly still does not exist b/c having a similar population is not an argument here. Baton Rouge can not compete with New Orleans's history, architecture, events, downtown, tourism, and national preception. Baton Rouge is just happy being Baton Rouge.

I have lived in Austin Texas but those folks never talk bad about San Antonio. They always make fun of Houston and Dallas though. Mostly comments about the lack of culture/vibe and also to much concrete in those cities. I can only imagine what Houston/Dallas say about Austin with all the hippies/liberals/weird people in that city. But I don't know if that's a true rivarly though. Obviously all four cities are able to co-exist b/c they are all thriving great.

Of the cities you mention the only true rivals are Dallas v. Houston, OKC v. Tulsa (and less so by the day in OKC's favor), Pitts v. Philly (Philly's almost delivered the knockout punch), Nashville v. Memphis (and less so by the day in Nashville's favor), and Kansas City v. Saint Louis (which is tricky since St. Louis is bigger but Kansas City has the definite rightward trajectory). The others aren't as bad. Tampa v. Orlando is a better fit than Tampa v. Miami (where Miami romps) and Jacksonville v. Orlando (where Orlando wins). Cleveland and Cincy don't really have that big of a rivalry. Probably because they have much different identities (Cincy is more Southern, Conservative, Stable; Cleveland is Midwestern, Diverse, and Losing People Fast). In 10 years, Columbus is probably the Ohio city to watch. Cincy and Cleveland will have a rough few decades ahead (Cleveland moreso)

But this is about OKC and the Devon Tower. There's dozens of city rivalry threads :cheers:

Of the cities you mention the only true rivals are Dallas v. Houston, OKC v. Tulsa (and less so by the day in OKC's favor), Pitts v. Philly (Philly's almost delivered the knockout punch), Nashville v. Memphis (and less so by the day in Nashville's favor), and Kansas City v. Saint Louis (which is tricky since St. Louis is bigger but Kansas City has the definite rightward trajectory). The others aren't as bad. Tampa v. Orlando is a better fit than Tampa v. Miami (where Miami romps) and Jacksonville v. Orlando (where Orlando wins). Cleveland and Cincy don't really have that big of a rivalry. Probably because they have much different identities (Cincy is more Southern, Conservative, Stable; Cleveland is Midwestern, Diverse, and Losing People Fast). In 10 years, Columbus is probably the Ohio city to watch. Cincy and Cleveland will have a rough few decades ahead (Cleveland moreso)

But this is about OKC and the Devon Tower. There's dozens of city rivalry threads :cheers:



http://i.imgur.com/eFKkv.gif

By catch22, Dec 21nd. (sorry for the really large size).

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/5061/img0023bo.jpg

Photos from Paul B. Southerland of the Oklahoman.

http://photos3.newsok.com/cache/r960-de4267a7219b635d797701a0426be05a.jpg

http://photos3.newsok.com/cache/r960-0b9d52776fbdcbaa302ccdd11f0ae89c.jpg

http://photos3.newsok.com/cache/r960-671d78b6bb811635757271f93644fdbc.jpg

http://photos3.newsok.com/cache/r960-0000d88c6c5adb46a6d26308ccf8bf02.jpg

Kudos to Oklahoma City. This building is looking fantastic, especially for such a small town. No longer must Oklahomans travel to Kansas City to see the "modren" world is coming to..... :lol:

sW3km8-cS9g

Looks fantastic...can't wait to see it in person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuYPBW-_WAk&feature=youtu.be

Great shot of the tower

Awesome Nike commercial shown after the Thunder-Magic game last night,it shows the OKC skyline and Devon at the end! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sozPDKnlXdA&feature=player_embedded

dmoor, your link ist busted. please repost or revise.

Beautiful Tower! I love seeing how a city gains much more popularity just by the construction of one tower! In this case I can sense a much larger interest in OKC after this tower is built! Just look at the reactions in this forum! :D Very happy for you guys.

dmoor, your link ist busted. please repost or revise.

working now?

Pretty sure these have been posted already

iuYPBW-_WAk

sozPDKnlXdA

Is it possible to stay on topic here?

Is it possible to stay on topic here?

The videos show the tower. READ the posts.

That first video makes the city look really wonderful. I never pictured it as so bright and vibrant. I'm incredibly impressed.

Screen cap from NBA Nike commercial posted on OKCtalk.com by diggyba:
OKC skyline is shown with the likes of NYC, LA, Dallas, and Shanghai... Pretty impressive!
http://i.imgur.com/tj4dq.jpg

^^ That shot will be even more spectacular once the tower is finished and we see all the LED lights on.

^^Agreed!I sure hope the rest of the dt towers will step their lighting up!

Hello Everyone!
These shots are a bit outdated. They are from June 2011, when I was driving through OKC and stopped by early morning (like 4-6 am). Sorry for the quality too, I took them with a regular point-shoot.
Nevertheless, wanted to share:

http://jaypegg.com/images/6/oi16006okc01.jpg (http://jaypegg.com/index.php?op=gallery&view=oneimg&filename=oi16006okc01.jpg)
Author (http://jaypegg.com/index.php?op=gallery&view=user&id=6)

http://jaypegg.com/images/6/rjP6012okc02.jpg (http://jaypegg.com/index.php?op=gallery&view=oneimg&filename=rjP6012okc02.jpg)
Author (http://jaypegg.com/index.php?op=gallery&view=user&id=6)

http://jaypegg.com/images/6/fdE6021okc03.jpg (http://jaypegg.com/index.php?op=gallery&view=oneimg&filename=fdE6021okc03.jpg)
Author (http://jaypegg.com/index.php?op=gallery&view=user&id=6)

Pitts v. Philly (Philly's almost delivered the knockout punch)

Pittsburgh has the highest job growth of any major city outside Texas, and the highest office occupancy rates in the nation. Hardly on the verge of being knocked out.

That first video makes the city look really wonderful. I never pictured it as so bright and vibrant. I'm incredibly impressed.

Bruce, thanks for that compliment. Im sure all OKC folks and expats appreciate it.

To be honest, OKC isn't really that vibrant YET but the city IS making huge steps and stepping up its game. It is a great mid-sized city that is reinventing itself as a national player. I think that is the best way to put it.

So if you really like infrastructure development along with a very solid civic pride, then OKC will not dissappoint. But I do want to disclaim for everyone, that OKC doesn't YET have a 24 hour vibe of its larger peers; so take that into consideration if/when you visit and you will not feel disappointed. :cheers:

The city is definitely heading in the right direction and magnitudes better than it was even 15 years ago. The next 5 years should really make the city a more solid contender, as more and more people move to the city (and downtown!!).

Are there any more towers planned for the downtown?

http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Skydance%20Bridge/

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Skydance%20Bridge/IMG_3009.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Skydance%20Bridge/IMG_3016.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Skydance%20Bridge/IMG_3019.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Skydance%20Bridge/IMG_3020.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Skydance%20Bridge/IMG_3029.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Skydance%20Bridge/IMG_3049.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Skydance%20Bridge/IMG_3102.jpg

great pics unforsaken, but shouldn't they go in the OKC development thread or a new thread specific for SkyDance Bridge?

http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Devon%20Tower/January%202012/

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Devon%20Tower/January%202012/IMG_3184.jpg

01 January 2012
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6617702721_1fc7d23782_b.jpg
by lifeinpose (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeinpose/6617702721/)

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9479/89680916.jpg
by lifeinpose (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeinpose/6617702721/)

Almost finished! :banana:

I wish Denver'd get a tower like this.

Looking amazing!
http://i43.tinypic.com/k99pnt.jpg

Skydance Bridge - New Year's (12-31-11)

Part 1
T6-C4Wht9oY

Part 2
-Ub8I5tAeQ0

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6617249675_e72aae24ff_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stacygatherer/6617249675/)
January 1, 2012 "The Devon Tower" (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stacygatherer/6617249675/) by Stacy Gatherer (http://www.flickr.com/people/stacygatherer/), on Flickr

so nice!

This tower is a real winner, stunning. ...

New Year's 2012

Part 1
4z2tmLe7bUc

Part 2
35PCv4zU0-U

January 1 2012

sUbfpuZgkfM

January 7 2012

4iFKyzMYpVE

By Pete Brzycki, Jan 5th.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/devon010512.jpg

http://s1171.photobucket.com/albums/r543/meltaway7/?action=view&current=skyline.jpg


I took this picture september 7, 2011. I was in one of the buildings on nw expressway.

okay that didn't work.....

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r543/meltaway7/skyline.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r543/meltaway7/skyline.jpg

Taken from one of the "triplets"? I love it. I can't imagine OKC without Devon now.