Devon Energy Center
{{Short description|Skyscraper in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma}}
{{distinguish|text=a similarly named building, being Devon Energy's office in Houston, Texas, Devon Energy Tower (Houston)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Devon Energy Center
| image = Devon energy center.JPG
| caption = Devon Energy Center, April 2012
| highest_region = Oklahoma
| highest_start = 2011
| location = 333 W Sheridan Ave
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
| coordinates = {{coord|35|28|00|N|97|31|03|W|region:US-OK|display=inline,title}}
| status = Complete
| start_date = October 6, 2009
| completion_date = October 23, 2012
| est_completion =
| opening =
| building_type = Office with restaurant
| architectural = {{convert|844|ft|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}{{cite web|title=Devon Energy Center – The Skyscraper Center|url=http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/oklahoma-city/devon-energy-center/623/|work=Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat|date=August 20, 2018|access-date=August 20, 2018}}
| roof = {{convert|844|ft|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}
| top_floor = {{convert|746|ft|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}
| floor_count = 50 (+2 basement floors)
| cost = $750 million (est.) (c. ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US|750000000|2012}}}} today{{inflation-fn|US}})
| floor_area = {{convert|1,800,000|sqft|m2|sigfig=3}}
| architect = Pickard Chilton
| structural_engineer =
| main_contractor = Hines
| namesake = Devon Energy Corporation
| developer = Devon Realty Advisors Inc.
| owner = Devon Energy Corporation
| management =
| references = {{skyscraperpage|78797}}
}}
The Devon Energy Center (also known as the Devon Tower) is a 50-story corporate skyscraper in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is the tallest building in the state, though it has fewer floors than the 52-story BOK Tower in Tulsa. It is tied with Park Tower in Chicago as the 75th tallest building in the United States; at its completion Devon Tower was tied as the 39th tallest. Construction began October 6, 2009, and was completed in October 2012.{{cite web |url = http://okc.about.com/od/attractionsandevents/a/okcdevontower.htm |title = The Devon Tower |access-date = 2008-08-22 |publisher = About.com |archive-date = 2009-05-12 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090512040746/http://okc.about.com/od/attractionsandevents/a/okcdevontower.htm |url-status = dead }} The tower is located next to the historic Colcord Hotel, which Devon currently owns, on Sheridan Avenue between Hudson and Robinson Avenues.
The office tower, a six-story rotunda, and a six-story podium structure comprise more than {{convert|1800000|sqft|m2}} and was initially estimated to cost $750 million; however, the first formal appraisal of the tower and complex came in at only $707.9 million.{{cite web|url=http://journalrecord.com/2013/05/02/devon-hq-appraised-at-707-9m-real-estate|title=Devon HQ appraised at $707.9M|author=Brian Brus|work=The Journal Record|date=2 May 2013 |access-date=29 April 2016}} It serves as the northern anchor of Oklahoma City's aggressive Core to Shore downtown redevelopment project.{{cite web | url=http://www.okc.gov/planning/coretoshore/index.html | title=Core to Shore | publisher=City of Oklahoma City | access-date=15 March 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527103013/http://www.okc.gov/planning/coretoshore/index.html | archive-date=27 May 2010 | url-status=dead }}
Background
Devon World Headquarters LLC, a subsidiary of Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy Corporation, built the new skyscraper to replace their existing corporate office, which was located inside the Mid America Tower (now the Continental Resources Center), as well as other commercial space that the company had been leasing in a number of office buildings in the central business district.
The Devon Energy Center was originally planned to be 54 stories and {{convert|925|ft|m}} tall. However, subsequent space planning revisions—including a decision to locate the data center to a separate facility for security reasons—resulted in a reduced height to {{convert|844|ft|m|sigfig=3}}, including 50 stories.{{cite web |url = http://olive.newsok.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=DOK/2009/08/15/17/Ar01709.xml&CollName=DOK_Archive_Default&DOCID=253996&Keyword=%28%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3EDevon%3Cand%3E%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3ETower%29&skin=Oklahoman&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T |title = Devon shortens plans for tower |access-date = 2010-05-01 |publisher=The Oklahoman}}
Site preparation and demolition began October 6, 2009. The Holder Construction Company served as primary general contractor, and Flintco, Inc. the minority partner in the joint venture.
History
= Construction =
Construction started on October 6, 2009. The first crane was installed on February 25, 2010, and the second crane was installed on June 25, 2010. In July 2010, construction had reached above street level. In September 2010, construction topped the 10th floor. In November, workers started installing glass on the bottom levels of the tower. In December 2010, the building reached the 22nd floor.
Upon completion of the 34th floor, Devon Energy Center surpassed the {{convert|500|ft|m|adj=on}} Chase Tower (since renamed BancFirst Tower) as the tallest building in Oklahoma City on March 10, 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://blog.newsok.com/photo/2011/03/10/construction-continues/ |title=Construction continues | Alternate Crop |access-date=2011-10-18 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707165459/http://blog.newsok.com/photo/2011/03/10/construction-continues/ |archive-date=2012-07-07 |url-status=dead }} On May 17 of that year, the Devon Energy Center became the tallest building in Oklahoma, rising above Tulsa's {{convert|667|ft|m|adj=on}} BOK Tower. In June 2011, the building reached the 46th floor. On July 5, 2011, the building reached the 46th floor while the glass reached the 36th floor. The building marked its topping out at 50 stories in a ceremony held on September 21, 2011, as the Devon Energy Center reached its final height of {{convert|844|ft|m}}.{{cite web|last=Lackmeyer|first=Steve|title=Oklahoma City's Devon Energy Center is topped out at 50 stories|url=http://newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-devon-energy-center-is-topped-out-at-50-stories/article/3606364|publisher=The Oklahoman|access-date=23 September 2011|date=22 September 2011}}
= Completion and opening =
On October 23, 2012, the building marked its opening ceremony. It was confirmed by Devon Energy CEO, J. Larry Nichols that there would not be an observation deck; however, a restaurant named "Vast" on the 49th and 50th floors would be open to the general public. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett attended the opening ceremony and stated, "The visual impact it has on the city is so striking and so identifiable. It took just over three years to complete the building that has quickly become a staple in our city's skyline."Mills, Chellie [http://kfor.com/2012/10/23/devon-tower-celebrates-official-opening/ "Devon Tower celebrates opening, restaurant"] KFOR.com (October 23, 2012)
On June 14, 2022, conservative activist Maison Des Champs conducted a free solo climb along the tower as part of an anti-abortion protest. (Incidentally, weeks prior to his feat, the Oklahoma Legislature passed several laws severely restricting abortion access in the state, including one banning the practice from the moment of conception.){{cite news |last1=Dishman |first1=David |title=Person seen climbing Devon Tower in downtown OKC |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/06/14/person-believed-pro-life-spiderman-climbing-devon-tower-okc-anti-abortion/7621196001/ |access-date=14 June 2022 |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=14 June 2022}} He had previously gained media attention for climbing The New York Times Building in Manhattan,{{cite news|title='Pro-Life Spiderman' strikes again, scales New York Times building|url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/pro-life-spiderman-strikes-again-scales-new-york-times-building|website=KTVU|date=May 5, 2022|access-date=June 14, 2022}} the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas{{cite news |last1=Lacanlale |first1=Rio |title=Man scales 600-foot Strip hotel to protest new COVID mask mandate |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/man-scales-600-foot-strip-hotel-to-protest-new-covid-mask-mandate-2413351/ |access-date=14 June 2022 |publisher=Las Vegas Review Journal |date=4 August 2021}} and the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco to protest abortion or COVID-19 safety protocols.{{cite news |last1=Gleeson |first1=Scott |title=Anti-abortion 'Spiderman' arrested after climbing Salesforce Tower in San Francisco |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/04/anti-abortion-activist-climbs-tower-san-francisco/9642224002/ |access-date=14 June 2022 |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=4 May 2022}} Des Champs—who only used chalk for gripping—was arrested after reaching the roof of the building, and was subsequently charged on two trespassing complaints.{{cite news|title=Man scales Oklahoma City's Devon Tower as anti-abortion protest|url=https://kfor.com/news/local/police-following-man-scaling-the-devon-tower-in-downtown-oklahoma-city/|author=Kari King|website=KFOR-TV|date=June 14, 2022}}
Tenants
Gallery
Image:Devontowerokcfence.jpg|Work site February 2010
Image:Devon-Tower-06-03-2010.jpg|June 2010
Image:Devon-Tower-08-04-2010.jpg|August 2010
Image:Devon-Tower-03-18-2011.jpg|March 2011
Image:Devon_Tower.JPG|February 25, 2012
Image:The Devon Energy Center.jpg|Looking north
See also
{{Portal|Oklahoma|Architecture}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commonscat|Devon Energy Tower}}
- {{Official website|http://devonenergycenter.net/}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaQ3ylepdV0 Devon Tower Time Lapse Video]
- [http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/devon_tower/presskit_04_generallayout.jpg Devon Tower layout]
- [http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=78797 Devon Tower Rendering]
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| before=Chase Tower
| title=Tallest Building in Oklahoma City
| years=2011—current
257m
| after=incumbent
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Oklahoma City skyscrapers}}
{{Tallest Buildings by U.S. state|state=autocollapse}}
Category:Oil company headquarters in the United States
Category:Office buildings completed in 2012
Category:Buildings and structures in Oklahoma City