Oklahoma City’s downtown area is getting a facelift that could bring more opportunities for work, housing and entertainment as five new towers are to be built.
The new towers, including the OG&E headquarters, and hundreds of apartments will be added to the downtown skyline with construction starting now through next year.
“Downtown development is a means of changing the city’s image,” Steve Lackmeyer, business writer for the Oklahoman, said. “It is a trend toward younger demographics desiring more urban options for work, for living, for entertainment and for socializing.”
Hines, a Houston-based company, plans to build a 27-story office building, whose main tenant is expected to be Devon Energy. Chicago-based Clayco will build the 25-story corporate headquarters for the OG&E Energy Corporation with a 26-story residential tower built next door. Clayco also wants to build a matching office building and apartment tower with similar heights.
Another skyline-addition is a potential conference hotel that the city hopes to see built with a new convention center.
“Without a vibrant downtown, cities are finding themselves behind in the game to remain competitive for younger employees and in moving forward,” Lackmeyer said.
The Hotel Marion, one of downtown’s oldest buildings, was recently renovated to include housing apartments as part of the Midtown Renaissance. This improvement represented a new round of developments in downtown Oklahoma City.
“A good, vibrant downtown is important to Oklahoma City because it is our capitol and it helps present the culture, arts and other important aspects of our state that visitors want to see and experience,” sophomore Emily Campbell said.
Downtown Oklahoma City has seven distinct districts: the Arts District, Automobile Alley, Bricktown, Deep Deuce, Park Plaza, Film Row and the Central Business District.
“Some of my best memories are from downtown Oklahoma City,” junior Paige Brown said. “I don’t go often, so when I do it is always an adventure. One time, a group of us headed to Bricktown, parked and walked around. We did not realize that there would be so much to do.”
Downtown is becoming a more diverse place that many people across Oklahoma are coming to see.
“We are finding that companies are wanting to locate in cities with vibrant downtowns,” Lackmeyer said. “We are finding that even if people live in Midwest City, Edmond, Moore, Shawnee and all the different suburbs — that it is still important for those communities that there be a big city downtown nearby.”
Since people are coming from across the Oklahoma City metro, a wide array of entertainment options is necessary.
“Bricktown and the surrounding area have many fun things to do and see for people of all ages,” sophomore Bailey Malm said. “I think it offers a vibrant and exciting place for people to spend a day or a weekend and get a taste of the energy and life of Oklahoma City.”
The downtown updates could allow more options for people to experience Oklahoma City in new ways as the city expands both outward and upward. The ongoing renovations could boost downtown Oklahoma City as a popular location for entertainment.
“I think for a fairly small city, Oklahoma City has a fantastic downtown,” Malm said. “The many great attractions and events keep the city moving. Bricktown is the perfect amount of life for the city and gives people a reason to come downtown.”
Lackmeyer said downtown is an option for college students across the metro to have fun, and now some universities have a presence downtown.
“We have Oklahoma City University that just opened up their law school at the old Central High on Robinson Avenue,” Lackmeyer said. “UCO has had a great deal of success with their Academy of Contemporary Music along the Bricktown canal. We also have classes offered by the University of Oklahoma downtown.”
For more information on downtown Oklahoma City activities and sights, click here.
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