Chesapeake Energy was once one of Oklahoma City’s corporate titans, and it had the office campus to prove it. Its Chesapeake Bay-inspired architecture, babbling creek, and restaurant and fitness center amenities made it a cutting-edge office park. However, after years of cuts and a recent merger and name change, Chesapeake Energy, now Expand Energy, is selling a large portion of its campus. There would seem to be many suitors for the newly available office space. Oklahoma’s private school business is booming thanks to the state’s handout of free tuition to wealthy families. The former Chesapeake campus might offer the perfect opportunity for one of these schools to expand. Maybe some of the office buildings could serve as a new Oklahoma County jail. Then again, the region’s housing crisis could be partly resolved by converting some office buildings into affordable housing. But let’s be honest: As Oklahoma City’s cycle of life continues, the most likely tenant is another oil and gas company.
