Who knows better than Oklahoma? Energy companies boom and bust, merge and acquire, downsize and relocate. How many times have said companies decamped to the “Energy Capital of the World,” Houston, alone? Screwston is more like it. Such is survival on the Southern Plains oil patch.
Anticipating this shifting landscape, the innovative development team at Robinson Park, led by CEO Mark Beffort, set their sights on what Beffort called “the best piece of real estate in Oklahoma.”
This Oklahoma City-based commercial real estate veteran knows what he’s talking about. The superb location at the corner of N.W. 63rd and North Western Avenue, is newly rebranded as The Peake. Once called Chesapeake Energy campus and more recently owned by Expand Energy, the project marks an exciting new chapter of occupancy along the shady boughs of Deep Fork Creek. The Peake is equally poised to link its village of tenants to the bustling neighborhood hotspots of Classen Curve, The Triangle, and Nichols Hills Plaza.
It took every bit of 2025 to close the complex deal.When it went through last New Year’s Eve, Robinson Park added the 14-building campus to their already impressive portfolio, which includes much of OKC’s central business district and several hotel properties. Throughout the transaction period, Beffort’s team dialed in on their vision for the unique character of the campus.
They recognized that the 18th century Georgian Revival brick architecture was a defining asset to the campus feel. It provides well-designed consistency for tenants, but can still be built out for office flexibility needs. The campus is highly walkable with interesting green spaces and soothing water features. Other standout features, like the athletic track and field, are calling out for event activation. And, they have the best-looking parking structures your car may ever roll into.
The Peake is already operating in two of the buildings. The incredible fitness center in Building 18 comes complete with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, massive sunlit yoga or kick boxing studios, two full basketball courts, rock climbing wall, swimming pool, saunas, and the works. Building 12, located creekside, is also available to tenants as the Community and Events Center with a beautiful auditorium, restaurant, and conference meeting capacities.
As they add to current tenants like Service Oklahoma, they have formed a property association for stakeholders in The Peake who can take full advantage of these amenities.
What’s the plan for the rest of the buildings? In Q1 of this year, Beffort’s team has fielded numerous commercial inquiries. Seven buildings are in active discussion to be sold to local companies looking to upgrade to this architecturally iconic address. The five remaining buildings will be owned by Robinson Park and their investors. They want to “let the dust settle” from their imminent transactions until they open up leasing, but they anticipate being able to sell it out.
Residential possibilities on the property aren’t in the cards right now, with some retail possibly coming later. “We believe we’ll have the campus fully repositioned by 2027,” Beffort said.
The Peake branding, of course, is a thoughtful nod to the founders of Chesapeake Energy. Beffort spoke about how important it was to honor the history and vision of the original Chesapeake campus once led by Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward. “Not only does The Peake brand point to our aspirational goals to strive higher, to enhance value, it takes a piece of the past forward in the brand,” explained Beffort.
The Peake team thought a lot about the surrounding neighborhood. Especially the thriving retail corridor of Classen Curve and the nearby shopping cart bonanza in Nichols Hills Plaza. Just across Western Ave., is the Triangle district, anchored by the Ellison Hotel, with Equity Bank, Flower Child, and Flips at each corner. As of February 2026, new neighbors have moved in on the eastern side of The Peake, with Expand Energy, MidFirst Bank and Diamond Back Energy anchoring adjacent properties.
With shopping and dining already plentiful, The Peake envisions itself as a key corporate hub in the village, one that is increasingly interconnected through complementary services and community amenities that make people want to stay, work, and play.
In a time when OKC’s traffic infrastructure feels strained, the concept of village life where one can create a quality of life on a small footprint, out of the car, sounds appealing, doesn’t it? If anything shifted post pandemic in corporate culture, perhaps it is more compassion for a life/work balance. The Peake is a site that offers such an alluring possibility.
This article appears in Celebrating 60 years of the Festival of Arts!.