'Bitter pill to swallow': Former Chesapeake Energy campus up for sale

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Owners of an energy company have decided to put up most of the former Chesapeake Energy campus for sale.

Travis Mason, of Cushman Wakefield, and Walker Ryan of Houston-based Collier's are leading the sales effort for Expand Energy. Online documents advertise the property as consisting of exceptional world-class facilities that were built to attract top talent in Oklahoma City.

"We will be moving into a consolidated building, building 15 here on campus," said an Expand Energy spokesperson during a phone interview with News 4 on Thursday. "We will be using about the same amount of square footage in that one building that we do across campus."

The spokesperson said Expand Energy is looking at a consolidated approach to increase collaboration in one space, and that no employees will be terminated as a result of the move. They also said there are a few other tenants not associated with Expand Energy on campus that will stay in their buildings regardless of the sale.

"We are looking forward to someone coming in and being able to use this campus for something really fantastic for the city," said the spokesperson.

The online listing does not list an asking price.

There are also multiple purchase options, meaning one buyer wouldn't necessarily have to buy the full site. Purchase options, other than the full site, include the West campus, East campus, or undeveloped land.

"It's a bitter pill to swallow," said Stacy Evett, a former Chesapeake Energy employee. "But I wish them the best and the city needs that."

Evett said it's been disappointing over the years to see the amount of people on the former Chesapeake Energy campus dwindle. She said in the past it felt more alive, but that she feels like that spark has dimmed.

"It was just a little city within a city, almost huge family," said Evett. "I never dreamed it would be sold off."

While many ideas have been floated around on social media about what could eventually occupy the space, Evett says whoever puts down an offer has a big task ahead of them.

"I would tell them they've got really big shoes to fill and wish them the best, and I think it can be accomplished," said Evett. "I think it can certainly."