Downtown townhomes made for the live-work-play lifestyle, and a home designed to minimize environment impact. Check, check.
A vintage midcentury-modern library carefully expanded for the 21st century, and the made-over State Capitol. Check, check.
And a shiny new office building bathed in natural light. Check.
"Architecture is for Everyone" is the theme for this year's Architecture Tour in Oklahoma City, and the organizers seem to have everyone covered.
The self-guided tour is from 1 to 5 p.m. April 30, organized by the American Institute of Architects Central Oklahoma Chapter.
Tickets are $10 in advance at aiacoc.org, or $20 on tour day at any tour stop.
Here's a glimpse of what people will see at each stop.
Wheeler District Spoke Street Shophomes, at the edge of downtown
Wheeler District Spoke Street Shophomes, 1708 Spoke St.
Architect: Sam Day, Dryline Architecture
Contractor: Wheeler Home
"Bringing a unique product type to the Oklahoma City market, the Spoke Street Shophomes provide the opportunity to live, work and play all in one place," organizers say. "These ten live-work townhomes deliver micro-retail and attainable housing for an entrepreneurial subset of buyers.
"In each three-story home, the ground-floor can be purposed for retail, office, makerspace, workshop, and more, while the upper floors serve as a comfortable living space. ... Just a few doors down from The Big Friendly Brewery and Taco Nation, the Shophomes are in the heart of the Wheeler District."
Reduced impact at the AK87-Fitzsimmons Residence
AK87-Fitzsimmons Residence 1300 NW 17
Owners: Audrey and Ken Fitzsimmons
Architect: Ken Fitzsimmons, of TASK Design
Contractor: Ken Fitzsimmons/Bryan Beavers Construction
"Audrey and Ken Fitzsimmons bought the vacant infill lot at the corner of Klein and NW 17th in 2008 with plans to build their new home someday," organizers say. "The design evolved over the years, but the goals stayed the same: Build something fun, multifunctional, comfortable, and affordable with less impact.
Take a peek at 5 Oklahoma City architectural wonders, and find out how you can get a tour
Richard MizeOklahoman
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1:17
Downtown townhomes made for the live-work-play lifestyle, and a home designed to minimize environment impact. Check, check.
A vintage midcentury-modern library carefully expanded for the 21st century, and the made-over State Capitol. Check, check.
And a shiny new office building bathed in natural light. Check.
"Architecture is for Everyone" is the theme for this year's Architecture Tour in Oklahoma City, and the organizers seem to have everyone covered.
The self-guided tour is from 1 to 5 p.m. April 30, organized by the American Institute of Architects Central Oklahoma Chapter.
Tickets are $10 in advance at aiacoc.org, or $20 on tour day at any tour stop.
Here's a glimpse of what people will see at each stop.
More:Developer Gary Brooks looks back at seven-year renovation of First National Center
Wheeler District Spoke Street Shophomes, at the edge of downtown
Wheeler District Spoke Street Shophomes, 1708 Spoke St.
Architect: Sam Day, Dryline Architecture
Contractor: Wheeler Home
"Bringing a unique product type to the Oklahoma City market, the Spoke Street Shophomes provide the opportunity to live, work and play all in one place," organizers say. "These ten live-work townhomes deliver micro-retail and attainable housing for an entrepreneurial subset of buyers.
"In each three-story home, the ground-floor can be purposed for retail, office, makerspace, workshop, and more, while the upper floors serve as a comfortable living space. ... Just a few doors down from The Big Friendly Brewery and Taco Nation, the Shophomes are in the heart of the Wheeler District."
More:Northeast Oklahoma City invited to 'imagine a better future' through revival of landmarks
Reduced impact at the AK87-Fitzsimmons Residence
AK87-Fitzsimmons Residence 1300 NW 17
Owners: Audrey and Ken Fitzsimmons
Architect: Ken Fitzsimmons, of TASK Design
Contractor: Ken Fitzsimmons/Bryan Beavers Construction
"Audrey and Ken Fitzsimmons bought the vacant infill lot at the corner of Klein and NW 17th in 2008 with plans to build their new home someday," organizers say. "The design evolved over the years, but the goals stayed the same: Build something fun, multifunctional, comfortable, and affordable with less impact.
"They rezoned the 50-by-40-foot lot into two lots allowing up to four dwelling units. More density = less sprawl and more walkable/livable communities. The house’s attached dwelling unit can serve as home office, place for family/friends, or rental unit. The exterior responds to the unique setting surrounded by a variety of building types. ...
"Reduced-impact features include: air-conditioning/heat systems within continuously insulated roof and walls; ceiling fans/windows circulate air while overhangs block direct sun in summer but let some in during winter to reduce usage of heat and air; pesticide-free, pollinator/edible/native plants reduce water usage and maintenance; and more."
The "AK87"? That's for Audrey and Ken, and the year they got married.
State Capitol Interior Restoration
Oklahoma State Capitol Interior Restoration 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Owner: Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
Architect: FSB Architects + Engineers,
Contractor: Manhattan Construction.
"The most significant change to the structure," organizers say, "was the transformation of the lower level into the primary public entrance, where visitors will step into an expanded and completely redesigned Capitol Museum, which includes 18 rotating art exhibition areas.
"Multiple phases of the project were required, due to the sheer scope and complexity of the restoration, as well as the need to make repairs with minimal disruption for the state employees and elected officials who work inside the building. ... By creating a plan which did not require relocating employees to other buildings, FSB saved the state approximately $7 million in leasing costs."
Iconic, expanded Belle Isle Library
Belle Isle Library 5501 N Villa Ave.
Owner: City of Oklahoma City (operated by Metro Library System)
Architect: ADG PC
Contractor: Wynn Construction
"Widely known and loved, the 17-sided building was originally designed in the early 1960s with a midcentury modern aesthetic," tour organizers say. "The goal for the renovation and addition was to expand its building footprint and make the existing space work more cohesively.
"The 11,500-square-foot addition was carefully designed to enhance the vintage look of the building while also incorporating eye-catching color and plenty of glass for natural lighting.
"The new addition includes large meeting room spaces, special children and teen areas and quiet study rooms. Much of the new addition has large glass curtainwalls that allow parts of the original stone wall to show through from the outside, while providing a natural feel from the inside. ... Previously tucked away ... the building now sits with more prominence and serves as an unofficial gateway to the Belle Isle neighborhood."
Heartland Payment Systems headquarters, bathed in natural light
Heartland Payment Systems, 616 N Broadway Ave.
Owner: Real Capital Solutions
Architect: Rand Elliott Architects
Contractor: Lingo Construction Services.
The seven-story, 111,530-square-foot, mixed-use office building in Automobile Alley, tour organizers say, "pulls inspiration from the classic proportions found in many of the historic buildings on Automobile Alley, its success residing in the scale and proportion of its forms.
"The building adheres to the ancient Greek principles of scale and proportion based on the Golden Ratio. The limestone-colored brick exterior pulls inspiration from nearby limestone buildings while the scale of the windows changes as you move from north to south — smaller windows are on the building’s north side where a similar design can be seen in the existing historic buildings, and larger windows are placed toward downtown where glass curtain walls are popular.
"From a bird’s-eye view, the building is in an L-shape, with a protected, outdoor garden space on the east, adding interest and vitality to an existing alley."
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