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Talk About Tulsa => Other Tulsa Discussion => Topic started by: Rex on July 12, 2008, 01:12:48 AM

Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: Rex on July 12, 2008, 01:12:48 AM
There is a building that is north east of the Bank of America (Summit Club) building and a little south west of the Mid Continent building that seems to have a chapel on the top of it.  It is definitely NOT the Phil Tower which is north of the Mid Continent Building.  I think it is on top of the Thompson Building (but I might be wrong).  The chapel looks to be 2-3 stories and looks almost Greek Orthodox.  It does not match the building it sits on.

What is it?  What was it? Any ideas? Help please!  Thanks.
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: TulsaFan-inTexas on July 12, 2008, 08:21:10 AM
I think you're talking about the First Baptist Church on 4th and Cincinnati.

(http://www.tulsafbc.org/images/parking%20large%20II.jpg)
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: Wrinkle on July 12, 2008, 09:09:15 AM
I saw a piece, on I believe on KOTV, recently about that rooftop building but can't recall anything but that I saw it.

Might search the KOTV website for recent story.

Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: booWorld on July 12, 2008, 09:28:56 AM
Scroll around here (//%22http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=q0rv94700vrd&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=16712824&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1%22) and see if you can find the rooftop in question.

The Philtower is south of the Mid-Continent Tower and the Atlas Life Building.

Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: Chicken Little on July 12, 2008, 11:56:11 AM
Steeple?
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: sgrizzle on July 12, 2008, 12:34:12 PM
I was wondering if he was talking about the National Bank of Tulsa building.
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: Rex on July 12, 2008, 06:17:22 PM
It's not the Baptist Church. It is not a steeple.  It is rounded and again, looks, almost like a Russian or Greek Orthodx church. It is on the link Sgrizzle sent.  On Boston Avenue between 4th and 5ths Street.  It is plainly visible on the link Sgrizzle sent.
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: booWorld on July 12, 2008, 06:48:39 PM
quote:
Originally posted by CazzoRex

It's not the Baptist Church. It is not a steeple.  It is rounded and again, looks, almost like a Russian or Greek Orthodx church. It is on the link Sgrizzle sent.  On Boston Avenue between 4th and 5ths Street.  It is plainly visible on the link Sgrizzle sent.



Which link?  If it's on Boston between 4th and 5th and it's not the Philtower, that narrows it down to five possible buildings.
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: bacjz00 on July 12, 2008, 07:10:51 PM
Looks like the Thompson building yeah.  It's the building on the SW corner of intersection of 5th and Boston.  There does appear to be a 2-3 story structure on the top of this building with a copper or metallic dome.  Interesting...I've never noticed it before.
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: booWorld on July 12, 2008, 07:37:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by bacjz00

Looks like the Thompson building yeah.  It's the building on the SW corner of intersection of 5th and Boston.  There does appear to be a 2-3 story structure on the top of this building with a copper or metallic dome.  Interesting...I've never noticed it before.



If it's the penthouse on the  Thompson Building (//%22http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=q0rn8n700wrn&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=16616247&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1%22), then the elevator gear is in there, and it was added when the main portion of the building was increased from 10 stories to 15 (late 1920s, I think).  A local architect told me that his sister once lived in the lower portion of the penthouse -- probably sometime in the 1960s or 1970s.  In 1994, I offered to lease it as a residence along with some office space on a lower floor, but the building's owner turned me down.  The management company said the owner was concerned about liability issues, as I recall.  The only way to get to the "apartment" is via a narrow and steep stairway -- there is no elevator stop on that level.  Still, I think it could have been a wonderful apartment, especially for my wild parties.
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: naenae42day on July 12, 2008, 08:09:15 PM
quote:
Originally posted by CazzoRex

It's not the Baptist Church. It is not a steeple.  It is rounded and again, looks, almost like a Russian or Greek Orthodx church. It is on the link Sgrizzle sent.  On Boston Avenue between 4th and 5ths Street.  It is plainly visible on the link Sgrizzle sent.



I totally know the church you are talking about..i see it from my office on 7th & boulder.  It looks like it should be a greek orthodox.  I think it is a christian science church.  I read a article in a local magazine recently, and it detailed all the unique churches in the area....i tried to remember and couldn't.  Good Luck.
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: Rex on July 12, 2008, 11:34:05 PM
hmmm....
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: Rex on July 12, 2008, 11:46:16 PM
It's not the Christain Science church. It is the structure on top of the Thompson building I guess.  It sure is not brick, and looks different from the building it sits on. It is whitish color.It is definitely a strange lookinging.
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: dsjeffries on July 13, 2008, 12:20:10 AM
It is the Thompson Building.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dscott28604/724534826/ (//%22http://www.flickr.com/photos/dscott28604/724534826/%22)
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1013/724534826_350d543158.jpg)
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: Rex on July 13, 2008, 12:22:24 AM
sorry for my spelling
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: Rex on July 13, 2008, 12:28:01 AM
That's it exactly.  So, it's an enlargement for the elevator gear? It really looks odd.

What was the configuration of the penthouse?
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: booWorld on July 13, 2008, 03:28:03 AM
quote:
Originally posted by CazzoRex

What was the configuration of the penthouse?



I haven't been in there since 1994, but as I remember it, the penthouse "apartment" was on what would have been about the 16th floor below the octagonal cupola.  There is no elevator stop on the penthouse "apartment" level.  Unless it has been altered since 1994, it is roughly "U" shaped with the "apartment" space wrapping around the elevator shafts, which are on the south side of the penthouse, as I recall.
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: zstyles on July 14, 2008, 12:54:07 PM
So its mostly for looks?
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: booWorld on July 19, 2008, 08:59:08 PM
Adding upper floors to the Thompson Building in September 1929:
(http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/C0040.jpg)
Source:  Beryl Ford Collection / Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library, Tulsa Historical Society



The Thompson Building after the addition:
(http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/C0042.jpg)
Source:  Beryl Ford Collection / Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library, Tulsa Historical Society
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: FOTD on July 20, 2008, 10:50:55 AM
There's quite the historic story of debachery in that Penthouse of the Thompson Building when it was occupied by Charles Seger ( aka the model for Michael Doonsbury) back in the doo dah daze. Seger occupied the top floor.

Actually, Larry Flynts magazine ran a story on it back in 78 or 79.....

Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: cannon_fodder on July 21, 2008, 08:25:51 AM
Thanks for the pics boo.  You have a way with the archives!
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: sauerkraut on July 21, 2008, 11:36:31 AM
Tulsa really has some nice buildings downtown, many are real classic, others are old historic structures. From the west bank of the River Tulsa has (IMO) one of the nicest skylines around. BTW, DownTown Fort Worth has a skyscraper that was to be torn down after a tornado hit it in March, 2000, the twister did alot of damage to it after a direct hit. It was a nice looking glass tower building and I was happy to learn that they decided to keep the building  and rebuild it into apartments. The SkyScraper was built in 1974 and took a direct tornado hit. It was once known as the "PlyWood Skyscraper" because all the tornado blown out windows were replaced with plywood. Anyhow the good news is the building was saved. That building really helps makes the Fort Worth Skyline and tie it together, had they torn it down the Fort Worth skyline would have a big void and not look too good, like someone smiling with a missing tooth.[B)]
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: BierGarten on July 21, 2008, 12:10:17 PM
The penthouse is currently part of the Schnake Turnbo lease. Schnake's main floor is 15 and as stated above, you get to the penthouse via stairs on 15.

The penthouse is completely gutted at the moment and Schnake has intentions to redo it and use it simply as space that will be impressive to their clients.
Title: Downtown Tulsa Building HELP!
Post by: booWorld on July 23, 2008, 07:21:25 PM
Another photo from the Retro Tulsa Internet Museum (//%22http://www.tulsalawyer.com/page47.html%22), made available by the Feldman, Franden, Woodard & Farris law firm (//%22http://www.tulsalawyer.com/%22):
(http://www.tulsalawyer.com/img143.jpg)