The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Originally planned as the refurb of single building half a block in size, this project now includes a new structure taking up over 1/4 block to house The new Arts & Humanities Council Hardesty Arts Center (AH HA) as well as the Zarrow Center for Art & Education (Set to open May 2012) and gallery expansion space for to house Philbrook's $50 Million Eugene B Adkins art collection.

Map:
(http://www.tulsaworld.com//articleimages/2011/A19bradymap0109.jpg)

AH HA Rendering:
(http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2011/20110525_VIsualArts0525p2.jpg)

Philbrook video of the project:
http://vimeo.com/25086366

Below you will find the story of this project as it goes from announcement to construction and beyond.

-Modified by Admin
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Original renderings and details:

(http://www.tulsanow.org/forumpics/livingarts1.jpg)
High-res elevation picture (http://"http://www.tulsanow.org/forumpics/livingarts4.jpg")

(http://www.tulsanow.org/forumpics/livingarts2.jpg)
High-res site plan (http://"http://www.tulsanow.org/forumpics/livingarts3.jpg")

15,000 square feet will be used for the recently announced philbrook expansion. A
majority of the remainder will be used for art lofts, gallery space and other mixed uses. The floorplans above is not final.

Estimated Cost: $10M ($3.4M Construction)
Location: 100 East Brady

If you have project details or images you want posted to the forum, you can email admin (at) tulsanow.org and we will post it.

How many square feet in the remainder?

Someone told me yesterday that the building was around 80,000sqft and about 65,000 was defined for one use or another, leaving 15,000sqft of ???

Tulsa is fortunate to have Kaiser and countless others who have donated money for things every one can enjoy in this city.  I think this is a great use for the Matthews Warehouse.

Holy Cow, look at all the growth on the development page! River development, the Ol Lady, Tribune lofts and Living Arts center and a possible ball park!

quote:

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Originally posted by Conan71

Tulsa is fortunate to have Kaiser and countless others who have donated money for things every one can enjoy in this city.  I think this is a great use for the Matthews Warehouse.

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Per Urban Tulsa, Kaiser has 45 MILLION shares of BOK stock, currently trading around $52 per share.

His philanthropy won't make him broke anytime soon.

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:

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Originally posted by Conan71

Tulsa is fortunate to have Kaiser and countless others who have donated money for things every one can enjoy in this city.  I think this is a great use for the Matthews Warehouse.

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Per Urban Tulsa, Kaiser has 45 MILLION shares of BOK stock, currently trading around $52 per share.

His philanthropy won't make him broke anytime soon.

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                                             These folks always seem to get a return on their investment, too bad that's not the case for the taxpayers of Tulsa.

Again Double A, NOTHING to do with the current thread.  Show me where the Philbrook expansion is going to use public money, then perhaps you can bring it.  At which point, you have to show how it is a loss of tax payer money.

Seems to me, even if it is using public money, a museum is a proper roll of government.

"I hate museums!"

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:

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Originally posted by Conan71

Tulsa is fortunate to have Kaiser and countless others who have donated money for things every one can enjoy in this city.  I think this is a great use for the Matthews Warehouse.

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Per Urban Tulsa, Kaiser has 45 MILLION shares of BOK stock, currently trading around $52 per share.

His philanthropy won't make him broke anytime soon.

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Just a complete shot in the dark, but I don't think Kaiser-Francis Oil Company is hurting these days either.

quote:

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Originally posted by Conan71

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:

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Originally posted by Conan71

Tulsa is fortunate to have Kaiser and countless others who have donated money for things every one can enjoy in this city.  I think this is a great use for the Matthews Warehouse.

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Per Urban Tulsa, Kaiser has 45 MILLION shares of BOK stock, currently trading around $52 per share.

His philanthropy won't make him broke anytime soon.

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Just a complete shot in the dark, but I don't think Kaiser-Francis Oil Company is hurting these days either.

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UTW said they gross 1.4M a day.

Gee whiz, that's only $511 mil a year.

I'd go into that business, but who can afford a pay cut these days?  What, with Tulsa's crappy economy and the Dow so far in the tank...

quote:

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Originally posted by Double A

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:

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Originally posted by Conan71

Tulsa is fortunate to have Kaiser and countless others who have donated money for things every one can enjoy in this city.  I think this is a great use for the Matthews Warehouse.

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Per Urban Tulsa, Kaiser has 45 MILLION shares of BOK stock, currently trading around $52 per share.

His philanthropy won't make him broke anytime soon.

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                                             These folks always seem to get a return on their investment, too bad that's not the case for the taxpayers of Tulsa.

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Buy some BOK stock thats what stocks are for. Working for a business isn't supposed to make you any real money. If your working for someone your supposed to be making them money. One way around that is to start your own business or own stock.  I was always told by my parents as a kid that you cant make money working for other peoples businesses, you have to work for yourself. Plus, work smart and hard, doing just one won't get you anywhere.

the two surface lots make me want to puke....parking decks please.

Links to high-res images (courtesy of the Arts & Humanities Council) added at top. The east end of the building (top left of the site plan) will be changed for the philbrook/adkins museum.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Too bad there aren't any.

The image links are pointing to Tulsanow.org instead of .net.

Here are the pictures:
http://www.tulsanow.net/forumpics/livingarts3.jpg
http://www.tulsanow.net/forumpics/livingarts4.jpg

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle


http://www.tulsanow.net/forumpics/livingarts3.jpg

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Great... making the side of the building that faces the parking lot the "front" and the side that faces Brady the "back". What a fantastic suburban design for our "urban" downtown "contemporary" arts center.

The front of the building should be on Brady. Make  the parking lot the back.

Is the side facing Brady not going to have an entrance?  I would be disappointed if it really was just "the back."  Pretending that the Brady side would be the actual entrance would be a joke, since in driving Tulsa everyone will come from the lot... but I'd like to at least have the street side look nice.

quote:

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Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle


http://www.tulsanow.net/forumpics/livingarts3.jpg

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Great... making the side of the building that faces the parking lot the "front" and the side that faces Brady the "back". What a fantastic suburban design for our "urban" downtown "contemporary" arts center.

The front of the building should be on Brady. Make  the parking lot the back.

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As I understand it, it is really two buildings and multiple functions. The museum faces the parking lot due to the location of visitor parking. Retail frontings are going to be on brady, I believe.

Has this started yet or is the architect still working on the design?  BTW, who is the architect for this project?

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:

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Originally posted by Conan71

Tulsa is fortunate to have Kaiser and countless others who have donated money for things every one can enjoy in this city.  I think this is a great use for the Matthews Warehouse.

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Per Urban Tulsa, Kaiser has 45 MILLION shares of BOK stock, currently trading around $52 per share.

His philanthropy won't make him broke anytime soon.

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You can't be a philanthropist if you don't have any money.

quote:

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Originally posted by Admin

(http://www.tulsanow.org/forumpics/livingarts1.jpg)
High-res elevation picture (http://"http://www.tulsanow.org/forumpics/livingarts4.jpg")

(http://www.tulsanow.org/forumpics/livingarts2.jpg)
High-res site plan (http://"http://www.tulsanow.org/forumpics/livingarts3.jpg")

15,000 square feet will be used for the recently announced philbrook expansion. A
majority of the remainder will be used for art lofts, gallery space and other mixed uses. The floorplans above is not final.

Estimated Cost: $10M ($3.4M Construction)
Location: 100 East Brady


If you have project details or images you want posted to the forum, you can email admin (at) tulsanow.org and we will post it.

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Are there any updates on this project.?

It would seem they should be doing something by now.

I think they are due to start construction in late 2010 or in 2011. Though the "happy spin" will have you believe its earlier...kind of like the 41st park supposed to be done in Sept. They all know danged well when its going to be done, yet the TW and or the spin on these things is always sooner than the real projected date. I dont know why they just dont tell us the truth or why the TW publishes wrong time schedules?  

I believe the design plans have been finally approved, so would like to see how its actually going to look. The renderings you have were early "general impressions/sketches".

To make it interesting the building is being handled by two seperate architectural firms. The Kaiser/Gilcrease side by one firm and the AHCT side by another. The AHCT is gearing up for it's fundraising drive for renovation costs. They just got their borad set up, potential benefactors discussed, etc.

Honest question - why would there be a rendering and announcement three full years prior to the beginning of construction?  Was it to raise funds?

quote:

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Originally posted by Floyd

Honest question - why would there be a rendering and announcement three full years prior to the beginning of construction?  Was it to raise funds?

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I believe that was to help get the building purchased.

I've heard people talking about the Kaiser foundation picking up property around the Brady and Boulder area and that it is somehow related to this project. Anyone have the scoop?

Here's how it goes:

The "Warehouse" is technically several buildings glued together.

Kaiser bought roughly 1/3rd of the space (the west end) and is going to use it to house the $50M collection that was donated to Gilcrease and they have no room for.

One block north the Griffin's bought land where they are putting a new Channel 6 building. The only block in-between is a truck yard. Kaiser and Griffin bought this land and will turn it into a park in 2012 or 2013.

Damn that Kaiser and his gifts.

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

Here's how it goes:

The "Warehouse" is technically several buildings glued together.

Kaiser bought roughly 1/3rd of the space (the west end) and is going to use it to house the $50M collection that was donated to Gilcrease and they have no room for.

One block north the Griffin's bought land where they are putting a new Channel 6 building. The only block in-between is a truck yard. Kaiser and Griffin bought this land and will turn it into a park in 2012 or 2013.

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Cigar had his foot in the door.....it needed to be one project. Did Cigar ever complete his other lofts?

quote:

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Originally posted by FOTD

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

Here's how it goes:

The "Warehouse" is technically several buildings glued together.

Kaiser bought roughly 1/3rd of the space (the west end) and is going to use it to house the $50M collection that was donated to Gilcrease and they have no room for.

One block north the Griffin's bought land where they are putting a new Channel 6 building. The only block in-between is a truck yard. Kaiser and Griffin bought this land and will turn it into a park in 2012 or 2013.

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Cigar had his foot in the door.....it needed to be one project. Did Cigar ever complete his other lofts?

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1st St is still under construction. and by that I mean actual work, not sitting.

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

Here's how it goes:

The "Warehouse" is technically several buildings glued together.

Kaiser bought roughly 1/3rd of the space (the west end) and is going to use it to house the $50M collection that was donated to Gilcrease and they have no room for.

One block north the Griffin's bought land where they are putting a new Channel 6 building. The only block in-between is a truck yard. Kaiser and Griffin bought this land and will turn it into a park in 2012 or 2013.

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I'm sorry, I wanted to make sure I got this right...the truck yard will be a park?

quote:

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Originally posted by Townsend

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

Here's how it goes:

The "Warehouse" is technically several buildings glued together.

Kaiser bought roughly 1/3rd of the space (the west end) and is going to use it to house the $50M collection that was donated to Gilcrease and they have no room for.

One block north the Griffin's bought land where they are putting a new Channel 6 building. The only block in-between is a truck yard. Kaiser and Griffin bought this land and will turn it into a park in 2012 or 2013.

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I'm sorry, I wanted to make sure I got this right...the truck yard will be a park?

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That is the idea right now, but the trucking company is there for 4 more years and things can change. Keep in mind the North side of this block is KOTV, Living Arts to the South, Brady to the West and the new ballpark and surrounding development to the East. A greenspace between that all might be welcome in 4 years. I believe it is thought of a centennial green type park with water features, ampitheater, etc but on a much bigger scale.

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:

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Originally posted by Townsend

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

Here's how it goes:

The "Warehouse" is technically several buildings glued together.

Kaiser bought roughly 1/3rd of the space (the west end) and is going to use it to house the $50M collection that was donated to Gilcrease and they have no room for.

One block north the Griffin's bought land where they are putting a new Channel 6 building. The only block in-between is a truck yard. Kaiser and Griffin bought this land and will turn it into a park in 2012 or 2013.

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I'm sorry, I wanted to make sure I got this right...the truck yard will be a park?

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That is the idea right now, but the trucking company is there for 4 more years and things can change. Keep in mind the North side of this block is KOTV, Living Arts to the South, Brady to the West and the new ballpark and surrounding development to the East. A greenspace between that all might be welcome in 4 years. I believe it is thought of a centennial green type park with water features, ampitheater, etc but on a much bigger scale.

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Well that'd be freakin' sweet.

Don't know how many times the devil needs to shout it, but the INDUSTRIAL USES IN THE BRADY NEED TO GO!

 So, be it a park or a parking lot, it's all for the better.

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:

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Originally posted by Townsend

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

Here's how it goes:

The "Warehouse" is technically several buildings glued together.

Kaiser bought roughly 1/3rd of the space (the west end) and is going to use it to house the $50M collection that was donated to Gilcrease and they have no room for.

One block north the Griffin's bought land where they are putting a new Channel 6 building. The only block in-between is a truck yard. Kaiser and Griffin bought this land and will turn it into a park in 2012 or 2013.

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I'm sorry, I wanted to make sure I got this right...the truck yard will be a park?

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That is the idea right now, but the trucking company is there for 4 more years and things can change. Keep in mind the North side of this block is KOTV, Living Arts to the South, Brady to the West and the new ballpark and surrounding development to the East. A greenspace between that all might be welcome in 4 years. I believe it is thought of a centennial green type park with water features, ampitheater, etc but on a much bigger scale.

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Ahh, I FINALLY get a clearer picture of where the new KOTV will be now...  I could see that plot of land being a park but I could also see the Wil Wilkins (or similar) development moving there and adding some much needed residential.  I tend to be opposed to adding more parks - they tend to be neglected when times are tight at the city - and that seems to be 99% of the time.

Snagged this from a secret source [8D]... the new rendering for the Living Arts Center. This is the western section which I think is going to house the Philbrook expansion. I believe the NE side is being done by a different architect. Will be interesting to see it all together. Notice what appears to be grass on the top floor? Looks to be a sidewalk cafe on the south side.

Now.. when they gonna get started lol?

(http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/3545/mathewswarehousebuildinuu5.jpg)

quote:

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Originally posted by TheArtist

Snagged this from a secret source [8D]... the new rendering for the Living Arts Center. This is the western section which I think is going to house the Philbrook expansion. I believe the NE side is being done by a different architect. Will be interesting to see it all together. Notice what appears to be grass on the top floor? Looks to be a sidewalk cafe on the south side.

Now.. when they gonna get started lol?

(http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/3545/mathewswarehousebuildinuu5.jpg)

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That looks wonderful!  I assume they're still raising money?

The Philbrook expansion is in the area on the NE side not pictured. Yes, they are fundraising and actually pretty early into it. They've been setting up the fundraising committee, gathering leads, planning, that kinda stuff.

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

The Philbrook expansion is in the area on the NE side not pictured. Yes, they are fundraising and actually pretty early into it. They've been setting up the fundraising committee, gathering leads, planning, that kinda stuff.

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So Kaiser is helping to fund the NE side? I must have misheard someone say he was helping to fund the side in this rendering,,, and since I also thought he was helping to fund the "museum side" so made the assumption that it was this West side that was the museum side?

quote:

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Originally posted by TheArtist

quote:

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

The Philbrook expansion is in the area on the NE side not pictured. Yes, they are fundraising and actually pretty early into it. They've been setting up the fundraising committee, gathering leads, planning, that kinda stuff.

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So Kaiser is helping to fund the NE side? I must have misheard someone say he was helping to fund the side in this rendering,,, and since I also thought he was helping to fund the "museum side" so made the assumption that it was this West side that was the museum side?

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I thought that originally but the drawing is titled for the Arts & Humanities Council so this is a drawing of their part of the project.

I like the big glass wall on the south side of the building.  The back wall of the Matthews Building is not in great shape, so this allows them to fix it structurally, and then open it up so people can see art from the outside of the building looking in.

The small structure to the south on Boston (connected by the airbridge to the main building) includes two visiting artists' residences and, I believe, a coffee shop (on the ground floor).

The front of the Matthews building on Brady will retain the warehouse look and the original red brick.

So that is Boston in the foreground, any plans for a streetscaping as shown in the rendering?  And will the parking lot south of Matthews just be occupied by that small building at Boston & Archer or will there be other development there?  I love this project BTW, can't wait to see it start.

(http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/3545/mathewswarehousebuildinuu5.jpg)

The small building has been nixed from the plans. I know there is a push to get some greenscaping on that side of the building.

I had wondered what would become of that huge building.... when does the fun start??

May be a while before they actually start, possibly next year. Though I hear they are already scraping around in the building right now.

I am interested in seeing the plans for the park across the way. I heard someone (Ken Levit possibly) mention something about geothermal and the park? Anyone know what that may have been about? Or is the Mathews Building to be heated with geothermal energy?

It's more of a concrete ampitheater than a park.

Wonder if we need an ampitheater with a new baseball stadium that can be used for concerts just a couple of blocks away (as well as the Brady and the Cains).

No.

This is more of a gathering space that can accomodate music than a place that can accomodate bocce.

On topic, has anyone noticed there is construction fence around the Kaiser end of the building?

Oh giver of meager clues...Are there any "above ground" architectural elements to it?  :P

And back on topic... no I havent. But fingers crossed that something is moving along with this project.

Look for yourself.

I lived on the corner of Boston and Brady from 03-06 and still miss the location, I am very excited and quite jealous that they are finally going to do some major projects in the area.  (and the improved condition of sidewalks and lighting for pedestrians)

I am concerned with the availability or lack of parking with all the volumes of people these projects will bring.  The trucking company will not be missed, they were loud, dirty, and a general eye sore.  Does anyone know what company is working on the ampitheather design?

Living Arts new home at Detroit and Brady:

(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/ourtulsa/100_5675.jpg)

(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/ourtulsa/100_5677.jpg)

In OKC we've been throwing around the idea of doing something like this for one of the educational institutions that have recently been getting involved downtown (one of their art programs). It could be a game-changing announcement for our Bricktown area, but it's still at least a year off. When I first became privy I mentioned the Matthews Warehouse project, and believe it or not, people down the pike have been following this project. Not closely, but they know of it.

Is there any status update on the Living ArtsCenter project? I'm guessing that the Kaiser-funded portion of the project is moving forward, well into construction, whereas the Arts & Humanities Council-funded portion of it is still waiting for donations to move forward?

(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g100/TheOkie/Forum/100ArtsCenter.jpg?t=1262934996)
I'm also guessing that this is no longer the plan, as evidenced by the alternate rendering previously posted in this thread (I liked this better, but the new aint bad)..

Basically. The AHCT portion had a big donor on the line but it ultimately fell through, that was about a year ago and the economy isn't quite donation-friendly.

So I take it only the Kaiser funded portion is going to become a reality any time soon, until the economy improves at least.

(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs095.snc4/36121_403647948633_25282913633_4508112_2686938_n.jpg)

Great to see something's happening.

I understand the banner is for the Philbrook but that brick has just been uncovered correct?

Word is groundbreaking for the VAC (The Arts and Humanities portion) will happen in late September.

Very nice mural they have going on.


Very glad this is happening... Went to a meeting at this location when they were still trying to acquire the building.
Macy Snider spoke in favor of the transformation and reuse of the building. One more plus for the Snider's in my book.

This project will be a fantastic addition to the Brady District.  I'm looking forward to seeing it under construction, as well as the park across the street which is scheduled to start in the next couple months.

Looking out my window this morning, all the trucks from the site across the street where the park will be are gone.  They were there last friday.  Looks like the lease is finally up and they are finally moved out.  What's the timeline now on the project?  Are they on the same track or is one scheduled to begin before the other?

I remember reading the first step is moving the trucks and then they will tear down the buildings and scrape the site.  After that is completed they will begin work on the geothermal wells underneath the new park.  Those wells will feed the HVAC system for the Matthews Warehouse/Arts Center.  Hopefully we'll see some real progress on both the park and the arts center by the end of the year once those geothermal wells are finished.  Those are a key part of the entire project.

All true except I believe they are keeping the loading dock now. Just going to rehab it. There is also an issue with a portion of their grant funding for the geothermal project, but it is only a small part.

Some cool new images I found.  Anyone know if the geothermal project is complete and when they will start construction? 

Brady Street elevation
(http://www.ahct.org/userfiles/Image/060210_VAC_North_Elevation.jpg)

Boston Ave elevation
(http://www.ahct.org/userfiles/Image/VAC_BRADY_DISTRICT_8_10-6.jpg)

Section cut
(http://www.ahct.org/userfiles/Image/sectional2(1).jpg)

Geothermal isn't really started yet. Last time I drove by they were still doing demo on the site.

An update from the TW this morning.  Construction beginning in 2 weeks! 

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110109_272_A15_CUTLIN914280 (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110109_272_A15_CUTLIN914280)

I'll be thrilled when they finally stop people from parking on their block-long driveway along Brady, completely blocking the sidewalk. It's gotta be the most parked-on sidewalk downtown. Office workers park their 9-5, bargoers park there in the evenings, baseball/concertgoers park there.

Now with a ground up development in what is currently a parking lot just south of the Matthews Warehouse

Copied from the Tulsa World Story ref'd above

At one point in the process of transforming this city block into an art-oriented destination, the west end of the property was to become a visual arts center operated by the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa.

The Arts and Humanities Council still plans to build a visual arts center. Ken Busby, the council's executive director, said ground will be broken in May on the new site, just south of the Mathews Warehouse on what is now a parking lot at the corner of Archer Street and Boston Avenue

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110109_272_A15_CUTLIN914280

I wonder why the decision to do new construction and leave the west half of the building unoccupied

(http://www.tulsaworld.com//articleimages/2011/A19bradymap0109.jpg)

Busby said he was approached by the Kaiser Foundation about the Mathews Warehouse space in the fall of 2010.

"The foundation had an opportunity to do additional arts development in the Brady District, and to take advantage of historic tax credits," Busby said.

However, the limitations on what could be done to the warehouse's structure because of these tax credits, Busby said, meant the council "would not be able to do the sort of programming that we wanted to do, and that we had promised our donors we would do in this new center."

"So we decided to create our own facility."

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110109_272_A15_CUTLIN914280

Shouldn't construction begin tomorrow, the first day of the workweek after 15 days?

Does anyone know if construction has started?

New update: they will be breaking ground on the project this afternoon!
http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=272&articleid=20110307_11_0_hrimgs54200

Intersting, so it took them a little longer than expected to get started. I really hope they release some new renderings soon.

As of this posting, all the reader comments are positive.  I've never seen that before.

Give me a second...

Is the new building still scheduled for April?

Also, I remembered this article about the park:
http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/clean-up-coming-for-brownfields-in-tulsa

Does anyone know the status of the park? I cannot find any articles that go into detail about it.

The park has geothermal wells that will feed the Visual Arts Center.  I know that was something that needed to be finished before they could start working on the park and eventually the building too. 

Thanks. Yeah, I knew about the geo stuff. So have the buildings been torn down yet? I honestly don't remember, and I was even down there very recently.

Found this new rendering:

(http://ww3.tulsachamber.com/upload/image/chamber/Monday%20Memo/Matthews%20building%20www.jpg)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that portion of the building is being renovated only (the portion that fronts Cincinnati).  The west half of the building is being rebuilt and expanded and will extend from Archer to Brady along Boston.  Does anyone have a site plan to confirm this?

Another rendering from the AHCT website:
(http://www.ahct.org/f/9.jpg)

AHCT is building a separate structure in the parking lot.

Yeah, I think that rendering is for the new structure. It looks amazing.

The park block is now just a big dirt pile. It is under active construction.

So is the Griffin/KOTV site to the north.  There are fences up at each site while they are doing site work. 

Someone needs to go check for activity on sager lofts and dfest too.

Duck for flying pigs.

Word is that Griffin is not building at this time.  They are only building a heli-pad and hanger for their helicopter.

The new park to the north is progressing as well.  It will be a nice complement to the arts center across the street, and I'm sure will see plenty of concerts.

Site Plan
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bg918/ppark.jpg)

I love development in Brady, I would be more excited if they pushed the green envelope a bit more.  Pervious pavers, rainwater use, and rain gardens would be a great addition.

Any way to provide a pdf of the site plan which can be zoomed in?  I can't really read any of what the site plan shows.

Unfortunately no, I ripped that one from a Powerpoint and don't have the original file.  I'll see if I can find that plan somewhere.

I can read it. There's nothing overly exciting

Too bad all the additions to the area are going to be so modern and ugly and not blend with the historic buildings....but then again, some people aren't born with good taste.

Are you suggesting that everything that is modern is ugly?

From what I recall the Tribune Lofts expansion is very much in keeping with the older style.  And the proposed hotel didn't appear modern if I recall.  

As for the rest, I don't mind at all the contemporary being mixed in as long as it keeps with being pedestrian friendly on those streets that we want to be pedestrian friendly.  We could sorely use some examples of modern architecture in the city to represent, well, that SOMETHING was built during this time period lol.  All up and down the street that the Cains is on we actually have a good swath of historic buildings, and a decent smattering elsewhere in the area.  So to have some new stuff mixed in nearby is perfectly fine with me.

 I don't have the feeling that keeping the entire area in the older style would be advantagious in any way.  It isn't defined by the architecture, and its not anything unique per say.  Many cities have the same thing in spades. The area will hopefully continue to be more and more defined by "arts", and as such, being ecclectic works. And again, there is a good chunk of old stock where you can enjoy that vibe if you wish, and then branch out from that to experience other styles.  Its keeping this area pedestrian friendly that is more important to me than maintaining any particular architectural style.    

Oh, and if you want to argue good taste,,, show me your creds and I'll show you mine  ;)

Groundbreaking today for the new Visual Arts portion.  I can see they are setting up tents right now.

http://ahct.org/about/vac.cfm (http://ahct.org/about/vac.cfm)

Begs the question.  What will the western part of the old Mathews Warehouse be used for if it's not exhibit space?  Storage?

I think its still available/no use has been decided.

I thought it was being torn down to make way for the new arts center?

The new building will be bounded by Brady, Boston and Archer correct?  That is what these elevations seem to indicate:

Brady
(http://ahct.org/f/8.jpg)

Boston
(http://ahct.org/f/7.jpg)

Archer
(http://ahct.org/f/6.jpg)

"The Arts and Humanities Council still plans to build a visual arts center. Ken Busby, the council's executive director, said ground will be broken in May on the new site, just south of the Mathews Warehouse on what is now a parking lot at the corner of Archer Street and Boston Avenue"

(http://www.tulsaworld.com//articleimages/2011/A19bradymap0109.jpg)

Artist,
Sadly, much modern is ugly (Crashship, for example).  Then there is NSU building - personal opinion moment - that I think is very nicely done.

And several of the buildings that architect did that we had a discussion about some time back.  If I recall - the guy that designed the Crashship - also had some very good work.  Guess he felt that he could get away with that here.  He was right.

Burj Kalifa is pretty good, too, and it seems to be pretty modern.

Huh? I don't see much modernism in the design of NSU, either in Tahlequah or BA. 

bunch of armchair architects.

Cesar Pelli also designed the Petronas Towers in Malaysia.  I happen to like the CrashShip.  Very good to see concerts in.

Actually, I am kind of starting to warm up to the Crashship from an aesthetic view.  It provides a 'clash' that brings some variety to the area, so will soon be embracing it's ugliness, I am sure.

Hey!  I just discovered a new name for it!!  Clashship!!  Thanks, Hoss, for setting me on that train of thought track!

NSU - not modernism.  But a nice clean modern design that is reasonably attractive rather than 'institutional'.  TCC at 81st and 169 is getting old, but still nicely done.

My favorites will always be the old, "shotgun bungalow" era buildings - residential and commercial - but I can certainly appreciate more modern structures if they even come close to showing some thought and design.

Which brings me to a favorite rant point - "big fancy housing additions" where the main architectural feature is the double or triple garage door!  Yeah, right.  Someone just gave up.  And my favorite addition to pick on about that has to be Chimney Hills.  Have looked at several houses with intent to buy (move closer to some friends) and talking to the HOA reps at the time was a trip.  Unbelievable.  Just couldn't wrap their mind around the idea that the area has some nice places, BUT it ain't "all that" - it IS mostly a celebration of garage doors as architecture.  And while MBA's think their crap don't stink - HOA's think their houses don't get termites!  But they do....

Our garage door does not face the street.  It's a good thing too because I wouldn't want casual passersby to see inside if the door is open.  It's full, but not with cars.  We still have stuff in there from our old place back east which had a cellar.

I think it faces Archer and Boston....the elevation that says Brady Street actually will face the Mathews Building, and a sculpture garden between the two facilities.

This is a great project!  Fills in a surface lot, creates an awesome street wall for dining at Hey Mambo and is a great design.  It couples very nicely with the TCC Center of Creativity just ten blocks south.  How cool will it be when the lot across (west) from this facility is built on?

Let's keep the development going north!

I want to hit the rotate button and put the glass wall facing Boston instead of facing the Mathew's building.

Based on the rendering Kenosha posted from the Tulsa World article I believe a large glass wall will face Archer.

(http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2011/20110525_VIsualArts0525p2.jpg)

I believe we are looking at the SW corner of the building or the corner of Archer & Boston.

I like it; the balcony idea is cool. I retract my earlier complaint.

That looks kind of interesting.

These renderings are stunning. I can't think of any other way to put it. It is exactly what an art museum should be. Modern, clean, bold, clashing, and overall just an awesome building to look at. And we now know it will definitely come to fruition. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Also wanted to add that it is amazing to see that they appear to be using quality materials. This building does not look faux at all. That, in my opinion, is what makes a building withstand the test of time.

Posted by Philbrook.

Gives anyone unfamiliar with the area some perspective.

http://vimeo.com/25086366 (http://vimeo.com/25086366)

Cool, I believe they have a live feed for construction but I don't know if it is up yet.

If they end up going with Hardesty Visual Arts Center like is on the rendering, it'd be called HVAC. I think that's awesome, and an improvement over AH HA.

yeah, hvac is cooler

Ba-dum-cha!

(http://feralpartykids.com/images/fry%20i%20see%20what%20you%20did%20there.jpg)

HVAC could not only be cooler, it could be chiller!

So,  I have seen so far is the work on the warehouse and the lot to the east.  The new construction is slated to be on the southwest corner.  As yet they haven't touched it.  I'm just wondering what the holdup is.  Are they waiting ont the parks geothermal wells to finish?

That said, they started putting i beams in to create part of the entrance on the matthews side.  Pretty exciting.

Also, can we keep the heating and cooling puns to a minimum.  there are children on here.  :) (not really)

Actually, I might be a child, depending on your cut off age. ;)

As for the rest of your post, I have also wondered why no work is being done on the new building. Anyone know?

No.  We cannot.  They are just too punny to pass up.

(Children should not be allowed here!  It gets too rough for their tender ears!  {Joking - they hear much worse at school...!})

This is having a chilling effect on the topic.

I went by on ym bike to school this morning and they ARE doing the earthwork on the southwest corner of the building now.

Awesome news! That means they must've just started within the past few days. I am SO excited to see this building rise up.

..gather 'round, rock this place to the ground?

They've taken the second half of the building down to the cement floors and supports.  I'm assuming the facade must be coming soon.

Most of the holes have been filled in and the dirt leveled in the geothermal park across the street. They must be getting somewhat close to completion.

An update:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/arts/music/woody-guthrie-gets-a-belated-honor-in-oklahoma.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

Bravo.  Was wondering what they were doing in that part of the building.  Knew some people who knew, but they weren't saying lol.  Gonna be some really neat stuff in the Brady here soon, and several "neat stuff" at that.  This town SO needs it lol. 

Can't beat national coverage like that.

I wish it had been more positive instead of "One of the racist, backwards, stuck in the 50's flyover states is finally coming into the 21st century and recognizing one of their own."

It's all good....Tulsa is changing for the better....don't hate the Tate. This will do more for the Brady than the Areama.....for a lot less money.

Ah well . . . it IS the NY Times.  What else are they gonna say? 

Also:  I'm actually stoked that one of the racist backwards stuck in the 50's flyover states is finally coming into the 21st Century and recognizing one of its own.  It's about damn time.

I noticed our local paper caught up with the story today.

http://www.woody100.com/concerts.htm

Here.....we be here!  the show in LA sounds to me like something for broadcast or DVD release from the Nokia. Probably a lot of big names.
 
I wonder if the Brady show might be a dress rehearsal for the LA show or a totally different show?

I don't know, but I'll tell you who should play this show: Wilco.  They love Woodie Guthrie and love playing Tulsa.

Too bad they'll be in Italy at the time...  :(

I noticed the parking and the landscaping were installed last week, anyone know the grand opening date?

Anyone attend the AH HA grand opening this past Sunday?

Hardesty Art Center opens in Brady District
1 / 29Showing image 1 of 29By JAMES D. WATTS JR. World Scene Writer
Published: 12/17/2012  2:24 AM
Last Modified: 12/17/2012  12:07 PM

The adults who came out to Sunday's official public opening of the Hardesty Arts Center may have said all sorts of appreciative things as they wandered through the four floors of the newest addition to the Brady Arts District.

But it was the younger generation who seemed to be getting the most use - and the most enjoyment - from what the new home of the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa has to offer.

Many of them crowded into the second floor Family Lab, making use of the markers, pencils and crayons available to commit their personal - if sometimes unrecognizable - visions to paper.

Abby Hope Cotner was industriously working on making a rainbow on her piece of paper, while her sister, Emma Faith, proudly held up her own work for appraisal.

"I made a heart with lots of crazy stuff around it," she said, before uncapping a purple marker to add another color of "crazy stuff" to her masterpiece-in-the-making.

Other youngsters were transfixed by the site of Adam Hauck's installation titled "Armada," which no doubt to their eyes resembled a very orderly arrangement of gigantic candies.

And others enjoyed moving from work of art to work of art that make up the center's first exhibit, titled "Concept/OK: Art in Oklahoma," offering their enthusiastically voiced assessment of each piece.

That sort of direct, personal connection with the arts is the underlying principle of the Hardesty Arts Center, which the Arts and Humanities Council likes to call "AHHA."

"This building is all about art," said Robert Schaefer, of Selser Schaefer Architects, the firm that designed the center. "It's about bringing art to everyone in the community."

The AHHA contains exhibition space, studios and classrooms, a complete photography suite complete with dark room and studio, a wood shop, a media lab, library and spaces that artists can rent for specific projects.

 It also contains office space for the Arts and Humanities Council, the AHHA staff, a gift shop and an office space to be shared by three statewide arts organizations: the Oklahoma Arts Council, the Oklahoma Arts Institute and the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, which organized the "Concept/OK: Art in Oklahoma" exhibit that will be on display through Feb. 16.

"We've been staying in the new hotel this weekend," said OVAC executive director Julia Kirt, referring to the recently opened Fairfield Inn and Suites, just a block away from the Hardesty Arts Center. "So we've been able to explore this whole neighborhood, and it's really amazing what has been happening in Tulsa in the last few years.

"What's really great," she added, "is that the arts are right in the middle of all that's going on."

The arts have been a major component to the revitalization of the Brady district, starting in the late 1980s when the Tulsa Center for Contemporary Art was established, and commercial galleries began moving into the area.

The neighborhood has grown to include the ONEOK Field ballpark, upscale residential facilities and an array of restaurants and clubs, but its identity as the city's "arts district" remains.

Ken Busby, executive director of the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa, thanked the city and citizens of Tulsa, who passed the third-penny sales tax that funded the purchase of the land for the Hardesty center, as well as help from the Cherokee Nation and Bank of Oklahoma, which helped secure the new market tax credits that helped fund the construction costs.

Busby also praised the Arts and Humanities Council for raising all the money needed for the building and its fixtures before construction began.

John Everitt, former head of the Arts and Humanities Council, said, "This place really is a testament to how much Tulsa supports the arts. So many cities give only cursory support to the arts, but Tulsans really put forth the effort."

Todd Cotner, whose daughters were busy in the Family Lab, said he was curious about the building because his father had worked for the Hardesty family.

"What I like is the construction of the place, the materials used," he said. "It's really an interesting building."

Schaefer said the materials chosen for the center echo architectural elements within the Brady district - weathered steel panels and the exposed industrial concrete - to make this very new building appear as if it has been on this spot for years.

Tom Moore came down with his family from Raytown, Mo., to attend the opening.

"My daughter is the significant other of one of the artists," he said, indicting Jason Carron's installation of video screens titled "Don't Think About It."

"I've never been to Tulsa before," he said. "It seems like a beautiful town. We plan to stay a couple of days and explore some of the other things to see around here."

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20121217_272_A1_ULNSat768762

I was there along with hundreds of other Tulsans. The BD was hoping on a Sunday afternoon.

Back in 2002, the Mathews was a pipe dream of a few bold thinkers. Congrats to Ken Busby and his staff.

Thank you Hardesty, Kaiser and Zarrow.

I'm glad its in the neighborhood, but count me as one who hates the architecural design.  It looks incomplete.  I'm sure there is some wordy existential artistic explanation as to why it is a brilliant design that would go right over my head, but I just don't like it.  Steel grates covering the entire front?  Just ugly.  The pictures of the inside looked great though.

Is it actually done?

The AH-HA is done and half of Matthews is done.

I love it lol.  That's a ringing endorsement for the look of a building if I ever heard one... "Is it done?"

I didn't mean the exterior of the building.  I meant is the punch list actually done?  I was in there 3-4 weeks before it opened for a tour with Ken and it looked like it was no where close to being done.

Has anyone heard of the Kravis Design Center?  Apparently it's located at 13th & Carthage, I wonder if this could somehow make a permanent home at AHHA or in the Arts District?  Apparently most of the pieces are loaned out to other museums.

In 2014, George Kravis established the Kravis Design Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma to house the 4,000 objects in his collection and to further his educational mission. The facility is 14,000 square feet of state of the art storage with a gallery space due to be complete in late 2016.

The Kravis Design Center focuses on international industrial design, covering a wide range of mass-produced objects of everyday life such as furniture, ceramics, metalwork, textiles, appliances, radios, and graphics. Highlights include Wells Coates’s Ekco radio (1932); Alberto Meda’s high-tech LightLight chair made from materials used in aeronautics (1987); Masanori Umeda’s Ginza cabinet, whose shape references Japanese popular culture (1982); and Mathias Bengtsson’s Slice armchair (1999), which comprises 388 sheets of laser-cut three-millimeter plywood glued together.

http://www.kravisdesigncenter.org/about-george-kravis-design-center (http://www.kravisdesigncenter.org/about-george-kravis-design-center)