These Walls: University Club Tower

[Kenosha]

http://www.journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recID=86661

quote:These Walls: University Club Tower
by Heather Caliendo
The Journal Record February 29, 2008

TULSA – Sprawling up towards the sky, with a kaleidoscopic view of the city, the University Club Tower is not only the tallest residential high-rise in Tulsa, it has the distinction of being the first major building designed by a computer in the United States.



Univerisity Club Tower in Tulsa. (Photo by Rip Stell)


Current Edition

In 1964 Fred Gauger, a former Oklahoma State University engineering instructor, used a computer program to determine the engineering data for the frame of the building, according to information provided by Brad Blake, property manager. This new innovation allowed him to spend a total of 10 minutes calculating the building frame information. The computer then solved 248 simultaneous equations in 27 minutes. Without the new technology, it could have taken two years to design the framework. Cities Service Co. provided the IBM 1620 with 60K of BCD memory for the design.

Concern over side sway was a prime issue for the Gauger and Bill Martin, another engineer involved in the project. Buildings at the time had 24 to 35 inches of sway at the top. They wanted to construct the building where high winds would not affect the day-to-day life of residents. They factored that into the computer and were able to only have 10 inches of sway.
The 320-foot tower at 1722 S. Carson Ave. cost $7 million to build and opened for residents in 1968. There are 31 floors with the first eight dedicated to a parking garage. The tower's exterior is about 14,000 square yards of light concrete, which was an important factor to the parking ramp design, Blake said.
There are 236 apartments that range from 700 to 1,300 square feet. Elevators travel at 850 feet per minute.

A futuristic, unique 'city within a city' idea was behind selling the circular high-rise plan. With amenities like an Olympic-size swimming pool, sauna and shopping centers, University Club Tower aligned itself with high-rises found in New York City.
Blake provided a quote from the original advertising: "A nucleus of culture – yet as homey, intimate as the sprawling oil Capitol of the world, whose skyline it dominates. University Club Tower, personify ultra-modern living for every strata of life-at reasonable costs."

The Journal Record profiles a significant Oklahoma City or Tulsa building in "These Walls" every Monday and Tuesday.

[Steve]

I love the University Club Tower apartments.  I am old enough to remember when this building was constructed and as a 20-something in the 1970's, I wanted to live at University Club, but could not afford it!  I hope this great landmark Tulsa building is preserved and maintained true to its mid 20th century heritage.

[FOTD]

Tulsa's hypodermic needle.....

[TheArtist]

Neat building. Definitely stands as a great example of its time. Along with...

[booWorld]

For those who don't know or who might have forgotten, Joey began a discussion topic on University Club Tower a few months ago.

[inteller]

ok, so was it the first CAD engineered skyscraper or not?  CAD was in its infancy around '64.

[Conan71]

Proof that computers are not the best judges of good taste:

[jackbristow]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Proof that computers are not the best judges of good taste:

It would be nice if the ownership would give the exterior a bit of a facelift to do away with that olive green color.  It's kind of gross looking.  It would look very sharp if it was surfaced with some sort of shiny metallic material.

[booWorld]

The original idea for the exterior would have resulted in a much more attractive building IMO.  The unbuilt design had projecting balconies around the perimeter of building, much like Marina City in Chicago.

[dsjeffries]

quote:Originally posted by jackbristow
It would be nice if the ownership would give the exterior a bit of a facelift to do away with that olive green color.  It's kind of gross looking.  It would look very sharp if it was surfaced with some sort of shiny metallic material.

I was thinking the same thing!

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by DScott28604

quote:Originally posted by jackbristow
It would be nice if the ownership would give the exterior a bit of a facelift to do away with that olive green color.  It's kind of gross looking.  It would look very sharp if it was surfaced with some sort of shiny metallic material.

I was thinking the same thing!

Here's how that would look:

[Gold]

#1 reason to live there . . . you don't have to look at it.

[hoodlum]

this is the most iconic building in Tulsa and one of my favorite. The colors are great and should not be replaced.

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by hoodlum

this is the most iconic building in Tulsa and one of my favorite. The colors are great and should not be replaced.

+1

It is a product of its time. Replace the exterior panels with metallic ones and the building wouldn't be eligible for the National Register.

[TURobY]

While it would be cool to change it, it'd be even cooler to preserve it. Maybe restore the color to its original brilliance...