University Towers

[Joey]

I found the answer to my own question here: http://www.escsi.org/pdfdoc1/Structural%20Info%20Sheet%20%204750.1.pdf

"The 31-floor circular University Club Tower, designed in 1964, was the first major building in the United States designed by a computer. Spearheaded by Fred N. Gauger, a Tulsa, Okla., consulting engineer and former engineering instructor at Oklahoma State University, this unusual multipurpose building used more than 14,000 yd3 (10,700 m3) of lightweight
concrete."

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelBates

quote:Originally posted by restored2x

That building looks like it should be situated at 81st and Lewis - would fit in perfectly with the ORU stuff. I wonder which was built first? The ORU buildings or the Jetsons building.

Anybody know?

It would be interesting because the Oral Roberts building was a block or two away (in the 60's - building still there, but unoccupied) from where the University Towers is - did the building of this tower influence decisions on architecture (sp) at ORU - or vice-versa - or same architect?

Seems like I read or heard somewhere that ORU's original plan was to build its campus where Mansion House and University Club Tower are now, close to the Abundant Life Building. Then someone donated land down south.

My first job was with a company that had its offices on the 30th floor. What a great vantage point. Spoiled me for life.

From what I understand he wasn't able to build near his Fortress of Solitude building after the Girlscouts kept him from dozing over the Council Oak tree.

[jackbristow]

Pic of Tower Top

Nice view

Sunset view

There are some linked pictures of the building.  The color is hideous.  Give the building a new face.  Make it shiny!!!  The color is ugly.

[mrskns]

quote:Originally posted by restored2x

That building looks like it should be situated at 81st and Lewis - would fit in perfectly with the ORU stuff. I wonder which was built first? The ORU buildings or the Jetsons building.

Anybody know?

It would be interesting because the Oral Roberts building was a block or two away (in the 60's - building still there, but unoccupied) from where the University Towers is - did the building of this tower influence decisions on architecture (sp) at ORU - or vice-versa - or same architect?

I think ORU was built first because it opened in 1963.  According to this thread, the tower was designed in 1964.

[restored2x]

Thanks!

[cannon_fodder]

I wish they would replace the ugly yellow panels.  They are showing their age to be sure.  New panels and the tower would look fantastic still!

[booWorld]

The apartments are on floors 9-30.  Structurally, the slabs of the floors above the parking ramp are icosikaitetragonal or 24-sided in plan, not circular.  Floors 31 and 32 are offices -- formally the University Club itself.  

Floors 9-28 were designed to a standard layout with basically 4 types of apartments:

2 studios (02 and 03 units) at 1.5 sides of the building each = 3 of 24 sides
2 larger one bedroom (04 and 05 units) at 2 sides each = 4 of 24 sides
4 smaller one bedroom (06, 07, 08, and 09 units) at 2 sides each = 8 of 24 sides
3 two bedroom (10, 00, and 01 units) at 3 sides each = 9 of 24 sides

Floors 29 and 30 are all two bedroom units, I think.  The arrangement of balconies is different on those two floors, which is obvious on the exterior from certain angles.

On the typical apartment floor (8-28), the centers of 04 units face north toward the downtown.  The 04 units have a full side of the building and two half sides.  The half sides of the 04 units face 15 degrees east and west of north.  

The center of the 05 units faces 30 degrees west of north.  
The center of the 06 units faces 30 degrees north of west.
The center of the 07 units faces due west.
The center of the 08 units faces 30 degrees south of west.
The center of the 09 units faces 30 degrees west of south.

The studio units have one full side and one half side of the building.  Working clockwise, the 03 units have a half side (balcony location) facing 15 degrees east of north.  The full side of the 03 units faces 30 degrees east of north.

The full side of the 02 units faces 45 degrees north of due east, and the half side of the 02 units faces 30 degrees north of east.

The two bedroom units have two full sides and two half sides of the building.  They have two balconies, which are at the half sides on each side of the units.  Again, working clockwise, the 01 units have a half side (balcony) facing 30 degrees north of east, then a full side facing 15 degrees north of east, then another full side facing due east, then another half side (a second balcony) facing 15 degrees south of east.

The 00 units have a half side facing 15 degrees south of east, a full side facing 30 degrees south of east, a second full side facing 45 degrees south of east, and another half side facing 60 degrees south of east.

The 10 units have a half side facing 30 degrees east of south, a full side facing 15 degrees east of south, a second full side facing due south, and a second half side facing 15 degrees west of south.  The second half side of the 10 units is the balcony pairing up with the balcony of the 09 units.  

The walls between units are perpendicular to one of the 24 exterior sides of the building except for the wall separating the 02 and 03 studios.  That wall extends to one of the 24 corners of the building.

Looking at the plan of a typical mix of units (floors 9-28), the balconies on the one bedroom and studio units alternate from left to right side.  Balconies of odd numbered units are on the left.  Balconies of even numbered units are on the right.

According to the Tulsa Sunday World issue of November 19, 1967, the University Club Tower was a regal crown of majestic living for the city, rising 370 feet above the terrain.

Initially, the tower had a few retail outlets, including Rowan and Petty Fine Foods, Scott Robinson's Prescription Shop, Yale Cleaners, and a beauty salon.    

[shadows]

What happened to the "Liberty Towers"?  Was it's name changed?

[YoungTulsan]

quote:Originally posted by shadows

What happened to the "Liberty Towers"?  Was it's name changed?

Liberty Towers is still there, at 1502 S. Boulder.

We talked about it earlier in the thread.  It is 24 stories I believe.

[TURobY]

quote:Originally posted by booWorld

That was definately a lot of interesting information. Thanks for posting that! [^]

[jne]

I love that building!  If they allowed pets, it would have been my first residence in Tulsa.

[shadows]

quote:Originally posted by YoungTulsan

quote:Originally posted by shadows

What happened to the "Liberty Towers"?  Was it's name changed?

Liberty Towers is still there, at 1502 S. Boulder.

We talked about it earlier in the thread.  It is 24 stories I believe.

Thanks for the information.

Shadows goofed again.  I was looking through old stock certificates and came up with a handful of the green liberty issue.  The broker assured me that since the Pearl and May rooms were going to have to close the tower was to accommodate the elite for their kept girls.   It was a win win issue.

Seem after it was built the stock  was transferred in the running florist which seemed to run away with the value of the stock.  The value disappeared like a snowflake on a 100 degree day.  

If I could find his headstone I could go kick it.