Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center

Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center

Rand Elliott Architects als Architecten

Background: Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, founded as City Arts Center in 1989 by businessman and philanthropist Christian Keesee and Kirkpatrick Foundation Director Marilyn Myers, is an Oklahoma City nonprofit committed to providing accessible, inclusive arts experiences through free exhibitions, events and performances and by offering low-cost, high-quality arts classes and camps for youth and adults.


Overview: Oklahoma Contemporary has begun construction on the state’s next cultural destination, a contemporary arts center at NW 11th and Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City. The new facility, designed by architect Rand Elliott and built by Smith & Pickel Construction, will open in the fall of 2019.


For 28 years, Oklahoma Contemporary has provided arts education, performances and exhibitions at State Fair Park and now reaches around 18,000 people annually. The building is filled to capacity with camps, classes, exhibits and programming. The move will allow the organization to keep pace with demand, serve an estimated 90,000 annual visitors and more than triple programs and class offerings, greatly expanding its mission of “art for all.”


Unlike traditional museums, Oklahoma Contemporary does not collect art. “Our focus is on visual and performing arts education for youth, teens and adults,” Founder and Board President Christian Keesee said. “Our contemporary art exhibitions enhance that mission as our students and community learn from the artists of the contemporary era.”


Architectural

Concept: The concept for the new Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center building is called

Folding Light. At the beginning of the design process Rand Elliott said, “I was

searching for a way to tie the architecture to the organization and to the city. Our

city has great light – ever-changing light. So how do we connect the three? We

created a unique aluminum skin where the pieces are folded to capture the light and

react to the sun. Light is the essence of life and with light is the essence of any

artistic endeavor.”


The concept of Folding Light ties Oklahoma Contemporary to its mission, to the

architecture and to our place.


• What difference will it make?

It coincides with the renaissance of Oklahoma City.

• The key word is “Contemporary”

It will be a place to expose visitors to the importance of contemporary thinking, contemporary art and architecture.

It is contemporary architecture to hold the contemporary art of our time. It is not about the past. It is a place for now. It is a place that all of us can be part of at a pivotal moment in our city’s history.


Just as Oklahoma is known for our ever-changing weather, this architecture reflects the dramatic transformation of Downtown, our boundless community spirit, and celebrates our stunning Oklahoma light. We believe architecture is a reflection of the cultural values of a city. The new Oklahoma Contemporary building embodies the aspirations of our city.


“Architecture reflects the cultural values of a city. The new Oklahoma Contemporary building is a statement of belief and investment in the arts. This building embodies the aspirations of our city.”


Campus Facts: The 4.6-acre arts campus will become the north gateway to downtown Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center will be home to a new 53,916 square-foot building, a renovated 9,839 square-foot historic warehouse, a three-block arts park and space for outdoor exhibitions, education programs and public performances.


The campus will include:


• Folding Light: 53,916-square-foot building with 7,279 square-feet of gallery space and nine classrooms


o First floor: lobby, one early childhood classroom and four other general classroom/ multipurpose rooms, Teen Art Studio, 1,300 square feet of gallery space, café and retail areas


o Second floor: 6,700 square feet of gallery space, hands-on learning gallery, photo classroom, sound studio, multimedia lab, artist-in-residence studio, staff offices and a balcony to be used as outdoor classroom or event space

o Third floor: a flexible theater space that will seat 150 (plus 49 more on the mezzanine level), a dance studio and a green room and performing arts lobby/event space that will serve both

o Fourth floor: theater mezzanine and staff offices


• The Studios: Renovated 9,839-square-foot 1910 historic warehouse, adjacent to Folding Light

o Studio space for ceramics, fiber, metal, wood, glass and more


Unique Features:


Custom fabricated extruded aluminum vertical “random fins” architectural metal cladding will be installed at the exterior. These fins extend full height from the ground level to the top of the parapet that will be 67’2” above the first-floor elevation. The reflector at the top of the “Lantern” will be 69’2” above the ground level

• Orientation of the building will create shade for outdoor activities.

Backlit “lantern” architectural element on southwest corner.

Covered canopy for protection from the elements at entrance.

Landscaped special event and children’s play area create a very special urban outdoor space.

Dance Studio with monumental windows overlooking the State Capitol


Details:

When you come to Oklahoma Contemporary you will park in a park . . .

The Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center will be 50,000 SF, 4 stories . . .

The “Maker Space” will be 10,000 SF and located in a 1910 warehouse.

The architectural concept is called “Folding Light.” It is inspired by the ever-changing Oklahoma light.

The orientation of the building will create shade for outdoor activities.

We will have a room-sized elevator that can double as entertainment space on

busy nights . . . where else can you ride the elevator and be served a glass of wine?

Imagine your event in an art space. One-of-a-kind spaces are available to rent for events of all kinds. The spaces range from an outdoor deck to a flexible theater to gallery spaces.

There will be a store offering artworks made on site.

The main stair will immerse you in a spectrum of light.

Finally, imagine a place where there is art for everyone.


Word Paintings:


It will be fun.

It will be a place to learn.

It will be a surprise.

It will be playful.

It will be sculptural.

It will be inspiring.

It will be unexpected.

It will be contemporary.

It will focus on artists in our time.

It will be timeless.

It will be art for art.

Producten Achter Projecten
Product Spotlight
Nieuws
Powerhouse Company transforms historic church in Rotterdam into new music venue
14 nov. 2024 Nieuws
Powerhouse Company transformeert historische kerk in Rotterdam tot nieuw poppodium

Powerhouse Company heeft de transformatie van een historische en in onbruik geraakte doopsgezinde ke... Meer

CAN adds verdant extension to London terrace
13 nov. 2024 Nieuws
CAN voegt groene uitbreiding toe aan Londens terras

Architectenstudio CAN heeft de uitbreiding van een rijtjeshuis in Stoke Newington in Londen voltooid... Meer

QARTA Architektura’s design for new Blum HQ exhibits smart industrial aesthetic
13 nov. 2024 Nieuws
QARTA Architektura's ontwerp voor het nieuwe hoofdkantoor van Blum toont een slimme industriële esthetiek

De Tsjechische creatieve studio QARTA Architektura heeft een nieuw hoofdkantoor in Praag ontworpen v... Meer

Fujianese restaurant blends traditional Chinese elements with contemporary aesthetics
13 nov. 2024 Nieuws
Restaurant Fujianese combineert traditionele Chinese elementen met hedendaagse esthetiek

Nin Hao, gelegen in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, is een nieuw Fujianees restaurant ontworpen door de... Meer

Studio Gang Unveils Expansion at California College of the Arts in San Francisco
13 nov. 2024 Nieuws
Studio Gang onthult uitbreiding aan het California College of the Arts in San Francisco

Studio Gang heeft een opwindende nieuwe uitbreiding voltooid voor de campus van het California Colle... Meer

Frankie Pappas and community activists transform GBV hotspot in South African township with bright pink landmark
12 nov. 2024 Nieuws
Frankie Pappas en activisten transformeren GBV-hotspot in Zuid-Afrikaanse township met felroze mijlpaal

Frankie Pappas is een gezamenlijke architectuur- en ontwerpstudio. De naam is een collectief pseudon... Meer

Open Architecture designs conical Sun Tower as a “cultural lighthouse”
12 nov. 2024 Nieuws
Open Architecture ontwerpt kegelvormige Zonnetoren als “culturele vuurtoren”

Open Architecture uit Beijing heeft de Sun Tower voltooid, een culturele faciliteit aan het water in... Meer