Join Us for Our April Tour!

Join us for a tour of Boyett Petroleum on Tuesday, April 29th led by TAP Architecture.

Boyett Petroleum's new Oklahoma Headquarters joins a 1920s brick warehouse and a 1940s Quonset hut into a one-of-a-kind office space. Once considered a lost cause due to damage from the early 2000s Walnut Bridge restoration, owner Dale Boyett saw their potential. He fell in love with their character and had a dream of restoring them into a showcase for his company by breathing new life into these dilapidated buildings.

The project preserved original materials, including the brick and wood from the 1920s building and the steel structure from the Quonset hut. A new steel skeleton stabilizes the warehouse, supporting a new glass penthouse. The basement was cleared of debris, and a concrete floor was added to house the IT department.

The addition of a new light well in the Quonset hut floods the space with natural illumination and draws visitors through a dramatic transition from Main Street to reception. Removal of bricked-in window openings allows daylight to penetrate deep inside the open plan office and invite expansive views. The new penthouse provides respite from the workplace while commanding panoramic views of Oklahoma City's historic Bricktown.

This visionary act of preservation and conservation of Oklahoma City history is a testimony to what can be done with a lofty vision and appropriate resources. The design exploits the historic character and location of two neighboring buildings and joins them together in a classic gestalt "where the whole is perceived as more than the sum of its parts.

Tuesday, April 29th

5:30 p.m.

Boyett Petroleum

123 E. Main Street, OKC

Cost:

OCFA Members: Free

Nonmember Guests: $15

Welcome to the OCFA Board!

Jill Coleman holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in prevention science from the University of Oklahoma and has dedicated her career to education and public health. She spent 12 years as a K-12 special education teacher before transitioning to her current role as Program Manager for the South-Central AIDS Education & Training Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Since 2010, she has led federally funded initiatives, developed educational programs, and fostered key partnerships to address critical community health needs. She has also served on the board of AIDS Walk OKC, contributing to fundraising, advocacy, and event planning.

Aside from her professional life, is a fine art photographer specializing in historic architecture and architectural artifacts, drawing inspiration from her early studies in architecture. Her work has been showcased in juried art exhibitions in Oklahoma City and has found collectors both locally and internationally.

Her combined expertise in education, public health, and the arts reflects a deep commitment to community engagement and the preservation of culture.

Tourism entrepreneur Jeffrey Tanenhaus is the founder of walking tour companies in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. He also created the Oil Capital Pop-Up Museum that was unveiled on the centennial of the first International Petroleum Exposition. This free exhibit traces Tulsa’s oil heritage from the Glenn Pool to Golden Driller. 

Jeffrey graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in geography and political science. Although born in Manhattan, he now proudly calls Oklahoma his adoptive home state. Constant stress as a corporate event planner led him to escape New York City and bicycle across America, including Route 66. 

He’s excited to join OCFA and is currently on the ballot for a Board seat at the Oklahoma Historical Society.

24th Annual AIA Architecture Tour Features the Historic Cunningham Residence

The American Institute of Architects Central Oklahoma Chapter (AIACOC) is excited to host its 24th Annual Architecture Tour on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. This highly anticipated self-guided tour will showcase seven remarkable architectural destinations, including both commercial and residential properties that exemplify outstanding design and innovation in Oklahoma City.

The AIA Architecture Tour celebrates the spaces that shape our communities, telling stories of creativity, history, and vision through architecture. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with many of the architects behind these projects, gaining insight into the design process and the unique characteristics that define each space.

A Tour Highlight: The Cunningham House

The Cunningham House, designed by renowned architect Herb Greene, serves as the anchor location for this year’s tour. This architectural gem, which welcomed new ownership in 2024, is an extraordinary example of organic architecture, a style that emphasizes harmony between structure and environment.

Designed with a recessed brick base, the Cunningham House nestles into its west-facing slope, creating a sense of security and privacy while overlooking a golf course. Its sweeping, sloped roof, which drains toward a fountain at the street-facing facade, elegantly extends westward, symbolizing movement and aspiration. Freestanding ornamental trellises provide shade for the glass curtain wall behind them, filtering light in a way that fulfills the original client’s request for indirect lighting. To protect the trellis vines from Oklahoma’s ice storms, the house’s roof extension and orientation were carefully planned. Materials such as dark umber brick headers and cedar ceiling boards transitioning from light to dark stains further emphasize the home’s organic aesthetic. While the rear facade embraces sculptural elements, the street-facing facades remain quiet and understated, allowing the home to blend into its surroundings.

Special Exhibition: The Prairie House and the Legacy of Herb Greene



Complementing the Cunningham House tour, visitors will also have the opportunity to experience an exhibition on another of Greene’s iconic designs – the Prairie House. Located in Norman, Oklahoma, and completed in 1961, this home embodies the ethos of the American School of Architecture, rooted in the teachings of Bruce Goff. Designed as Greene’s family residence, the Prairie House mimics the textures of the Oklahoma prairie with wood boards and shingles, evoking imagery of grasses, ravines, feathers, and fur.

Now 64 years old and endangered, the Prairie House has faced significant weathering. In response, the Prairie House Preservation Society was established three years ago to spearhead restoration efforts for this architectural treasure. This exhibition will provide a rare look at the Prairie House in its original condition, its current state, and the ongoing preservation efforts—offering attendees an opportunity to support its restoration.

www.okcarchitecture.com