Oklahoma Contemporary’s new downtown campus stands as a new cultural destination among the architecture of Oklahoma City, a sculptural expression of the nonprofit’s mission to provide accessible, inclusive arts experiences. The 53,916 sq ft, four-story building, “Folding Light,” anchors the 4.6-acre campus which includes a renovated 9,839 square-foot 1910 historic warehouse (to house studios for ceramics, fiber, metal and wood) and a three-block arts park, providing space for outdoor exhibitions, education programs and public performances.
Visitors are greeted by a striking, sculptural building comprised of 16,800 custom-designed extruded aluminum fins extending from the ground to the building’s parapet. The shell is constructed from bright-dipped anodized aluminum, resulting in an ethereal facade designed to capture and reflect the dramatic changes in light and sky that characterize the local landscape. A vertical, four-story Lantern lit each evening marks the campus entry and a sculptural canopy adds elegance to the entrance and offers guests protection from the elements.
Judge's comment: "An elegant jewel in the Oklahoma landscape. The sun setting on the exterior skin visually transforms the museum."
Additional Nominations and Awards coverage:
Bright Golden Haze announced as 2020 Best of Year Award finalist in Exhibition/Installation category
Interior Design
Oklahoma Contemporary selected as Editor's Pick in Cultural category in 2020 Best of Design Awards
The Architect's Newspaper
Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center named in Top 10 U.S. architecture projects of 2020
Dezeen
Oklahoma Contemporary named in shortlist for Blueprint Awards 2020 in Best Public-Use Project, Privately Funded category
Blueprint Magazine
Blueprint Awards 2020 Shortlist Announced
Design Curial
Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center among 2020 winners of Architecture MasterPrize in Cultural category
Architecture MasterPrize
Oklahoma City architecture firm selected as a finalist for a Blueprint Award
OU Daily
