Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center embraces all forms of art and creativity, advancing the power of collaboration to unlock creative energy.
The arts center, located in Oklahoma City’s Automobile Alley, enables Oklahoma Contemporary to significantly expand its mission of “art for all” through a wide variety of accessible arts education and experiences for youth, teens and adults. The center features gallery space, a dance studio, classrooms, a 150-seat flexible performance space and numerous interior and exterior areas available for private events.
Wallace Design Collective provided structural engineering services for the four-story arts center. The facility includes 54,000 square feet of new space as well as renovation of an existing 10,000 square foot brick warehouse and features an exterior metal rainscreen. The center is also referred to as “Folding Light” because of the way the faceted reflective metal facade reflects Oklahoma’s ever-changing light and weather. The structure is an irregular braced steel frame with long-span floor systems and a sculptural steel entrance canopy set on a deep foundation system.
photography: ©Grey City Studio | architect: Rand Elliott Architects
2020 American Institute of Architects Central Oklahoma – Excellence in Design Honor Award in Large Commercial Architecture
2020 The Architect’s Newspaper – Best of Design Editor’s Pick
2021 American Institute of Architects Central States Region – Excellence in Design Merit Award
2021 American Institute of Architects Oklahoma – Excellence in Design Merit Award
2021 American Architecture – Award for Best New Museum and Cultural Building
2021 Architizer A+Awards – Finalist Architecture+Facades
2021 Metal Architecture Awards – Grand Award Winner
2021 Metal Architecture Awards – Smooth Metal Wall Panel Winner
2021 Urban Land Institute Oklahoma – Impact Award Large Scale Development Award
2021 USA Today – 10 Best – Top Three Best New Museums
2022 American Institute of Architects Central Oklahoma – Excellence in Design Craft Honor Award
