Bob Dylan Center

Located in the Tulsa Arts District, the three-story museum serves as the permanent home of the Bob Dylan Archive, acquired by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the University of Tulsa. The archive spans Dylan’s entire career and includes more than 100,000 items, from never-before-seen manuscripts, notebooks and personal correspondence to films, photographs, artwork, instruments, memorabilia and unreleased recordings. As the centerpiece of the Center, this remarkable collection offers an immersive exploration of Dylan’s artistry, influence and enduring legacy. The Smithsonian magazine named the Bob Dylan Center one of the most anticipated museum openings of 2022.

The Bob Dylan Center’s mission is to educate, motivate and inspire visitors to explore their own creative potential. While anchored by a permanent exhibition on Dylan’s life and work, the Center also hosts rotating exhibits, public programs, performances, lectures and publications – all aimed at sparking dialogue around the role of creativity in our everyday lives.

Wallace Design Collective provided structural engineering services for the analysis and design of the interior renovation and artwork support for the new Bob Dylan Center. Among the unique elements of the project was engineering support for a custom-designed entry gate – developed with input from Bob Dylan himself. Spanning approximately 15 feet from floor to ceiling in the Center’s tall entry space, the gate required careful analysis of support, anchorage and frame sizing to achieve both structural integrity and visual impact.

photography: ©Mel Willis