development
|category1=Central Business District
|category2=Downtown
|category3=Office Buildings
|category4=Municipal
|
|project=
|address=100 N. Walker (http://goo.gl/maps/wQVFG)
|status=complete
|owner=City of OKC
|cost=
|architect=
|start=
|finish= 1930; renovated 1978
|contractor=
|height=7 stories
|sq. feet=
|acerage= .3037
|other=
|
|image=http://www.okctalk.com/images/wikiphotos/100walker.jpg
|

Information & Latest News
Links
County Assessor Record (http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/AN-R.asp?ACCOUNTNO=R010018584)

Doug Loudenback Article (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-became-of-downtown-uso.html)

Gallery

The real question is, has 100 N Walker always been ugly as sin?

When downtown OKC fell for the modernist movement, it fell hard.

When downtown OKC fell for the modernist movement, it fell hard.

The good news is in 50 years, people will think we've got a treasure trove of... you know I can't even finish that sentence with a straight face.

When downtown OKC fell for the modernist movement, it fell hard.

That is not a "modernist" building. Just a poorly-executed abomination in EIFS.

That is not a "modernist" building. Just a poorly-executed abomination in EIFS.

Are you sure? It looks like an early example of it.

The real question is, has 100 N Walker always been ugly as sin?
100 N. Walker was originally (in 1930) the home of Bass Furniture ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/sandridge/100nwalker1.jpg

During World War 2, it became the city's main USO building ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/sandridge/100nwalker2.jpg

Lastly, it was remodeled in 1978 to its present configuration ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/bassfurniture/bass_1978_10_08.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/sandridge/100nwalker3.jpg

The full story is here: Doug Dawgz Blog: What Became of The Downtown USO? (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-became-of-downtown-uso.html)

I always thought of the city finance building as the Kia Optima of downtown buildings...

So they took a great building and did that to it. Figures. Man, they really screwed up the sidewalk appeal didn't they. We need to get a nut kicking machine and start rounding some people up. Maybe with some luck the good stuff is still underneath.

Wow! This should be required viewing before any building is re-clad.

Doug, your blog is a treasure. Thank you.

From Doug's blog, this was the original renovation plan:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/bassfurniture/bass_1978_01_01.jpg

So they took a great building and did that to it. Figures. Man, they really screwed up the sidewalk appeal didn't they. We need to get a nut kicking machine and start rounding some people up. Maybe with some luck the good stuff is still underneath.

HAHA! Sometimes you're relentlessness tires me out, but then you go and post something like this, particularly the bold part. Just great.

Now to clean the coffee off of my screen...

Fred Spitz.... oh boy....

Lol - I love the quote "Potential profit from the building will result from an increase in the value of the building once it is refurbished and once downtown redevelopment occurs."

That was 34 years ago. The lot next door is finally getting something built on it. That should put things in perspective.

Out with the old, in with the new, right? Those very words have been said in this forum, apparently without ironic intent.

This building was renovated with the idea the Galleria was coming to what is now largely the Devon Energy Center...

At that point, anything built before 1970 seemed to be targeted for demolition or 'modernization'.

Out with the old, in with the new, right? Those very words have been said in this forum, apparently without ironic intent.

To this day some people still have a grudge against our beautiful, old buildings and prefer to see them replaced with newer dreck

Our wise old history sage Doug beat me to it. :) You coming to the RetroMetroOKC meeting at Kaiser's on Monday?

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Old%20Oklahoma%20City/USO%20Club/USOClub.jpg

Background left to right: St Joseph's, OG&E, Braniff, Court Plaza and Bell Telephone Buildings clustered on the right.

Wow, look at the urban density in the background behind the construction site!

OMG somebody bring back that five cent hamburger shack!

For anyone interested, this is what use to be between the USO Club and the Hightower. You can see part of the large building on the left in this photo in the other photo above, on the right.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Old%20Oklahoma%20City/7183d0306dbc2f5e492039f163c1eaff.jpg

Claude's Grill, 421 W. Main, Oklahoma City, Tom Pointer Real Estate Acct., photo by Meyers Photo Shop
1946

Our wise old history sage Doug beat me to it. :) You coming to the RetroMetroOKC meeting at Kaiser's on Monday?
Yes.

I'm quite certain the EIFS and blank, characterless windows were sold at the time as being more energy-efficient, lower-maintenance and providing a modern, more-up-to-date appearance. At the end of the day, someone stepped back from that project, when completed, and said "WOW! What an improvement!"

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Old%20Oklahoma%20City/USO%20Club/USOClub.jpg

Background left to right: St Joseph's, OG&E, Braniff, Court Plaza and Bell Telephone Buildings clustered on the right.
What a great photo ... notice the train freight cars, center left edge.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Old%20Oklahoma%20City/8b83d6e52941b6d27646500d1d845753.jpg
Claude's Grill, 421 W. Main, Oklahoma City, Tom Pointer Real Estate Acct., photo by Meyers Photo Shop
1946