Stage Center

[Romulack]

In my opinion, Stage Center belongs at the zoo and should have monkeys playing in it. But that's just my opinion.

[Just the facts]

In my opinion, Stage Center belongs at the zoo and should have monkeys playing in it. But that's just my opinion.

Actual location withstanding, that is not a bad idea. I was thinking of having it at the new central park and maybe actually turning it into playground equipment or making it available for rental. The money from selling the land would be more than enough to pay for reconstruction from original plans and the City already owns the land it would be moving to.

[Phoenix59]

P.S. I'd definitely get that fear of Canada checked by a professional. As we all know, Canada is like the least scary thing on the planet...

I thought Koalas were the least scary thing on the planet.

[Oil Capital]

This thread is another example of where the words, "in my opinion" might be useful as well. In my opinion, Stage Center is a unique, iconic building that adds a lot of individuality to our city. It's another building that makes me smile when I come upon it on walks or when driving. If I were a visitor, I think I would see it as a very interesting counterpoint to a pretty bland downtown. It borders a park, which makes its whimsy appropo. It will be adjacent to a grade school, and to me, it mimics playground equipment. I would love to see it used, but at this point in time, it's a very interesting sculpture and I would hate to see it replaced with another bland structure. That's my opinion.

Agree with all of that, and I would much prefer to keep it too. But if there is no economical use for it, what are we to do with it? Are you willing to pay $1 Million a year to keep it as a sculpture?

[Spartan]

I thought Koalas were the least scary thing on the planet.

A mama Koala bear can be frightening indeed, but that's not something you'll find in Canada. And there's no reason to fear what you will actually find:

[Rover]

I think that an appropriate use of the building is as the "OKC Creativity Center / Institute". The theater areas could be turned into lecture and show areas with other areas being labs/work areas. Topics could be unlimited. Line up a program of creative speakers/instructors. It could be used for all ages, school events, corporate events, etc. It is a creative building, use it as that. Use the unusual energy of the building as an advantage. Use it for something that could get sponsorship from a variety of entities and use by a wider spectrum.

[securityinfo]

A mama Koala bear can be frightening indeed, but that's not something you'll find in Canada. And there's no reason to fear what you will actually find:

He's welcoming you too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sekLEG8xsOs

[Oil Capital]

I think that an appropriate use of the building is as the "OKC Creativity Center / Institute". The theater areas could be turned into lecture and show areas with other areas being labs/work areas. Topics could be unlimited. Line up a program of creative speakers/instructors. It could be used for all ages, school events, corporate events, etc. It is a creative building, use it as that. Use the unusual energy of the building as an advantage. Use it for something that could get sponsorship from a variety of entities and use by a wider spectrum.

Great idea! And the money for operations and maintenance comes from... ??

[rrios1986]

I really hope they find a use in this building. I remember going many times back in Middle school for fields trips, I was always amazed at the creative nature of the building.

[Rover]

Great idea! And the money for operations and maintenance comes from... ??

Sponsorships and functions. Better to spread the cost over several than ask a single entity to underwrite it or to ask the taxpayers to shoulder the whole burden.

[krisb]

I think that an appropriate use of the building is as the "OKC Creativity Center / Institute". The theater areas could be turned into lecture and show areas with other areas being labs/work areas. Topics could be unlimited. Line up a program of creative speakers/instructors. It could be used for all ages, school events, corporate events, etc. It is a creative building, use it as that. Use the unusual energy of the building as an advantage. Use it for something that could get sponsorship from a variety of entities and use by a wider spectrum.

Perhaps as the new headquarters for Creative Oklahoma and a new venue for mini Oklahoma Creativity Forums?

[Rover]

If the building inspires whimsy and creativity, then that should be its function.

[Spartan]

I guess I'm too pragmatic to know if that would work, but I like the idea.

[ljbab728]

I guess I'm too pragmatic to know if that would work, but I like the idea.

I agree, Spartan. If there is way to make that work financially it's an excellent idea. I know that will never convince the negative nellies who just don't like the way it looks though.

[dankrutka]

Well, that's a pretty awesome and comprehensive idea! Let's make it happen!

[Oil Capital]

Great concept, sidburgess. Just curious, where is your example housing rendering from?

[SoonerDave]

Wouldn't it just be simpler, cheaper, and more generally effective to build this very concept from scratch somewhere else in downtown?

The point is that is not about the quality of the re-use notions, its about the *horrendous* expense involved in rehabilitating that disaster, to say nothing of the $1M annual cost in maintenance, and/or who will foot that sizeable bill. Surely the voters can't be expected to pay it.

[Teo9969]

Kind of what I've thought as well Dave...Rebuild it, and make sure that it's built better at the seams so that the massive problems with the building are solved.

[G.Walker]

Children's Museum Proposed for Stage Center

http://journalrecord.com/2012/02/02/...r-real-estate/

[Double Edge]

Children's Museum Proposed for Stage Center

http://journalrecord.com/2012/02/02/...r-real-estate/

Log in required. Gist?

[warreng88]

By Dave Rhea
Journal Record
Posted: 06:23 PM Thursday, February 2, 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City’s Stage Center is sort of like a structural Rorschach test.

To some, it’s an outdated eyesore taking up some of downtown Oklahoma City’s most valuable real estate – right across the street from Devon’s $750 million corporate headquarters and adjacent to the newly renovated Myriad Gardens.

But to others, it’s a community cultural landmark. It represents some of the city’s earliest attempts at forward-thinking, avant-garde architecture.

One thing most everyone can agree on is that there is no shortage of opinions about the Stage Center complex. Presently, the lingering question in the community is what to do with those peculiar buildings situated on that valuable land.

One idea sprung up separately, but almost simultaneously, in the creative minds of Tracey Zeeck and Farooq Karim.

Zeeck owns an independent public relations company called Bumbershoot PR. Since Zeeck and her husband, Andy Zeeck, became parents, she has wanted to have a children’s museum in Oklahoma City.

“When we travel, that is something we always do at least one day of our trip,” she said.

With extensive downtown renovations, the lack of a children’s creative center as is found in other major markets, and the need to preserve a culturally and architecturally significant structure, Zeeck said now is the perfect time. She said she feels great and growing passion about making Stage Center Oklahoma City’s first dedicated children’s museum.

“Everybody wants to save Stage Center, and this is our one last chance to save it,” she said.

Almost simultaneously and completely unrelated, Karim was dreaming along the same lines. Karim, a vice president at Rees Associates architecture firm and the company’s practice leader in design and visualization, was originally involved in a feasibility study conducted about five years ago to repurpose Stage Center for theater use, he said. That was when he realized that it was almost impossible to renovate it for realistic modern theater use.

While driving to Dallas Tuesday on unrelated business, Karim said, he was thinking about the building because he was asked to lead a brainstorming session about it with Rees Associates on Feb. 9.

“I was thinking, this building just screams ‘children’s museum’ to me,” he said.

He said others at the Rees office have the same idea about repurposing the building for a creative children’s center.

“Then I get this email about Tracey and about the children’s museum idea, and I immediately had someone call her and say she and I need to get together ASAP,” Karim said.

He also said this is the last chance to save Stage Center from destruction. The city needs a children-specific creative-recreational facility at the same world-class level as the other construction in the area, he added.

“There are things downtown that are beneficial to kids, but nothing in the heart of the city for families and kids,” Karim said.

“We need fine arts performance art and music, and you’ve already got the spaces in that building to serve those purposes.”

Zeeck said there is no bad guy standing by with a wrecking ball, but time is of the essence. Considering the value of the land, the building needs to be preserved through some new viable use. Otherwise, it might be razed, falling prey to market forces.

“The bad guy is whoever has $20 million and won’t give it to kids,” she said jokingly, adding that the real hurdle will be finding the necessary funding.

Her ideal situation involves someone or some organization with a lot of money becoming emotionally vested in the project.

“The (Oklahoma City) Community Foundation (the current owners of Stage Center) has no agenda for this place,” Zeeck said.

“They just want to do something with it that’s going to keep it going.”

She added that a children’s museum would be easy to sustain, but not as easy to create.

With the combined passion, expertise and community network between Zeeck and Karim, this early idea could be the Hail Mary effort that saves Stage Center while filling a void in Oklahoma City.

“Like Tracey said, there is just something serendipitous about all of this coming together,” Karim said. “And if nothing else, in the end, if nothing else happens other than we put this together for the kids and save that building – perfect.”

[OKCisOK4me]

I didn't know there wasn't a childrens museum right next to the zoo. Seems a little redundant ...

[Pete]

We had discussed the children's museum before but it would take a awful lot of funding...

First, you have great expense just to get the place into working order. In addition to the flooding, there are long-standing problems that have just received band-aid treatment in the past.

Then, you have to fund all the exhibits and performance spaces, another huge chunk.

And finally, you have to have a large endowment to fund the continued operation.


The difficult part is not coming up with the idea, which was a rather obvious one from the outset. It's how you raise tens of millions without any existing organization or infrastructure to make that happen.

They mentioned $20 million in the article and that seems to be very conservative. They would have to find one or more big corporate sponsors in a big hurry.

[SoonerDave]

Pete, I think the very point you bring up begs the broader question - if someone were willing to pursue ANY of the supposed "revival" ideas for the Stage Center, could not the money needed be better spent on a *brand new* facility custom tailored to support the prospective new tenant's desires rather than being designed to "save" the Stage Center?

I mean, add up the $$ to get the SC habitable. Every penny of that money could be used to invest in this proposed "Children's Museum" in a from-scratch environment with the funds going to the Children's Museum project, not to rehab the SC. If its deemed a worthwhile project, why embark on any funding commitment that doesn't route the maximum possible financial resources to the project, not the building? The same could be said of nearly any well-intentioned philanthropic venture really aimed at saving the SC.

And I agree, I looked at $20M to start up and almost laughed out loud.

[Pete]

Dave, I'm sure to some people the extra money would be worth it to save the building.

I'm sure they would argue the least expensive route is not always the best and there is a strong element of history and architectural significance. I know not everyone feels that way but there are lots that do and we'll see if they can rally the necessary support.