Mod of the Moment II

moderntulsa is excited to announce its second mod of the moment. Join us Sunday March, 28th from 5 – 7 pm for drinks, refreshments, music and modern design at a 1956 Jack Hudson designed mid-century modern home located at the 1546 East 60th street. Located in Tulsa’s Southern Gardens, the house is the sister house of the 1956 Parade of Homes house”The Haven”, just a few doors down. Designed by Jack Hudson and built by Doran Johnson, “The Haven” offered more than comfortable and easy living, it offered safety from bombs and storms as well. The home was built with a reinforced concrete bomb-shelter that served as the hallway from the family and living rooms to the three bedrooms. Sound intriguing join us this Sunday to see it for yourself!

Modern Tulsa would like to thank Aberson Exhibits and Center 1 Market for their generous sponsorship of this event

YMCA Story

Be sure to check out this video featuring TFA board members Shane Hood and Matt King discussing potential reuse possibilities of Tulsa's old YMCA.

Old City Hall Update

(Photo by Bob Hawks, from the TFA Archives, circa 1969)

It appears the Old City Hall and Francis Campbell City Council Building may avoid the wrecking ball after all. If you've seen the article in today's Tulsa World, you already know that the Snyder family, who we have to thank for the renovation of The Mayo Hotel, has made an offer to purchase the Old City Hall building as well as the City Council Building with plans to convert the Old City Hall into a hotel and the Council Building into a restaurant. This is such great news as Preservation Oklahoma named the entire Civic Center Plaza one of Oklahoma's most endangered places just last week. If the Snyder's plan becomes a reality it will be a huge success story for historic preservation in Tulsa as well as another indication that downtown is headed in the right direction. The Snynder's desire to renovate these mid-century buildings, rather than demolish them and start over, speaks volumes about how far preservation in Tulsa has come. It is easy to recognize the importance of a building like the Mayo Hotel, but it takes tremendous vision and an understanding of Tulsa's history to WANT to renovate a building like the Old City Hall, a building that so many people love to hate. Which is not to say it is not equally important as the Mayo Hotel or any of our art deco buildings, because it is just as important. And the fact that a proven developer, such as the Snyders, recognizes this is very encouraging for Tulsa's modern architecture and downtown.

5th Annual White Glove Open House

Mark your calendars and plan to attend the 5th Annual White Glove Open House at the TFA Archives, 321 South Boston, Lower Level 01, on January 19 (Tuesday) from 4:30-7:30 p.m. We will have light refreshments and encourage you to bring a friend – this event is free and open to the public.

We will be celebrating the award of the prestigious Save America’s Treasures grant in the amount of $150,000 to preserve and conserve our special collections. The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture is thrilled to be the recipient of this very competitive grant and wants to share our enthusiasm with you, our supporters, and those who have entrusted the more than 35,000 architectural drawings, bound periodicals, books, and artifacts to our care.

Sixth Annual Foundation Awards

The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture will host the Sixth Annual Foundation Awards on Thursday, October 29th from 5 - 7 PM in the Penthouse at the Mayo Hotel and Luxury Residences, 115 W. 5th St, 18th Floor. There will be free street parking available and valet parking at the Mayo Motor Inn for a nominal fee. The Mayo Hotel and Luxury Residences is the receipent of this year's Foundation Landmark Award and Jack Frank is the receipent of this year's Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. Due to space limitations, please RSVP at 583.5550. You may also purchase tickets online here.

Third Annual Downtown Living Tour

As part of its mission to enhance Tulsa's livability and revitalize downtown, the TFA will host its Third Annual Downtown Living Tour, June 27 and 28, 2009. Five unique sites will be featured on the weekend tour and the T-Town Trolley will provide transportation to each site and is included with each tour ticket purchase. Tour hours are Saturday: 11 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Sunday: 1:00-5:00 p.m. Single ticket: $20 or Two tickets for $35.

To kick off the weekend tour, the TFA will host a Patron Party on Friday, June 25, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at a private residence near Third and Kenosha. Each Patron Party ticket includes two (2) tickets to the weekend Downtown Living Tour; food from local restaurants including Blue Dome Diner, Daily Grill, Elote Cafe and Catering, Impressions, Joe Momma's, and F.B. Oscar's Gastropub, with select wines from Girouard Vines and an assortment of beers from James E. McNellie's Public House. Patron Party Ticket: $50.

Living in HiFi: Lortondale Home Tour

"Living in HiFi" will be an annual modern home tour hosted by the Modern Tulsa committee of the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. Focused on mid-century modern residential architecture, the tour will seek to promote an awareness and the preservation of this oft-overlooked and dismissed style of architecture. 

"Living in HiFi" will premiere June 13th in the historic Lortondale Neighborhood. 
Designed and built in 1954 by Tulsa duo Donald Honn (architect) and Howard Grubb (builder), the Lortondale Neighborhood was the recipient of a multitude of national design awards. The neighborhood was featured in an array of magazines including House and Home and Better Homes and Gardens. 

In recent years Lortondale has experienced something of a rebirth. A new generation of homeowners, interested in modern design, are snapping up the houses just as fast as they come on the market. After decades of neglect, many of the houses in the neighborhood are being restored to their former modern glory. Most importantly, the Lortondale Community is experiencing the same restoration. 

This year's tour seeks to convey the energy that is the Lortondale Neighborhood today. Featured are 6 houses in various stages of completion. From the beginning stages of a restoration to a virtually complete example of HiFi-modern bliss, this tour of Lortondale will show you what all the buzz is about. 

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 day-of. The tour will take place from 5:30 - 8:30 with an after party lasting from 8:30 -? 

Tickets are available for purchase at the following locations: 

Dwelling Spaces 
119 South Detroit 

Urban Furnishings 
3636 South Peoria 

Ida Red 
3346 South Peoria 

TFA Architectural Archives 
321 South Boston, Suite #LL01