Smart Growth Advocacy

Architects, Urban Planners, Futurists, and others that shape our cities are beginning to understand that society can no longer afford to consider buildings individually. We must examine the spaces between buildings, their interrelationships, their neighborhoods, and the connecting systems that create successful cities. This larger examination is essential to the creation of pro-active policies that will improve the livability of our city. To fuel this critical dialogue on Tulsa’s future growth, we have sponsored a series of urban planning conferences with the active support of Mayor M. Susan Savage.

Our first conference entitled Tulsa: Our Next 100 Years, was held in 1996 and attracted what the Tulsa World described as over 300 of "Tulsa’s Who’s Who". Due to the overwhelming success of this day long conference the Foundation, along with Mayor Savage and AIA Eastern Oklahoma, sponsored a second conference in February 1999. Smart Growth: the Tulsa Conference on City Design, attracting a state wide audience of over 350. These conferences are designed to encourage a dialogue among our community leaders and decision-makers, and create an awareness of the basic principals of City Design. These conferences have already had a direct effect on Tulsa and are being used as national models for local built environment advocacy efforts.On February 27, 2001, we will host the third in this series that will again be co-hosted by Mayor M. Susan Savage.

Outreach

We routinely conduct research to provide owners a deeper appreciation of their asset. Thanks to current efforts by our volunteers, we are administering a $50,000 contract with the City of Tulsa, through Project Impact to conduct Historic House surveys. These funds will be used to establish a revolving loan fund for essential home repairs in Brady Heights, a low-income historic neighborhood.

Archives & Research

We own an extensive collection of original architectural drawings (Koberling, Redlich and originals for buildings such as the Mayo Hotel, Ambassador Hotel, Spotlight Theatre, ONG, Adah Robinson’s residence), as well as clippings from architectural journals (circa 1918-1960), newspaper clippings, technical library, photographs, project specifications and artifacts. No other institution in Tulsa gathers this material.

Publications

We have secured the copyrights to the book Tulsa Art Deco (published by The Junior League of Tulsa, Inc. 1980) plan to publish a revised and updated edition in August 2001. Additionally, we are the distributors for John Brook Walton’s book, One Hundred Tulsa Historic Homes. By the fall of 2001 we will have three titles available for distribution (Two editions of Walton books and Tulsa Art Deco, Second Edition).

Advocacy

The performing arts reach a few, but the art of architecture touches us all. From the houses that shelter us, the schools for our children, the condition of our neighborhoods, the plan of our parks, our access to libraries, the serenity of our churches, to our public buildings, the art of architecture defines our culture.
Education Funding

Our children are the Tulsa’s future policy makers, architects, planners, and building owners. The Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa’s Summer Institute is a program that teaches teachers how to deliver art curricula to children. In 1997, this Institute started a program on architectural education entitled "The Art of Architecture" which was completely funded by the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. Due to popular demand, this program has become an annual event.