Gold Dome

For Centenary College's basketball arena, see Gold Dome (Centenary).

For other uses, see Golden Dome (disambiguation).

Citizens State Bank
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The Gold Dome as viewed from Classen Boulevard
Location:	1112 Northwest 23rd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Coordinates:	35°29′40″N 97°31′51″W / 35.49444°N 97.53083°W / 35.49444; -97.53083Coordinates: 35°29′40″N 97°31′51″W / 35.49444°N 97.53083°W / 35.49444; -97.53083
Built:	1958
Architect:	Bailey, Bozalis, Dickenson & Roloff; Secor Construction Co.
Architectural style:	Modern Movement, Geodesic Dome
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	03000875[1]
Added to NRHP:	September 04, 2003

The Gold Dome, a geodesic dome in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a landmark on the famous Route 66. It was built in 1958 and is located at the intersection of North West 23rd Street and North Classen Boulevard.^[2] It was declared eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Design and construction

In 1958, the Citizens State Bank began construction.^[3] The Gold Dome building was the fifth geodesic dome constructed in the world and the first to be used as a bank.^[3] It was described as “one of the nation’s most revolutionary bank designs.”^[3] Using the geodesic dome design patented by the famous futurist and architect, Buckminster Fuller the architects for the Citizens State Bank, Bailey, Bozalis, Dickinson, and Roloff of Oklahoma City^[3] created this unusual Oklahoma City landmark. The dome is constructed of 625 panels, ranging in size from 7.5 to 11.5 feet (3.5 m) in length, 60 – 70 pounds in weight each, and spanning a diameter of 145 feet (44 m).^[3] The interior covers about 27,000 square feet.1 The Gold Dome bank was an approximately $1 million investment.^[3]

History

In 1998, the Oklahoma City Government pursued a new zoning area along 23rd street, including the area where the Gold Dome is located in order to preserve the unique architecture and “commercial nature” of 23rd street.^[4] Twenty-third Street is located between the urban conservation districts of the Paseo and Jefferson Park to the north, and the historic preservation districts of Mesta Park and Heritage Hills to the South. The new zoning area would require property owners to gain permission from a design review board before demolishing or modifying buildings in this area.^[4]

In July 2001 Bank One, which owned the Gold Dome building, applied to the Urban Design Commission (the result of 1998 efforts) for permission to demolish the building.^[5] The bank stated that the structure was too large to serve as a bank and refurbishing it would be too costly (Bank One estimated it would cost roughly $1.7 million).^[6] The bank intended to sell the property to Walgreens, which would place the new pharmacy across the street from its competitor, Eckerds.^[6]

A group organized to save the Gold Dome, "Citizens for the Golden Dome", appealed to the Bank One president, urging him not only to save the building in deference to its unique history and contribution to the "urban character" of OKC, but to also apply for landmark zoning from the OKC Historic Preservation and Landmark Commission, and apply for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.^[7]

In August 2001, the Bank One president offered different alternatives to demolition of the building, including constructing a smaller building on a portion of the property to serve as the Bank One location next door to the gold dome building.^[7] The president left a 60-day window for prospective buyers interested in saving the building to come forward, but did not state what would happen if no one offered to buy the building.^[7]

The State Historic Preservation Office declared the building eligible for landmark status, although usually reserved for buildings at least 50 years old.^[8]

A Bethany company, Blue Stuff, seemed to be the only viable hope for preservation of the Gold Dome. Blue Stuff planned to move into the building, having outgrown its own location.^[8] The company’s spokesman did not feel the Gold Dome would be as costly to repair as Bank One claimed.^[8]

Efforts to save the Gold Dome included picketing and marches, but in September 2001, a couple extended the efforts by writing a song.^[8] Also, an Oklahoma based company, Sonic Drive-In restaurants, offered up a billboard, located across the street from the Gold Dome, to the Citizens for the Golden Dome group. On the billboard was written "Stop the demolition of our historic landmark," as well as the phone numbers for Bank One and Walgreens.^[9]

By December 2001, after several reprieves by the bank president, the time allotted by Bank One for buyers wanting to preserve the Gold Dome to come forward was up. However, the Bank One officials agreed once again to extend the postponement of demolition until January.^[6] Bank One stated they were open to other alternatives, but would have to go forward with plans to sell the building to Walgreens if a buyer did not come forward.^[6] Bank One even offered to help save the actual dome and have it transplanted to another site.

An ownership group was formed, Gold Dome LLC, to take over financing of the building to save it.^[2]

As of April 2011, Gold Dome ownership group had not maintained payment on the loans secured by the Oklahoma City through United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the building. On April 12, 2011 the Oklahoma City council voted to take over responsibility to pay back the loan to HUD.^[10]

Gold Dome had also fallen behind on property tax as well to the sum of $43,850.64.^[11] The new loan agreement with Oklahoma City and Gold Dome ownership funded through a section 108 Loan funded by a Community Development Block Grant has met all job creation requirements and will be paid by June 31, 2012.^[12]

Facilities

Today, the Gold Dome is an event and cultural center, offering free tours and hosting both public and private parties. The Gold Dome will also lease its 50 person board room, the lower level Red Room, and even the elegant lobby space for community use. The building is home to two art galleries, the Grapevine Gallery and Fletcher Christian Vines Gallery which occupies the former bank vault. Additional space has been converted into private offices. In 2007, plans were confirmed for the opening of a restaurant and lounge in the Dome.^[2]

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Chambers, Kelley (December 28, 2007). "Oklahoma City's Gold Dome building to get a restaurant and lounge". The Journal Record. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_20071228/ai_n21188518/. Retrieved November 11, 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Unusual Bank’s Gold Dome Rising". The Oklahoman: pp. 46. 1958-05-08. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Money, Jack (1998-08-14). "City Council Protects NW 23 Corridor With New Zoning". The Oklahoman: pp. 90. 
5. ^ Potts, Gregory (2001-07-19). "Gold dome gets 30-day reprieve". The Oklahoman: pp. 1. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} Potts, Gregory (2001-12-03). "Clock Ticking for Gold Dome". The Oklahoman: pp. 1. 
7. ^ ^{a b c} Potts, Gregory (2001-07-19). "Group plans to continue protests". The Oklahoman: pp. 1+. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d} Potts, Gregory (2001-10-06). "Efforts to save gold dome continue, Musicians write song about historic building". The Oklahoman: pp. 60. 
9. ^ Potts, Gregory (2001-08-15). "Sonic restaurant owners donate billboard space to save dome". The Oklahoman: pp. 65. 
10. ^ City of Oklahoma, City Council. "Resolution". okc.gov. http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/cache/2/pqlifhrfd4sok555nynia545/120856211112011125702369.PDF. Retrieved November 11, 2011. 
11. ^ Oklahoma County Treasurer, Forest "Butch" Freeman. "Taxes". oklahomacounty.org. http://www.oklahomacounty.org/treasurer/delinquentTaxesDue.asp?PropertyID=045000747. Retrieved November 11, 2011. 
12. ^ OKC, HUD. "CPMP Annual Action Plan 2011". okc.gov. http://www.okc.gov/planning/2011-12%20consolidated%20plan%20second%20action%20year%20-%20final.pdf. Retrieved November 11, 2011. 

External links

• golddomeokc.net - official site
• Google Places