Location: Oklahoma City - OK
Architect: John F. Johansen
Build Year: 1970

Mummers Theater / Stage Center

In 1970, the curtain rose on downtown Oklahoma City's Stage Center, sparking a new era in state theater history. Internationally acclaimed architect John Johansen designed the modern theater, with Seminoff Bowman & Bode as associate architects, and the innovative structure received the prestigious American Institute of Architects Honors Award for it idiosyncratic, "anti-geometric" design. Architects and students from around the world made the trek to Oklahoma City to tour the building, which was considered among the century's finest examples of modern architecture. Johansen's original model is on display in New York City's Museum of Modern Art.

The Mummers and other theater companies called Stage Center home until the building closed in 1986. One year later, the Arts Council of Oklahoma City purchased the facility and renovated it for $2 million. The rehabilitation work was done by Rand Elliott, FAIA of Elliott + Associates Architects and Stage Center reopened in 1992. In the 2000s, Stage Center operated as a multi-use facility for the arts and was home to Carpenter Square Theatre, Inner City Dance, and the Oklahoma Visual Artists Coalition.

A 2010 flood closed the building for good and it was demolished in 2014. Go here to read more about Stage Center.

1968 – Electrical plans

1991 – Renovation plans by Elliott + Associates

 

Stage Center, 2013:

Being demolished:

Location: Oklahoma City - OK
Architect: Raymond Carter
Build Year: 1956

Morrison – Kerr House

Located in the heart of Nichols Hills, this home was originally designed for W.P. Morrison, but either during the design phase or construction, it appears that the Morrisons backed out and Robert S. Kerr, Jr., purchased the home. He and his family lived here for over three decades, and the home remains very original today.

morrison-kerr house – raymond carter notes

morrison-kerr house – wp morrison house

morrison-kerr house – list of sheets

morrison-kerr house – exterior elevations

morrison-kerr house – elevations

morrison-kerr house – elevation

morrison-kerr house – elevation 2

morrison-kerr house – finish schedule

morrison-kerr house – front door

morrison-kerr house – foundation plan

morrison-kerr house – foundation plan 2

morrison-kerr house – foundation plan – footing sections

morrison-kerr house – floorplan

morrison-kerr house – floorplan – master bedroom

morrison-kerr house – floorplan – guest room

morrison-kerr house – floorplan – gallery library drawing room

morrison-kerr house – floorplan – family vestibule

morrison-kerr house – electrical symbols

morrison-kerr house – electrical

morrison-kerr house – electrical plan – second floor

morrison-kerr house – door schedule

morrison-kerr house – bedroom and balcony

morrison-kerr house – balcony

morrison-kerr house – door schedule

morrison-kerr house – terrace

morrison-kerr house – east overhang of master bedroom

morrison-kerr house – overhangs

morrison-kerr house – profile section

morrison-kerr house – typical wall section

 

 

Location: Oklahoma City - OK
Architect: Berlowitz & Commander
Build Year: 1953

Bretz House

 

Local firm Berlowitz & Commander designed this home for hydraulic engineer, C.E. Bretz and his wife Mamie, on five wooded acres that once belonged to the Borne Dairy Farm. The home is perfectly sited atop a hill overlooking the acreage, which also includes a century-old rock horse barn.

Bretz House – map of acreage 1

Bretz House – map of acreage 2

Bretz House – Berlowitz & Commander stamp

Bretz House – east elevation

Bretz House – north elevation

Bretz House – south elevation

Bretz House – west elevation

Bretz House – site map

Bretz House – floorplan

Bretz House – floorplan and terrace

Bretz House – foundation plan

Bretz House – roof plan

Bretz House – finish schedule

Bretz House – club room fireplace

Bretz House – bathroom tile plan

Bretz House – jambs

Bretz House – sections AA BB CC

Bretz House – window detail

Bretz House – utility room

Bretz House – section thru service porch

Bretz House – kitchen

Location: Oklahoma City - OK
Architect: Fred D. Shellabarger
Build Year: 1966

Sprehe-Lawrencce House

This home was built for the Sprehe family, but architect Robert Lawrence of the firm Noftsger & Lawrence lived in this home for over four decades until his death in 2011. His wife remained in the home until 2016, when new owners heavily remodeled it.

Sprehe House – Shellabarger

Sprehe House – stamp

Sprehe House – plot plan

Sprehe House – exterior

Sprehe house – elevations

Sprehe House – exterior elevations 2

Sprehe House – exterior elevations 3

Sprehe House – exterior elevations

Sprehe House – exterior stair detail

Sprehe House – brick planter and retaining wall

Sprehe House – floorplan

Sprehe House – entry and living room

Sprehe House – living room

Sprehe House – kitchen and dining room

Sprehe House – dining room

Sprehe House – kitchen details

Sprehe House – bar and den

Sprehe House – master bedroom

Sprehe House – master bedroom 2

Sprehe House – master bedroom hall

Sprehe House – second level floorplan

Sprehe House – second floor roof

Sprehe House – basement mechanical plan

Sprehe House – finish schedule

Sprehe House – fireplace detail

Sprehe House – foundation plan

Sprehe House – jambs

Sprehe House – sill and entry door

Sprehe House – shower detail

Sprehe House – mullion and window

Sprehe House – lighting fixture schedule

Sprehe House – lighting plan kitchen and living

Sprehe House – luminous ceiling kitchen

Sprehe House – second floor electrical

 

 

 

Location: Oklahoma City - OK
Architect: Gary McCowan
Build Year: 1974

Fox & Horn

 

Image provided by Gary McCowen

The stunning organic modern building that housed Fox & Horn restaurant made the eatery a true destination spot in Oklahoma City. Soon after its opening in 1974, The Oklahoman called the new dining spot “one of the most beautiful restaurants in the city,” and the design was so integral to the success of the establishment that the building was included in early advertisements for the restaurant.

After becoming a variety of restaurants over the years, the 9,400 sf building was auctioned off in 1991 and became medical offices. In the May 2013 tornado that swept through SW OKC and Moore, the building sustained damage, and the old and still glamorous Fox & Hound building was demolished in the summer of 2015.

Fox & Horn Restaurant – upper level – club

Fox & Horn Restaurant – lower level – mail level plan

Fox & Horn Restaurant – dining expansion – preliminary drawings

 

Location: Oklahoma City - OK
Architect: Garth Kennedy
Build Year: 1956

Kennedy House

Engineer Garth Kennedy designed this home for himself and his family on a heavily wooded lot overlooking a creek, and he remained in the home until moving to an assisted living center in 2016. A buyer purchased and all of its contents the home the same year and recently completed a thoughtful and sensitive restoration of the house and outdoor spaces.

Garth Kennedy these site studies in the 1950s, likely during the design process for the home.

Location: Oklahoma City - OK
Architect: R. Duane Conner
Build Year: 1947

Bainbridge House

This home was designed for Jewell Bainbridge, who was the second wife of movie star, Tom Mix, and it was featured in the April 1948 issue of American Home magazine.

Location: Oklahoma City - OK
Architect: John Bozalis of Bailey Bozalis Dickinson & Roloff
Build Year: 1954

Papahronis House

Architect John Bozalis designed this mid-century modern home in Edgemere Park for Johnny Papahronis, who owned the beloved Lunch Box restaurant in downtown Oklahoma City.

 

Location: Oklahoma City - OK
Architect: Raymond Carter
Build Year: 1984

Oklahoma Museum of Art Gate

Frank and Merle Buttram constructed their grand, 30 room mansion in the heart of Nichols Hills in 1937 and after their deaths, a group purchased the estate in 1975 and donated it to the Oklahoma Museum of Art. In 1989, the museum merged with the Oklahoma Art Center to form the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, which is now located downtown. This gate was designed to advertise the Oklahoma Museum of Art and it is still in place, even though the former museum is once again a private residence.

OKC Museum of Art Entrance Gate

(photo courtesy of the Oklahoma History Center)

Location: Oklahoma City - OK
Architect: Raymond Carter
Build Year: 1971

Dannold House

 

The first two pages of the following plans belong to the Dannold House, which is located in Quail Creek in Oklahoma City.

Dannold House