Ballet Oklahoma
This renovation celebrates energy and grace, expressed in spaces that
are simultaneously fluid and fixed. The budget was a paltry $125,000,
and the existing building a jerrybuilt metal warehouse previously used
to store sailboats. Out of these unpromising circumstances, Elliott +
Associates fashioned a dynamic contemporary space that responds to the
needs of dancers, choreographers, staff and volunteers.
The architects retained the shell of the original warehouse and let all the bones show, including ducts, braces and siding. Within it, they made room for three skylit studios, administrative offices and a dancers lounge, with enough left over for expansion. An 11-foot high string wall threads through the wing, separating offices from reception areas and permitting the economical sharing of heating, lighting and air conditioning. The effect is soft and quasi- ethereal, complementing the prevailing black and white décor that is punctuated with performance posters and the company's signature red tulips.
