EXCELLENCE IN ARCHITECTURE | MERIT

PROJECT NAME  Tulsa Ballet Hardesty Center for Dance Education

PROJECT LOCATION  Broken Arrow, OK

OWNER  Tulsa Ballet

FIRM  Selser Schaefer Architects

CONTRACTOR  Oakridge Builders

PHOTOGRAPHER  Ralph Cole Photography

Hardesty Center for Dance Education extends the Ballet beyond Tulsa and presents itself to a new group of people, young people aspiring to be dancers, parents of those children and others who will avail themselves of the ballet because it is now in their backyard. The building was inspired by ballet itself — the regimentation of the classic ballet positions, the exuberance of combining the positions into expressive dance. Even the barre is expressed on the building exterior as well as the classic pas de deux in the arrangement in form. Designed to inspire both dancers and instructors, all studios have abundant daylighting, basket-woven sprung floors with Marley covering 10’ mirrors and state-of-the-art sound systems. This remarkable new center sets the stage for Tulsa Ballet’s vision — and ensures the Ballet will be a vibrant part of the community for generations to come.

Jury Notes: Simple rhythmic facades and “Grand Jete” like building form emerge from a clear plan diagram making it an inspiring place to both dance and view dance.