Pittsburgh Plate Glass Distribution Center - Brady

[SoonerRiceGrad]

http://journalrecord.com/viewstory.cfm?recid=78020

Brady District developer plots $5M renovation
by Kirby Lee Davis
The Journal Record
5/4/2007

TULSA – If developer Frank Stewart succeeds, a major architectural and engineering corner will emerge next year in the Brady District's rejuvenated east end.

Stewart has launched a $5 million renovation for the former Pittsburgh Plate Glass Distribution Center building at the northeast corner of Archer and Detroit. Built in 1925, Stewart intends to transform the 38,900-square-foot building's brick shell into the future home of Tulsa's Scott & Goble Architects. Cowan Construction of Tulsa will manage the project, set for completion in July 2008.

"It's going to be the first LEED certified building in the city of Tulsa," said Chris Goble, referring to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System. "As an architectural firm we're very commented to sustainable design, and LEED is a great way of demonstrating that."

Stewart also paid $600,000 for the 14,000-square-foot former tire retail site immediately south of PPG, across Archer Street. He is in talks with a design company to relocate there.

With Wallace Engineering and Walsh Associates already based in the 40,000-square-foot former Murray Tool site northwest of the PPG building, Stewart expects this convergence of disciplines to create synergies benefiting all the firms – while turning a corner in rebuilding a decaying part of where the 1921 Tulsa race riot raged.

"By the time I'm through, I'll have invested $12 million to $14 million in this community," he said, smiling as he gazed across the rain-drenched corner of Archer and Detroit.

Behind him water dripped through several points around the steel skeleton supporting the three-story brick shell, the many holes providing clear views from the concrete foundation to the ceiling. But though he once had it on the market, Stewart now sees opportunity in the 1925 structure.

"When this is finished, pretty much all the east end of the Brady District will be totally renovated," he said.

Stewart started that effort in 2000, with his acquisition of the PPG building. Since then he's successfully renovated the 20,000-square-foot warehouse that now houses Workforce Oklahoma, at a cost of $800,000, and the 36,000-square-foot GTE building, which he sold to Perimeter Technology.

The president of Med-Tech Interiors in Tulsa paid $650,000 to the Tulsa Development Authority for the rest of that PPG building's block, which includes the 5,000-square-foot Holloway Wire Rope Building north of PPG and two parking lots.

Wallace Engineering bought the Holloway building from Stewart, intending to renovate it and lease it to Walsh. That will give Wallace more room to accommodate its own growth.

As for the parking lots, Stewart intends to follow Wallace's example and recycle the asphalt and concrete, installing 60 geothermal wells before he puts down new parking lanes.

The geothermal system comprises a large part of Stewart's $3.5 million HVAC plans for the PPG building, as part of the LEED development.

Goble – speaking by cell phone from the American Institute of Architects annual convention in San Antonio, where his firm was receiving the intern development program outstanding firm of the year award – said their other "green" plans remain in the drawing board stages. He expects them to include a variety of high-efficiency energy and environmental quality systems, such as LED lighting or CO2 emission controls.

Such designs reflect the backbone of the 12-year-old Scott & Goble, which specializes in retail architecture. The 87-employee firm handles projects around the nation for Wal-Mart, Kohl's, the Sports Authority, Lowe's and other chains. Its success led to 15-percent annual revenue growth over the last five years, he said.

"Last year was the best year we've ever had – and that's happened for the last six years in a row," he said.

"We believe that the move will provide us the opportunities to do a few things," said Goble, whose firm now offices at 1437 S. Boulder. "One, the building will be a living example of our commitment to sustainable design. It also provides the elbow room that we need and the environment that will help retain our staff."

Both Goble and Stewart see that environment in the Brady District, a diverse collection of 35 blocks ranging from a nationally famous concert hall and multitude of restaurants to a violin repair shop, artist galleries, loft apartments, industrial warehouses, manufacturing sites and offices.

Stewart sees missing elements such as grocers arriving as the neighboring Oklahoma State University campus moves forward with its student housing plans. But with most of historic structures renovated and in use, he expects the Brady District may be to the point of requiring new brick and mortar – which doesn't interest his developer instincts.

"I'm more of an old building guy. I could do one from the ground up, but I'm like Sager," he said, referring to the Blue Dome District developer Michael Sager. "I'm interested in sustaining what we have."

[TheArtist]

Sounds Great. []

[OurTulsa]

Great.  More life in the Brady.  Glad to hear of a developer actually doing something productive with an old building downtown.  The LEED certification is certainly comendable however one point of clarification...they won't be the first LEED certified building in Tulsa.  The townhomes from the Tulsa Loft Project at 14th/Rockford will be the first LEED certified building in Tulsa.  They are scheduled for completion later this year.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by OurTulsa

Great.  More life in the Brady.  Glad to hear of a developer actually doing something productive with an old building downtown.  The LEED certification is certainly comendable however one point of clarification...they won't be the first LEED certified building in Tulsa.  The townhomes from the Tulsa Loft Project at 14th/Rockford will be the first LEED certified building in Tulsa.  They are scheduled for completion later this year.

I thought the neighbor for neighbor millennium house was the first LEED certified building in Tulsa. This sounds like a great project. Anybody know what level of LEED certification this project is seeking?

[jdb]

"pretty much all the east end of the Brady District will be totally renovated."

If one over looks the Mathews or this project takes 27 years to complete, maybe.
Why do people who take on old buildings feel compelled to make such statements?
I said 6 months on mine: took ten years.

Am rather happy to see this finally make some good print.
jdb

[perspicuity85]

The great thing about architectual/engineering firms renovating buildings is that they can do most of the structural design and engineering work themselves.  Doing that yourself must save a lot of money as well as time.  Architects and structural engineers are probably the ideal business to locate in a historic part of Tulsa.  In their case, demolishing a historic building in favor of a parking lot would actually be bad for business!

[cannon_fodder]

That area has an amazing amount of potential.  Couple it with the rest of Brady and connect that to the Blue Dome and the entire downtown area is on the verge of being a true destination.  Lets hope this all comes together.

[Renaissance]

From the article on the First Street Lofts:

quote:  Once that's finished, Sager said, he's going to develop the 39,000-square-foot Pittsburgh Plate Glass building at the northeast corner of Archer Street and Detroit Avenue into lofts as well. Though he won't begin active development until First Street Lofts is completely finished, he's negotiating to purchase the building from Frank Stewart.

Stewart, who confirmed he is working to sell the building to Sager, originally planned to spend $5 million to redevelop it into environmentally friendly offices for Scott & Goble Architects. However, he said he was unable to complete the purchase of adjacent land from the Tulsa Development Authority for parking, and Scott & Goble subsequently left the project.

What happened here?  Why didn't TDA sell?  Were they refusing to allow surface parking?

[sgrizzle]

Was the neighboring land part of Greenwood?

Also, many times people expect the TDA to sell at discount prices and if they did that, they wouldn't be able to pickup any new properties.