Brady Theater Renovations

[pfox]

KTUL

I have heard for sometime now that the Old Lady on Brady would be getting a facelift and an addition, but last nights story on Channel 8 was the first public announcement I am aware of...
I'll see if I can find video.

15 million bucks...including adding a third balcony (which, supposedly was included in the original design in 1914, but was never built.)

[NellieBly]

Long overdue in my opinion. I have heard lots of complaints recently about the conditions at the theater. The architect's renderings look nice.

[Porky]

quote:Originally posted by NellieBly

The architect's renderings look nice.

Where did you see the renderings at? I look forward to seeing them.

I just did a Google search on Architect Steve Alter and it shows him to be with Matrix. Matrix is the one that did the awesome restoration of the Pavilion out at the Fair Grounds.

IMO this will bring people back downtown again and will be a huge jump start in developing this area of town that could be as nice if not better than OKC's Bricktown.

[Hawkins]

Definitely needed.

Hope it happens.

[Steve]

I saw the architect drawings of the renovation briefly on my TV screen when I watched the Ch. 8 story.  They looked pretty good to me.
Considering all the wonderful buildings Tulsa has lost over the years (downtown movie theaters and such) it is really amazing that the Municipal Theater still exits today.  Kudos to the owners and renovators.

[TheArtist]

Would love to see any renderings.  I hope they get rid of or redo the addition that was stuck onto the front.  Why it was done in a completely different color of brick is beyond me. But regardless it needs to go, it ruins an otherwise great building.

[AVERAGE JOE]

This is really outstanding news! Pretty soon, we'll have the best collection of various-sized event facilities in the area -- BOK Center, PAC, Brady Theater, Cain's Ballroom, and Pavilion -- all of them recently built or renovated.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Would love to see any renderings.  I hope they get rid of or redo the addition that was stuck onto the front.  Why it was done in a completely different color of brick is beyond me. But regardless it needs to go, it ruins an otherwise great building.

From what I remember, I think your wish will be granted.  I saw a large front/lobby addition that had large arched glass windows and the exterior of the addition was in the same color brick as the original building, at least in the drawings.  You could clearly see the original building, so the addition was not too obnoxious or overbearing.

[Kenosha]

quote:Tulsa - There is a next step in the rebirth of downtown Tulsa as the Brady Theater has been sold. NewsChannel 8 has learned a group of private investors now owns the Old Lady on Brady and there are plans for major redevelopment. The Brady Theater anchors the western edge of downtown Tulsa near Boulder in the heart of Tulsa's revitalization. NewsChannel 8's Jerry Giordano has more on what we can expect.

It's official. The Old Lady on Brady now has a new man in her life.

"The Brady Theater is magnificent in the fact that it was Tulsa's first auditorium and the people who have played there," says Downtown Architect Steve Alter, who is one of several private investors who now own Tulsa's Brady Theater.

"This is a huge deal being in the western edge of the Brady District being revitalized," Alter says.

And, they've got big plans, both outside and inside. It's a 15-million dollar project which will modernize The Brady Theater, making it a state of the art entertainment venue. They'll increase the number of seats to 27-hundred, add a third floor balcony and an upscale restaurant, all while keeping history in mind.

And, there's plenty of it. Tulsa's Brady Theater opened in 1914 and was once a Downtown jewel. It's seen its share of big names. But the years have not been kind to The Old Lady on Brady, and it barely escaped the wrecking ball more than once. That is until now. Timing is everything.

"We felt it would be really good to build the new arena with 18-thousand seats but also with 27-hundred seats restore the Old Lady on Brady."

The project involves three phases. And, depending on how much private money is raised, it could be finished in little less than a year.