Lorton Performing Arts Center, TU

[cannon_fodder]

I agree Artist.  It is understated and needs to sprucing up.  But I'd rather have the bling done with art work than architecture.

Both because it fits in well on campus as is, and if you fancy up the building itself it can turn out horribly wrong.  If you go with an outdated design it is ridiculed, if you do the latest greatest it can be ridiculed in the future.  As proposed, it will be a nice looking functional facility that can change the details of it's appearance with art.

[dsjeffries]

Once again, the Tulsa World is weeks behind the news....

quote:Planned TU performance center is named

by: APRIL MARCISZEWSKI World Staff Writer
5/25/2008  12:00 AM

A forthcoming University of Tulsa building for music and film studies will be named the Roxana Rozsa and Robert Eugene Lorton Performance Center, in honor of the Lortons' leadership at the university.

The couple gave the lead donation for the $34 million, 77,000-square-foot building, according to TU.

"We are pleased to have the Lorton name grace this new facility," said Bob Lorton, chairman of World Publishing Co. "Roxana and I have deep roots with the University of Tulsa. We love TU and are excited that this new performance center will serve both the students and the community at large."

The Lortons serve on TU's board of trustees and have led fundraising that has brought TU millions of dollars, according to a university press release. They co-chaired TU's New Century Campaign, which raised $108 million between 1993 and 1998 and personally have given to the university to the level of becoming members of the Circle of Visionaries in TU's Circle Society.

"Roxana and Bob are a shining example of philanthropic giving backed by word and deed," said TU President Steadman Upham in the press release. "Their example has led the way for a groundswell of support that has literally changed the face of our campus."

The Lorton family's generosity has transformed TU performing arts and the whole university, Upham said.

Lorton Hall, sometimes called Eugene Lorton Hall, was dedicated in 1948, according to TU, and Lorton Village, a series of apartment buildings that opened last fall, was named in recognition of Bob and Roxana Lorton's service and donations to the school.

Bob Lorton, grandson of former Tulsa World Publisher Eugene Lorton and father of current Publisher Robert E. Lorton III, graduated from TU in 1964 with a bachelor's degree and was named a distinguished alumnus in 1988, according to the press release. His grandmother, Maud Lorton Myers, co-founded the Tulsa Opera, having dreamed of singing opera herself, and actively promoted the arts in Tulsa.

Roxana Lorton, daughter of longtime TU music professor B?la Rozsa, graduated from TU in 1963, served on TU's alumni board of directors, was named distinguished alumna in 2000 and was given the J. Paschal Twyman Award for Outstanding Service in 1996, the press release said.

Her grandfather, Lajos Sandor Rozsa, sang in the Budapest, Hungary; Vienna, Austria; and New York Metropolitan operas, and her father became his accompanist at age 13. After the senior Rozsa died, B?la Rozsa supported his mother while setting aside money to attend Juilliard School of Music in New York City. He later produced operas, wrote music, worked as a conductor and pianist and worked at several universities.

Bob and Roxana Lorton have continued their families' work in the arts and other community causes.

The Lorton Performance Center will be on Gary Place near Fifth Place, facing Harvard Avenue.

It will be TU's most expensive building, topping the Reynolds Center's $28 million price tag. TU has raised 90 percent of the money for the performance center and expects to raise the rest within six months or so, according to the university. The building has been in TU's master plan since at least 1994, and serious discussions about it began in 2003.

Joseph Rivers, music and film studies professor, said one professor was told in the 1960s to expect a new music building.

"This is a missing piece that's really been needed for many, many years," Rivers said. "It will provide a space for students to thrive as creative musicians."

The plans include a 700-seat concert theater with a balcony, ballet floor, space for theater scenery, orchestra pit and acoustics appropriate for recording, according to the press release and Rivers. Currently, TU's band and orchestra give concerts in a campus banquet hall.

Rivers foresees the performance hall as a space for guest speakers, TU musical theater and opera performances, guest artist performances and film festivals.

The performance center also will include a 6,000-square-foot lobby where art will be displayed and special events held. The building will have practice rooms, classrooms, an electronic piano lab, two recital halls, a film production suite, a dressing suite, faculty offices and an outdoor colonnade, the press release said.

The performance center will allow the music program to grow from the current 90 to 100 students up to 105 to 115 students, Rivers said. TU plans to hire three more music professors in the next couple of years as donations are raised to support them.

The music program has been housed in Tyrrell Hall since 1930, Rivers said. Music professors share offices, practice rooms are at a premium and storage space for the program scattered across campus. The new building will have climate-controlled practice rooms and will not have problems such as mold, present in Tyrrell Hall.

Construction on the Lorton Performance Center is scheduled to begin late this summer or early in the fall and should take two years to complete, the press release said.

Besides the Lortons, other major donors to the project include the Judith and Jean Pape Adams Foundation, Ellen and Stephen Adelson, Caroline and Tom Benediktson, Pat and Arnold Brown, the J.A. and Leta Chapman Trusts, Kathie and John Coyle, Ann Graves, the estate of Nan Jankowsky, Jake Jorishe, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Nancy and Peter Meinig and faculty members of the Henry Kendall College of Arts and Sciences, according to the press release.

As a private university, TU relies on donations to pay for new buildings.

[hoodlum]

pretty underwhelming personally

could be a dorm, could be a math building, could be a dentist office

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by hoodlum

pretty underwhelming personally

could be a dorm, could be a math building, could be a dentist office

Dude... its a free gift.

But there is something fishy about the scale of the building. Either those are some gigantic acorn lights and parking spots, or those windows are really low. Note the small white section of the building on the left. Has 2 windows in it. One assumes that a persons head would be lower than the first floor window. Judging from the inside pics and the size of those windows and the acorn lights next to similar windows on the outside. I would guess the acorn lights to be a good 20' tall?  That would put the building at easily 6 stories in height.

[hoodlum]

free gift or not I would like the architecture of this city to be expressive of its purpose. A building that houses the celebration of music should be expressive of a celebration of music, and I don't see it.


I will post some images of other music schools that i am fond of if i can find some time.

[TheArtist]

I personally would have loved the building to have more pizzaz. I am quite fond of "over the top". But, nothing we can say or do will change what we got so just trying to make the best of it. Not as though you or I have a vote in the matter unless you got some big bucks to make some improvements. Its not on city property nor is it being paid for by taxpayers. Plus, could have been worse. There are some quite ugly buildings on the TU campus. At least they are paying homage to the classic style of the campus.  And like I say, a nice work of art, a large fountain or something in front of the building could do wonders to the over all appearance.

Its still and improvement, though not as fancy or expressive as one would like, its a "handsome" building. Will be a good addition to the campus.

But you do bring up a point though about the TU campus. I am really glad to see it expanding and growing. Everything of late has been well done and in good taste. I would rather see something smaller and of quality than big, cheap and flashy. However now that they "have it goin on" construction wise and have the campus fleshed out, I think in the future they should consider doing something a little more inspiring and dramatic.

[hoodlum]

I agree there needs to be some quality/ beauty.

I am unfortunately not well versed in the names of the buildings on TU's campus, but there is an all white performance center that I find to be the best building on their campus. Universities have historically been the breeding ground for inovative beatiful architecture, it is a shame that the majority of colleges and universities, including my own Drury University, think they need to reintroduce a neogeorgian traditional architecture.

[joiei]

Before making a final decision on the looks of this new building I think I will wait for the final drawings.  And from what I am seeing, they want the look to fit in with the existing TU architecture.  TU is a pretty conservative place.

Back in the late 60's when I was going to Univ of South Florida we students used to protest and picket new buildings because we were looking for anything except yellow bricks.  All to no avail.  I haven't seen that campus in many years so I do not know if the architecture of the mid 60's has held up as well there.  

I have come to find ORU architecture inspired.  I know it is the butt of a lot of jokes, but it is signature and unique and a jewel in Tulsa's architecture crown.

[cannon_fodder]

joiei, I would disagree.

While I think ORU's architecture is interesting, I'm glad my Universities don't have such over the top things.  If they continued to grow as they wanted to when they opened, would they be forced to built a 1960's themed campus?  It was a bold step, but it certainly dates the campus to that odd age of not new enough to be nice, but not old enough to be classic.

At least, in my architecturally uneducated opinion.

[Gold]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

joiei, I would disagree.

While I think ORU's architecture is interesting, I'm glad my Universities don't have such over the top things.  If they continued to grow as they wanted to when they opened, would they be forced to built a 1960's themed campus?  It was a bold step, but it certainly dates the campus to that odd age of not new enough to be nice, but not old enough to be classic.

At least, in my architecturally uneducated opinion.

ORU is butt ugly.  Jewels don't decay like that.  This decades long scandal really zapped their maintenance budget.  Oh, the things you read on message boards . . .

[hoodlum]

ORu is actually a big draw for the Preservation Conference in October whether people like it or not it has become an Icon of Tulsa. People specifically want to see it when they come.

[Gold]

quote:Originally posted by hoodlum

ORu is actually a big draw for the Preservation Conference in October whether people like it or not it has become an Icon of Tulsa. People specifically want to see it when they come.

People also want to see Heritage Land USA when they visit Charlotte or Ground Zero when they visit Manhattan.  Doesn't mean either is attractive . . .

[TheArtist]

The ORU campus is incredible. We are very fortunate to have such a collection of "futurist" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurist_architecture   architecture here. As far as I know, we have one of the largest collections and best collections, only Brasilia is more well known. "The Brazilian capital is the only city in the world built in the 20th century to be awarded (in 1987) the status of Historical and Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, a specialized agency of the United Nations." http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Brasilia+architecture&m=tags&s=int

 Not all of it is great, but quite a number of buildings are some of the finest examples of that style of architecture in the world. And is recognized as such by artists and architects the world over. Sad to say most Tulsans dont understand that. Course most Tulsans it seems wouldnt know a great piece of art or architecture if it bit them in the... But yes, I agree it needs to be taken care of better.

You know, whenever a new style hits the scene it goes through several phases. First its new and trendy, then it starts to look aged as the newer style comes along and you see the "older" one everywhere and get tired of it. Then it gets to looking downright ugly and very out-dated. Then as more time passes the style comes around again and becomes retro. Then it becomes cherished and appreciated.

Remember how 50s and 70s architecture, furniture, etc. went throught the same thing? Lortondale was great, then ugly, now trendy again. Heck look at downtown and how all that "gaudy" stuff like the Ritz, Orpheum, etc. were torn down and the fresh, shiny, new Convention Center and other buildings were en vogue. Not all architecture of a specific style or time period is good or worth saving, but some is.

I think Tulsans have just so gotten in the habit of saying how ORU is ugly, that they havent stopped to look at it with fresh eyes and appreciation. A lot of it is really great architecture. I think its a bad habit that we need to realize that we have, and stop knocking one of Tulsas architectural treasures. If anything I think we should be trying to get special recognition as a United Nations World Heritage Site or some other special recognition, promote it, be proud of it, and use it to our advantage.

Though you may not like Dali or Picasso, you have to realize that others do and their works
value. You may personally not like ORUs architecture, but you might be singing a different tune if you truly realized how its recognized, and how valuable it is.

Where else in the US has anything like it? You may see one or two buildings in other major cityies of that style, but never a whole campus of great buldings in that style.

[Gold]

Next thing you know, someone will claim Wesley Willis was our Mozart . . .

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by Gold

Next thing you know, someone will claim Wesley Willis was our Mozart . . .

Is he known the world over and recognized as one of the finest?