Vision 2025
Progress Being Made at BOk Center - June 20,
2007
Mayor Kathy Taylor and Tulsa City Councilors were
able to tour the BOk Center last week to see the progress that has
been made to the BOk Arena.
The BOk Arena is now in its 22nd month of a 36-month
construction schedule and the arena's steel skeleton is taking
shape. Crews have nearly finished the ground-level circle of steel
framing and are about to start on the second level.
Behind the framing crew are workers who are installing the
structural panels that fit between the steel beams. Workers began
installing the panels two weeks ago on the north side of the
building and are working their way east.
In August, workers will start putting up thousands of stainless
steel panels that will make up the arena's outer skin. On the south
side of the building, a steel cantilever is stretching across what
will be the main entrance and will one day support the iconic glass
wall. Wind testing is being conducted in Dallas next week by
contractor American Glass and Metal to ensure the glass wall can
withstand Oklahoman's volatile weather.
The first of two massive roof trusses, each
weighing 176,000 pounds, went up in April with several smaller
pieces fanning out from it. The second truss is being assembled on
the floor of the seating bowl and is expected to be installed
soon.
The building should be fully enclosed by the end of the year so
that all of the interior work can be completed before the September
2008 opening.
"There's going to be a new energy downtown," Mayor Taylor said.
"My enthusiasm for this events center and what it really means for
the city increases daily."
John Bolton, General Manager for the BOk Center and
Convention Center
Bolton brings more than 20 years of facility and event
management experience to Tulsa. Bolton previously managed multiple
facilities in Evansville, IN such as Roberts Stadium, a 12,500 seat
arena; Mesker Amphitheatre, Victory Theatre, Evansville Auditorium
and the 280,000 square foot Evansville Convention Center. He has
also served as the executive director of the RiverPark Center in
Owensboro, KY. The RiverPark Center is also a multiple-venue
property that includes two theatres, conference facilities and the
International Bluegrass Music Museum.
Bolton is a Certified Facility Executive (CFE) and currently
chairs one of the highest executive-level training programs for
facility managers, the International Association of Assembly
Managers (IAAM) Senior Executive Program at Cornell University.
The facilities Bolton manages in Evansville have enjoyed recent
successes, with arena revenues doubling from $1.9 million in 2004
to $3.8 million in 2006. The arena in Evansville, IN hosted a
record 20 concerts in 2006. The Evansville Convention Center also
showed dramatic revenue increases, growing from $1.3 million in
2005 to $2.1 million last year.
Bolton moved to Tulsa in March of 2007 and began supervising
activities at the Tulsa Convention Center while preparing for
forthcoming renovations. Bolton is also involved in activities and
planning for the opening of the BOk Center.
