BOK Center, Arena in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
The BOK Center is a multi-purpose arena in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, designed by César Pelli with Matrix Architects Engineers Planners as architect of record. Its exterior combines a 103-foot glass facade of 1,600 panels leaning at a five-degree angle with 33,000 stainless steel panels that spiral upward around the building. The bowl holds 17,343 fixed seats and a 930-foot HD ribbon screen wraps around the three seating levels.
Construction began in 2005 and the opening took place in August 2008 as part of a larger urban development initiative. César Pelli designed the hall, which represented the first major project of this kind in the city and helped revitalize downtown.
The arena's name comes from the Bank of Oklahoma, which paid $11 million for the naming rights. Inside, a city ordinance set aside nearly $1.5 million for art: Kendell Buster's 5,000-pound cloud-like cloth sculpture hangs above the main concourse, and four 22-foot Native American medallions by Bill and Demos Glass are set into the concourse floor.
All purchases inside the facility are cashless, so visitors should bring a credit or debit card. It is advisable to arrive early, as security checks at the entrance can be time-consuming during major events.
The bowl's second floor holds 37 luxury suites, each with 15 seats, plus a carpeted bar level for press. The main concourse's terrazzo aggregate is 70% mother of pearl, and a 5,000-pound cloud-like cloth sculpture by Kendell Buster hangs above it.
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