Historic church's renovation funded

By Karen Klinka
The Oklahoman

The distinctive silhouette of a giant American Indian tepee rises over the horizon of northwest Oklahoma County like an exclamation point.
Even from a distance, people can see that the Hopewell Baptist Church at NW 178 and MacArthur Boulevard is something extraordinary, despite its deteriorated state.

A $2 million restoration plan to preserve and renovate the historic church, which was designed by University of Oklahoma architect Bruce Goff, was announced recently by the Hopewell Heritage Foundation.

Connie Golden, the foundation's project director, said restoration of the church to its "original spirit" is expected to cost about $1.25 million. Remaining funds will be set aside for maintenance, Golden said during a recent tour of the aging building.

Golden said the foundation was formed specifically to accept funds to aid the restoration of Goff's famed "tepee" structure, built in 1951.

Joining the foundation in its restoration effort is noted Oklahoma City architect Rand Elliott, principal architect of Elliott and Associates Architects.

Elliott said he always has admired Goff's work and jumped at the chance to work on the church's restoration.

"Bruce Goff was so inventive in this building's design," Elliott said. "He was enclosing space in a very economical way, using corrugated tin and surplus pipe from a nearby oil field, and then welders who were members of the church welded the pipes together as trusses.

"The Hopewell church is an important piece of architectural history needing to be preserved, and I'll do all I can to help with that project," Elliott said.

The 12-sided church was designed in 1948 while Goff was head of the School of Architecture at OU, and built for $20,000. Goff was paid $1,200 to design the building and oversee its construction.

Goff wrote the congregation in a letter that he had reduced the fee for the Hopewell project from his customary 10 percent of the building's cost to 6 percent, "inasmuch as this is a church job."

Architectural scholars consider the church an important design because it demonstrated Goff's ability to create an imaginative structure on a limited budget and with surplus or indigenous materials.

Goff's design called for the use of surplus oil pipe and corrugated aluminum from a nearby oil field and stone quarried near Calumet.

According to a history of the building, the church was built almost entirely by the congregation.

Noticeable on the building's exterior are 12 tapered trusses, constructed from surplus oil-field pipe, which the congregation named for each of Jesus' disciples. Because the final truss proved to be so difficult to attach to the compression ring at the top of the church structure, church members named it "Judas."

Locals quickly dubbed the conical structure "the tepee" because of its resemblance to the dwellings of Plains Indians, who once had roamed western Oklahoma.

Golden said the unusual structure is owned by the Church at Edmond, which vacated it in 1989 because of flooding and lead problems. Asbestos was removed in 1999. Nevertheless, the church still draws visitors.

Last summer, nearly 100 Goff enthusiasts from across the world visited the Oklahoma City landmark as part of the Bruce Goff Centennial Celebration, Golden said.

In 2002, with the help of OU professor emeritus of architecture Arn Henderson, the congregation succeeded in getting the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Elliott + Associates Architects prepared the historic structure report, including photographs, drawings and cost estimates to bring the building into compliance with codes and handicap-accessibility regulations.

Mike Mays, an architect with Elliott + Associates, said a backdrop of large red cedar trees will be planted just north of the church.

That building is a dump in my opinion.

It's unique, but it's a dump.

I agree, but its a historic and unique piece and at least someone is making an effort to revive it

Sure.. but revive it?

Unless it's razed to the ground and rebuilt in granite or marble, it'll still be an eyesore.

It looks like a giant Franklin Stove.

Does anyone have any pictures of this building, I'm a big Goff fan. He designed some of Tulsa's best buildings including the Tulsa Club Building (which sadly is empty right now) and the magnificent Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, which is one of the greatest church buildings in the world and the world's only art deco cathedral.

Yesterday's Oklahoman had a picture in it. Maybe we can find one online somewhere.

http://archrecord.construction.com/n...0323teepee.asp

Interesting design, but yeah, I agree....it isn't that attractive. I was surprised someone actually listed it on a list of OKC's most attractice landmarks awhile back. I believe the Oklahoman listed it as one of the top 25 architectural wonders.

Nice..

1. The Parthenon
2. The Empire State Building
3. The Sears Tower
4. The Great Pyramid
5. The leaning tower of Pisa
......
25. The "Tepee Church" at 164th and Macarthur in OKC

Here are some better pics:

Other pics:


View towards the main entry, which has been filled in


View of a typical classroom. Note the boarded up windows at the upper left. These wrap the entire perimeter of the building. Also, note the Styrofoam ceiling.


Detail of a jello-mold light fixture.


View as one enters the building. Note the board formed concrete steps that were in place before Goff designed the building. Also note the planting bed at the base of the oil pipe truss.


View looking back toward the main entry from the stair. Note the large boarded up area above the entry ceiling. This was originally a clerestory window with views to the exterior.

Here are still some more pics:


A view of the second floor baptistery in its current state.


North stair with boarded up corner window. Notice the jello-mold light fixture


Detail of a bent rod lashed around an oil pipe truss. This rod provides partial structural support for the choir loft.


View as one ascends the main stair into the sanctuary. Note the large boarded up area in the top left of the photo. This was originally a clerestory window with views of the exterior. The board formed concrete stair was in place before Goff designed the building.


View of the entry of the sanctuary


View of the sanctuary looking toward the stage and choir loft. The paneling is not original, and will be replaced with corrugated aluminum panels.


View of the skylight 50’ above the sanctuary. It is fitted with an operable lid used for ventilation of the space.


View looking at the entrance to the sanctuary. Note the wood joists to the left of the entrance. This will be where the clear glass “cry room” will be constructed. See “The Vision” for more information.


Detail of an oil pipe truss. Note the clerestory window beyond. This window is located behind the choir loft. Also note the Styrofoam ceiling.

If you're having difficulties loading up the pics, check out their website at:
http://www.goff-hopewell.com/

Here's why the building is no longer used:

Church at Edmond, the building’s current owner, vacated the building in 1989 due primarily to flooding and leaking. The congregation addressed and resolved the asbestos contamination problem in 1999. Recognizing the significance of the building both as a landmark and as a place of worship, the congregation determined to preserve it.

When you go to their website, click on "Vision". They obviously have a pretty ambitious plan for this building, on their church property.

Here are some pics of the 1st wedding at the church...it gives an idea of what the building looked like then.

Although unique, I do not know if that church building should be preserved. The pictures show a building in really bad shape which would be on the delapidated structures list at City Council if someone complained.

Are they planning on having services there again? If not, what would the building be used for?

By the way. Patrick. I have not seen the website yet, so, are the wdding pictures in it or are those people you know?

Interesting building, and it really does have some historical significance, moreso really then even the Skelly, since Goff only designed an addition to that building and it's a hardly unique building like this one. Glad it's going to be saved. It's things like this that make a place authentic and unique

Sure, they're planning to have church and receptions/fellowships ther once again when the building is restored. First, they'll have to raise the $2 million to restore it though. mranderson you might check out the site and click on the Vision link. The Vision the architect has for this structure is impressive. The plan would pretty much gut the place and completely modernize it, while still preserving some of the historic elements of the structure.

I find it interesting that Goff took the foundation/steps of an old church, and used to to construct this church on. Pretty amazing if you ask me.

By the way, mranderson, the wedding photos came off of the website.

Unfortunately, the building is out in a rural area, so renovating this building won't have as much of an impact as renovating the Skelley Building...too bad the Skelley Building is being demolished. By the way, swake, any updates on the demolition process?

Not that this is of much significance, but it may not be a rural in a few years - several subdivisions are going up around here. (The church is right up the road from me)

It's not a beauty, but unique. I would actually think it would be better as a some kind of performing arts hall or event center.

yeah it definetely wont be rural for long

I was looking at the Skelly the other day, it’s gutted, big holes in the exterior. I bet it doesn’t have more than a couple of weeks before they bring it down entirely.

What a shame! Tulsa is definitely going in the wrong direction in regards to historic preservation downtown. Reminds me a lot of OKC back in the 70's.