Tear down the Gold Dome

[Jack]

Folks, I'm not sure why you were wanting to save the Gold Dome at NW 23rd and Classen. I drove by that place the other day and it looks like a dump. The building isn't even gold anymore.

[floater]

Yes, let's mimic our turnpike neighbors and rip everything that has some history to it. You can call Urban Renewal at (405) 235-3771.

[Jack]

Seriously, the roof looks horrible. There's nothing pretty about it. Why didn't they paint it gold?

[floater]

It's not like any other paint job. It needs restoration and the anodized metal requires special treatment that Dr. Lam is still looking into. In the meantime, I don't think it's bad. It still has the trademark shape.

What's going inside is what really counts. The former vault has made a nice exhibition gallery, and the Gold Dome Multicultural Society has been hosting a great series of events.

[jbrown84]

Once again, if it had been torn down, we would have a Walgreens there--just another boring big box like you complained about a few threads over.

Why not keep something unique for once?

[Jack]

Once again, if it had been torn down, we would have a Walgreens there--just another boring big box like you complained about a few threads over.

Why not keep something unique for once?

I agree, we don't need another big box. But it its present state, the Gold Dome is absolutely horrible. Need to call it the crappy looking silver dome.

[Patrick]

Jack, like the man said, it's better than a box store like Walgreens. And something can be done about the roof.

[The Old Downtown Guy]

Seriously, the roof looks horrible. There's nothing pretty about it. Why didn't they paint it gold?

Thanks for pointing that out Jack.

It's round too, which should be reason enough to get rid of it. Damn non-conformist architecture any way. While we're at it, let's track down the building's designers and give them a good talking to.

I know that you think that First National Center has outlived it's usefulness as well, but perhaps you could put together your top ten list of OKC buildigs that just need to go.

[fsusurfer]

It's not like any other paint job. It needs restoration and the anodized metal requires special treatment that Dr. Lam is still looking into. In the meantime, I don't think it's bad. It still has the trademark shape.

What's going inside is what really counts. The former vault has made a nice exhibition gallery, and the Gold Dome Multicultural Society has been hosting a great series of events.

Whos going to pay for the restoration?

[BDP]

Even with the bad paint job, it's better than much of the stuff built above 63rd and there stucturally nothing else like it in the city and very little like it in the country. It doesn't look as good as it usd to or as it could, but it still looks cooler than most of the new stuff being built ever will.

[BDP]

Even with the bad paint job, it's better than much of the stuff built above 63rd and there stucturally nothing else like it in the city and very little like it in the country. It doesn't look as good as it usd to or as it could, but it still looks cooler than most of the new stuff being built ever will.

[floater]

Whos going to pay for the restoration?

I don't know. It's up to Dr. Lam.

[windowphobe]

The Dome has a sister - a little smaller - in Sheridan, Wyoming. Surprised the heck out of me when I first saw it.

http://www.sheridan.edu/sc/dome.html

[Pete]

I have very fond memories of the Gold Dome from when I was a kid and I would ride along with my dad when he went to bank at Citizens.

I'm only 45 yet many of the places I remember as a kid are already completely gone.

With historic and unique buildings, they can always be renovated at some point but once they are gone, they're gone forever.

[okcpulse]

What really needs to go are those old 1950's style shopping centers that have been sitting in disrepair for 20 or so years. Ya know, the original strip centers.

[Patrick]

What really needs to go are those old 1950's style shopping centers that have been sitting in disrepair for 20 or so years. Ya know, the original strip centers.

I agree. There's no historic value to them whatsoever.

[Patrick]

Here's the Gold Dome's Big brother:

The Kerr Activities Center, part of ECU, in Ada. It's where their basketball teams play.