The Tulsa Drillers is a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa. Designed by architectural firm Populous, formerly HOK Sport Venue Event, of Kansas City, Missouri, the design of the stadium reflects the early part of the century, as Tulsa’s downtown began to take shape and art deco informed many of the buildings’ designs.
Steve Boyd, Populous project designer, says, “While we did not want to create an outwardly art deco building, you will see a tribute to the genre in the ballpark’s streamlined forms and rounded surfaces”.
Just as oil played a large part in developing the city over the years, the ballpark’s materials were thoughtfully chosen to create a colorful and textured, layered effect, evoking the oil deposits that produced a beautiful strata of colors underneath the park’s current site. The earth-tone exterior façade, a blend of brick and zinc, an ever-changing metal, will help the building age gracefully over time.
The architects have used zinc, thanks to its chameleon-like quality. According to Boyd, depending on how it is positioned on the building, zinc can change color and appearance. Zinc is a material that has never been used in ballpark design before. Populous has incorporated 16 four feet by four feet art deco medallions throughout the ballpark’s exterior, to pay tribute to the history of the area.
The 5,500-seat ballpark features 30 suites, a 360-degree concourse and a variety of group and kids areas. The stadium also features a 2,000 square feet conference center, offering opportunity for non-game day use.
The site is oriented to provide beautiful views of downtown Tulsa, along with extending the city’s urban footprint, serving as a bridge between many neighborhoods surrounding downtown. The design enables the stadium to be more directly connected to its urban surroundings.
