PHOTO: Andrew Green
The rowing world’s first modern boathouses: Chesapeake Boathouse, Devon Boathouse, Chesapeake Finish Line Tower, CHK Central Oklahoma’s boathouse (OCU) and McClendon White Water Center (with Riversport Rapids, the sculptural Raft Pavilion and Kayak Boathouse).
These spirited structures have exerted an outsized influence on 21st century boathouse architecture. They are neatly arrayed along the waterfront, as if set for a blazing race to the Finish Line. The architecture is sculptural, inspired by the aerodynamic lines of modern racing shells and kayaks, built for speed. Their cohesion sharpens the visual impact.
Their beauty by day is the strikingly bold, clean architectural lines and the way they pop against Oklahoma’s brilliant blue sky. It’s invigorating.
By night, they’re magic lined in lights, a multicolored spectacle deepened by reflections in rippling water. Add the energy of the OKC downtown skyline next door, punctuated by its North Star: the regal Devon Energy tower.
It first came to life in 2006 as the Chesapeake Boathouse unleashed the new river’s potential with a surge of momentum and media attention. It was everything the sport of rowing had been waiting for, and rowing officials came to say so. They flew halfway around the world to cheer OKC on and urge OKC to continue to build.
Rowing News had broken the story early, in July 2003, when it published the first look: Rand Elliott Architects’ project renderings went from sketchbook to a story that opened with the “who da thunk it?” notion of rowing in Oklahoma. But the magazine saw this was something special. Rowing News realized this fresh phenom – a new river, a ground-breaking building — was very much about the state’s pioneer spirit – daring, audacity. And was a bullseye.
Turkey’s venerable architecture-culture magazine, YAPI, Istanbul
From the New York Times (date), design media from Metropolis to Architectural Record and the international rowing and travel media made an impressive, collective splash. A cover feature in the Turkish magazine, YAPI, for example, demonstrates the universal appeal of the place, a destination in the making.
CLICK HERE for an overview of the Chesapeake Boathouse 2006 opening.
Before the ink had dried on news about the Chesapeake Boathouse, strong community and corporate support fueled a drive to seize the momentum and build more.
By the time the U.S. Olympics Committee came to see OKC fresh phenom in 2008, Devon Energy was making plans to build and equip the river’s second boathouse with state-of-the-art facilities for athletes to train in OKC. And Rand Elliott Architects had three new assignments.
THE MASTER PLAN 2010: READY TO REGATTA
Elliott’s Master Plan mapped-out neat notches to align boathouses with docks to accommodate the rowing vessel. They are poised, as if ready to sear into the water in a burst of speed. The grand plan also illustrates one of the new riverfront’s best qualities: It is wonderfully, evenly straight. No twists or bends, narrows or shallows — simply an ideal racecourse.
With Master Plan in place, OKC Mayor Mick Cornett played an important role in convening community leaders and corporate sponsors. A talented communicator, he led – along with investor/visionaries Aubrey McClendon and Clay Bennett – a surge of excitement and private funding that turned dreams and designs into reality – articulating the vision, blowing on the spark. (Mayor Cornett, a veteran sportscaster, also played a prescient role in landing the city its NBA Team.)
CLICK HERE for an Overview of the CHK Finish Line Tower
The four-story CHK Finish Line Tower would offer:
For judges, a spacious floor with a sweeping view of the entire racecourse, and the perfect position for a
clear sight of the Finish Line. Accurate results and hospitality beyond the ordinary.
A media floor accommodates reporter with workplaces, power plugs and panoramic views.
The top floor welcomes VIPS for race days and private events with catering and flexible floor plans.
The ground floor is a Welcome Center for visitors, complete with maps and merchandise.
So, planning for the second boathouse had begun soon after the success of the first. And instead of training community members — from six-year-olds to seniors – this would be home for the Oklahoma City University Rowing Team and elite athletics — Olympic hopefuls who’d arrive from across the U.S, to train for a spot on Team USA.
The Devon Boathouse wowed the world with its expansive views and the most advanced training equipment, positioned inches from the waterfront, like a boat entering the water. The facility earned OKC status as an Olympic river, paving the way to host Olympic Trials in rowing. (The first was in 2012, with others to come.) The elegant design and riverfront view made it a sought-after venue for all kinds of gatherings.
CLICK HERE for a closer look of the Devon Boathouse and High-Performance Training Center.
MAINTAINING MOMENTUM
The Oklahoma riverfront’s next arrivals …
2012 SandRidge Energy Pavilion and two attractions for recreation, by land: The Sky Trail climbing tower and Sky Zip, for ziplining across the river and back. The two towers — on opposite sides of the river — each received a “crown” to reflet the riverfront’s angular white steel forms. It’s a subtle architectural touch to distinguish otherwise standard recreation equipment.
2013 CHK UCO Boathouse for the University of Central Oklahoma’s hosts their female rowing team. The school’s strong music program – and venerable Jazz Lab – meant building a sizable stage for concerts and other performances. Its backdrop is a view of the river, by night or day. The building was christened with “Midtown Men,” with four stars from the Tony Award-winning musical, Jersey Boys performing live.
TO BE FINALIZED
2016 McClendon White Water Center, with its sculptural Raft Pavilion and Kayak Boathouse echoes the Boathouse District’s architectural language. (NOTE: Rand Elliott Architects designed all the distinctive structures inside and out, except for the interior here. The Center is adjacent
Riversport Rapids was designed by a kayak slalom Gold medal winner teamed with Rand Elliott Architects. OKC voters had approved the whitewater channel both for athletes and thrill seekers (whitewater rafting). It was funded by an extension of the self-imposed sales tax to invest in OKC – the next chapter of an urban initiative for improvement that had created the River, years earlier.
There are countless stories emerging from the regattas themselves, the individuals who embraced rowing, the lives that were changed, the reputation built, the synergies with the NBA’s OKC Thunder champs who play less than a mile from the river. And the people who simply admire architecture. Especially a collection built with the cohesion of a singular vision, with countless entities pulling on the same rope, or paddling in the same direction.
Recognizing the night scene’s appeal after dark inspired rower and cofounder, Mike Knopp, to introduce Night Racing to the sport of rowing. It was a hit from the start, the first night, and sealed a partnership with the electric utility, OGE. Soon there were lights lining the bridge and reflected in the water, adding to the sense of wonder. Yes, it’s often called “the Cinderella River.”
