Project Completed: 2010
Location: Oklahoma City
Project Type: Cultural & Civic
Size: One mile long
Photographer: Gray City Studios
Under the Sidewalks
A World, Made Uplifting, Entertaining, and Safe
It was an ambitious, ingenious downtown project with practical appeal, and in typical Oklahoma City style, it was ambitious. Opened in 1972-74, the tunnel system — first named ‘The Conncourse’ — is about a mile long and covers more than 20 square blocks with climate-controlled passage.
But after 35 years of wear and tear, the tunnels needed a thorough upgrade. The prominent OKC banker, Jack Conn — namesake of the tunnel system – had died in 1991, so fewer and fewer citizens understood why OKC had misspelled “concourse.”
The City of Oklahoma City chose Rand Elliott Architects to tackle the renovation on a shoestring budget. It was a transformation inspired by colored lights that inject energy and appeal to the walkways and guide color-coded navigation.
"The Underground" Debuts
In 2010, the tunnels’ new incarnation was renamed and rebranded as “The Underground.”
The color-coded walkways connect numerous downtown buildings and parking garages and is home to a host of amenities — coffee shops, delis, retailers and banks, all beneath the city streets (except for one skywalk). It’s a small city – safe, novel and largely unknown to all but downtown workers. It’s often described as a well-kept secret.
Art installations and snippets of Oklahoma City’s past broaden the Underground’s appeal. For visitors it’s an attraction; for history-minded locals, an education and for downtown citizens, it’s a convenience. And in extreme temps it’s a godsend for all.
Today, the Underground is managed by the Downtown Business Improvement District and Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership and is open to the public from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Full-Spectrum Recognition
This project won nine prestigious awards from seven organizations, ranging from international and national competitions to one coveted local from the City of Oklahoma City.
National
2008 Award for Public Spaces
National
2008 American Architecture Award
National
2008 “Best Use of Color”
National
2008 “Best Use of Color”
Local
2007 Curtis A. Schwartz Cityscape Award
National
2007 Honor Award in Public Spaces Category
International
2007 Special Achievement Award for Public Space
Central States Region
2007 Award for Excellence in Interior Architecture
AIA Oklahoma
2007 Merit Award
Full Gallery
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