Oklahoma City / Central High School
Early Chronology / History
• Built in 1909, Designed by Layton Hawk Smith
• Collegian Gothic Style, Limestone Clad
• First Dedicated High School in OKC
• September 1910 1st students reported to class
• 1919 changed the name to Central High School with advent of additional HS’s under way
• 1920 OKC had; 19 Elems., 5 Jr. Highs, 3 HS’s (Central, Capitol Hill, Classen)
• 1968 stopped being used as HS
• November 7, 1976 CHS was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
• 1981 sold to Southwest Bell Telephone Co.
• April 1984 renovation was complete and received Regional AIA Award with accolades for being saved from possible demolition.
• Became known as One Bell Central
• 2005 SWB consolidated its downtown offices, moved to Dean McGee Ave. and sold the building to American Farmers and Ranchers Insurance Co. who was celebrating its centennial year.
• AFR never filled the building and in 2010 put the building up for sale.
• 2012 after an intense bidding exercise OCU purchased the building to relocate it’s School of Law downtown.
• Ironically, their bidding competitor was OKC Public Schools who after selling it 31 years earlier wanted it for their Administrative Headquarters.
• Central High School continues to have an active alumni association with an active web site.
• After visiting the web site, Jean Winder Roberts added a comment saying, “This all brings a tear to my eye! I graduated in 1947 and loved that school and my friends with all my heart. This website is fantastic. Thanks.”
• This is the 8th Soloman Andrew Layton building that FSB has worked on including the State Capitol Dome.
• The OCU School of Law project is scheduled for completion in December 2014.
One Bell Central
Historic Fabric Saved
Basement; none
First; none
Second
– N and S Entries; Mosaic tile flooring
– E Entry; Mosaic tile flooring and Murals
– Auditorium Proscenium
Third
– Balcony edge detail
Fourth
– Tiered Lecture Hall
Oklahoma City University / School of Law
Chronology – OCU School of Law
Fall 2011; Due Diligence Study
Fall 2012; Building Purchase
January 9, 2013; Program Validation
March 1, 2013; Final Design
April 24, 2013; 50% CD’s
June 19, 2013; 95% CD’s
August 6, 2013; 100% CD’s
September 20, 2013; GC Award
December 2014; Substantial Completion
Historic Preservation Angle
Federal Funding initiates historic preservation submission process
20% Federal Historic Tax Credit
Oklahoma has 20% match (was in a moratorium)
SHPO is the conduit to NPS Historic Preservation
3 Part Submission
Part 1 information about the significance and appearance of the building.
Part 2 describes the condition of the building and the planned rehabilitation work.
Part 3 of the application is submitted after the project is complete and documents that the work was completed as proposed.
Historic Preservation Chronology
2013
April; Owner elects to pursue historic tax credits
May; Exploratory Package to SHPO
July; Part 2 Submission to NPS
August; Part 2 Submission approved by NPS
December 4; Amendment 1-Window Replacement
2014
January 23; Amend 1 approved by NPS
March 31; Amend 2 – Sample Window
May 5; Amend 2 disapproved by NPS
May 30; Amend 3 – Addressing NPS concerns
