Architect Cesar Pelli Visits BOK Center

Construction on the BOK Center is almost done and the arena architect says it turned out better than he imagined.  The News On 6's Emory Bryan reports Cesar Pelli was in Tulsa on Wednesday for a walk through of the BOK Center.

Pelli designed the building and described some of his impressions upon seeing the almost finished work.  His appearance at the Rotary Club of Tulsa was something of a victory lap for the celebrated architect who designed the BOK Center.

"And I hope this events center will be the beginning of a renaissance of downtown Tulsa," said Cesar Pelli.

Pelli is one of the world's most honored architects, and from his design studio in New Haven, Connecticut, has created distinctive buildings that are located all over the world.  Now that the BOK Center is almost finished, he says it turned out well.

"Fabulous, I couldn't be happier with it.  I'm really excited and I can't wait until it opens and it's full of people.  It's going to be unbelievable," said Cesar Pelli.

Pelli's selection for the Vision 2025 project came with the challenge to make the arena an icon for downtown Tulsa.  Pelli wrapped the entrances in glass curtain walls to establish the iconic look, which the architect says looks even better than he imagined.

"I like to say they are very much like your children.  They never grow up to be what you expect.  Sometimes they are worse.  Sometimes they are better.  And, this one is better than I expected," said Cesar Pelli.

The BOK Center will open to the public in September.  Several of the first concerts are already sell outs.  While few Tulsans have been in the building so far, Pelli says it is a reflection of Tulsa and its people.

"This building, for me, tries to express the spirit of what I found in Tulsa.  A sense of optimism and sense of can do and faith in the future and this is what the building is about.  Excitement and the joy to be alive," said Cesar Pelli.

Pelli's firm has dozens of other buildings in other cities in the works.  Click here to visit his website.