By borrowing from the industrial architecture of the neighborhood, the bus shelter claims its place as a permanent fixture of the community.

Rugged industrial materials inherit a patina as they age gracefully while splashes of light and color reflect the spirit of the people of the Crutchfield Neighborhood.

 

Pictured (left to right): 
  Jed Ballew, Assoc. AIA - AIA150 Bus Shelter Design Competition Winner

  Jerry McGinnis - Owner, Pruitt's Tools and Crutchfield Neighborhood Vice-President

  Michael Birkes, AIA - AIA150 Champion and 2005 AIA Eastern Oklahoma Chapter President

  Shawn Schaefer, AIA - AIA150 Bus Shelter Design Competition Jury Chair and OU Urban Design Studio Director

Schaefer noted that Ballew's design stood out among the entries for having a detailed budget and design reflective of the community. 

In the late 1960's, the Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority (MTTA) was established as the city's transit authority and AIA's Tulsa Chapter hosted a bus shelter design competition.  

Two of AIA Eastern Oklahoma's former presidents; Ken Heitbrink and Maurice Clyma, AIA entered the 1960's design competition and fortunately for us, both gentlemen still had their competition entry boards.  Sadly, neither design was built.  Their designs were on display in June 2007 at the Chapter's AIA150 Bus Shelter Design Competition luncheon. 

 

Pictured (left to right):

  Dustin Alphin, Assoc. AIA - AIA150 Bus Shelter Design Competition Runner-up
  Ken Heitbrink - 1984 AIA Eastern Oklahoma President
  Maurice Clyma, AIA - 1976 AIA Eastern Oklahoma President
  Jed Ballew, Assoc. AIA - AIA150 Bus Shelter Design Competition Winner

AIA Eastern Oklahoma's AIA150 Blueprint for America Project will be located at the southwest corner of Peoria Avenue and King Street on land owned by Mrs. Pearl Cavely.  For years, Mrs. Cavely, owner of Ernie's Printing located just north of this location, watched as adults and school children alike waited for buses without the benefit of a bench or shelter from the elements.  

In 2010, the bus shelter will be a welcome addition to the Crutchfield Neighborhood, one of the oldest and most strategically located neighborhoods in Tulsa.  This is the only shelter located on North Peoria Avenue between Archer and Pine -  the neighborhood's primary bus route for those most dependent on public transportation.  

This project would not have been possible without the generosity of Crossland Construction and its employees!