Tandy Pavilion

“The Tandy Pavilion will activate an entirely new part of our campus as a place for gathering, learning, and playing together.“

- Scott Stulen, Former Philbrook President + CEO

Philbrook Art + Gardens

Tandy Pavilion

A New Place to Gather Among Art and Gardens

The Tandy Pavilion expands the experience of Philbrook Art and Gardens beyond the galleries and historic villa, creating a new destination for learning, play, events, and time outdoors. Set within a previously underused area of the grounds, the pavilion gives visitors a comfortable place to gather while opening up a new edge of the 26-acre campus for exploration.

Designed to support art education, nature programs, special events, and everyday recreation, the approximately 6,000-square-foot pavilion and 2,000-square-foot covered patio offer flexible indoor-outdoor space for visitors of all ages. New accessible pathways, lighting, restrooms, concessions, and site improvements strengthen connections across the grounds and make this portion of the campus more welcoming and usable throughout the day.

Designed to Belong to the Landscape

The architecture takes its cues from the gardens rather than competing with them. Pre-weathered steel, wood, and a palette of natural materials complement the surrounding terrain, while a green roof planted with native grasses helps the building settle into the sloping site. Generous glazing frames views of the gardens and brings daylight deep into the pavilion, creating a constant connection between activity inside and the landscape beyond.

The result is a building that feels both purposeful and quiet: a flexible setting for exhibitions, workshops, celebrations, and spontaneous afternoons outside. By bringing new programming space to the gardens, the Tandy Pavilion helps Philbrook welcome more ways for people to connect—with art, nature, and one another.

FAQ: Philbrook Art + Gardens Tandy Pavilion

Q: What is the Tandy Pavilion at Philbrook Art and Gardens?
A: The Tandy Pavilion is a flexible indoor-outdoor gathering space at Philbrook Art and Gardens in Tulsa, designed for art education, nature programs, special events, and everyday recreation.

Q: How large is the Tandy Pavilion?
A: The project includes an approximately 6,000-square-foot pavilion and a 2,000-square-foot covered patio.

Q: What kinds of activities can take place at the pavilion?
A: The pavilion supports workshops, educational programs, exhibitions, community gatherings, private events, and informal recreation for visitors of all ages.

Q: How does the pavilion connect to Philbrook’s gardens?
A: The building uses large windows, natural materials, a native-grass green roof, and a covered patio to create a strong visual and physical connection to the surrounding gardens.

Q: What improvements were made to the surrounding grounds?
A: The project added accessible pathways, lighting, restrooms, concessions, and security improvements that help activate and better connect this area of the Philbrook campus.

Q: Why was the pavilion added to Philbrook?
A: The pavilion creates more room for Philbrook’s growing art, garden, education, and community programming while making a previously underused part of the grounds more accessible and inviting.