In 2012, the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa (ahha) brought in Selser Schaefer Architects to design the Hardesty Arts Center — the first flagship building in the Tulsa Arts District. ahha’s goals were to bring an art exhibition and education facility to downtown Tulsa and engage the community in the arts. It was a devastating blow to the community when the Center closed its doors in November 2022.
On February 2, 2023, The University of Tulsa announced the acquisition of the Hardesty Arts Building. This purchase ensures the original anchor property for the Tulsa Arts District remains a centerpiece of the community’s arts scene. “The University of Tulsa wants to be a foundation upon which the Tulsa arts community can grow. We envision this building to be the epicenter of the arts and humanities community, and we will use it as a community resource,” said University President Brad R. Carson.
TU is a long-standing client of Selser Schaefer Architects and the Hardesty Arts Building is one of our original building designs in downtown Tulsa — it is wonderful to see them come together in the name of the arts in Tulsa!
