Alexandra Bradford #6

This is Dale Hall Tower on campus.

My dad has had his office here since we moved to Norman almost 20 years ago. I don't remember this, but my sister and I got separated from my parents on the eighth floor. We got into an elevator and on the way down and as the story goes you could hear screams reverberating down each level.

Sometimes I would be with my dad in his office. While he worked, I would color or play with the couple of little toys he kept in a file drawer. I remember the vending machines always being a big draw. My sister and I would make fake flyers advertising free donuts and coffee and post them on the bulletin boards.

Later on when my sister was in college, occasionally I would hang out with them in his office. She would play mahjong on the computer. I don't remember what I did. I probably messed around with the things in his office like his Vietnam helmet and picture frames.

I don't know how I feel about this building. I'm not super fond of these memories, so DHT isn't that meaningful. I picked it because of how much time I've spent there.

 

The Asakusa Kannon Temple

By Lorraine Stanley

This is the Asakusa Kannon Temple, better known as the “Sensoji” temple, located in the Asukasa district of Tokyo.  This is near the heart of Tokyo and it’s neat to see this architecture of old where there are modern day skyscrapers in the background.  This is considered to be one of the oldest temples of Tokyo.  Legend has it, that three brothers that were fishermen who found a small statue of the Boddhisatva Kannon, the goddess of mercy, in their nets from the river Sumida. They tried putting the statue back into the waters but somehow the statue always returned back to them.  Visitors’ approach to the temple begins at the “Kaminarimon”, Thunder Gate, and runs 200 meters northward along Nakamise-dori arcade, a crowded lane lined with shops. The “Hozomon” gate, at the end of the street, marks the entrance to the temple. The Sensoji temple stands as a five story tower with multiple eaves.  The main hall is known as the Kannon Hondo. The temple is renowned for its giant red lanterns that hang from the gates and underneath eaves.  I visited this shrine, along with other shrines on my trip to Tokyo in 2012.  There were many tourists but each person entering this sacred place was careful and seemed that talk was hushed.  A feeling of reverence was easily felt in this temple by all.

This is a huge place for me seeing as how it is the high school that i graduated from. 

This place was full of role models and mentors for me along with many friends. I would not trade this place for any other. Everyday i walked down the halls i never saw a face that i didnt know. along with all the teachers too i knew all of them and they all knew me. we were all always there for each other. 

Vermont capital building, Montpelier, VT post #4 by Sherman Brennan

In 2006 my partner and I decided to go visit a friend in Vermont and also attend the 2 week long Halloween Festival Salem, MA puts on.  On our way to Massachusetts we stopped in on some places to take pics.  One of the places happened to be the the capital city of Vermont, Montpelier. 

The capital building itself is one of the, if not the, largest buildings in the capital.  The capital city itself is really small and as of the 2010 Census there were only 7,855 residents.  The structure itself echoes early Greek architecture with the columns but also other influences, like in the gold dome that sits atop it.  I wanted to get a closer look because as I said it is one of the largest structures in the capital and really I had not seen any larger buildings in our 5 day stay in Vermont.  The sense of scale of the building is not easy to grasp since I took the picture from our friend's car.  We were pressed for time so I did not get a chance to get closer, but it was an impressive structure.  The capital city is also very much a historical site in that many of the buildings are quite old.  That makes sense because many Vermont cities have zoning ordinances that require old buildings to be renovated rather than be torn down.  Wal Mart and other big box stores are few and far between there due to this restriction since they have to find buildings suitable for their inventory but are also pre-existing.  Also, Vermont cities will not give the businesses the usual tax breaks and special land use rights they get just about everywhere else in the country.  Vermonters are very proud of their history and are pretty loath to let it be demolished just to accommodate business needs.


by Sherman Brennan

Cate Center - Arthur Bulin

Cate Center is an interesting set of buildings. It is actually six buildings. There are four compartmentalized dorm buildings (two now serve as offices and class rooms)  then there is the central building. Contained within it is the food court and the RSA. Now the sixth building is small that is the steam building. All six buildings are linked in a way that many never see. Steam is used to heat the buildings and water.

I lived in these dorms for two years and while it was a different building both years the sameness was oddly comforting. Much the same applies to the central building. You can go between the buildings and feel that they are connected. The similar design and little features make the six buildings feel like one.

Blog 2 Josh Cosgrove Lynch's Castle

Continuing on my trip to Europe in the summer of 2013, I was able to go to Galway on the west coast of Ireland. This building has historical significance to my family as this is where we trace our lineage to and this was were they lived for a long time. Even though the building has now been turned into a bank, you can still see what kind of place they lived in and how important they were to their community. I love this building, all that it stands for in this city, and am proud to be part of this history.


Josh Cosgrove

Kevin Price - Week 5 - St. Elizabeths Catholic Church

 

This is a church I have many memories in. I went to Wednesday night school every week throughout my middle school and early high school years. The building was relatively new when my family had moved out to Keller, which is where this church is located. One very unique artifact this church has is a replica of the cloth Jesus was wrapped in as he was taken to his tomb. Seeing it on the wall as you walked in the front doors to the left always gave me goose bumps because you could see his face imprinted on the cloth. I also attended many Sunday services in this church and really enjoyed them all. 

Brad Newell National Cathedral

On my trip to D.C I also got to spend time in the National Cathedral. They held the National Acolyte Festival here. It was amazing to see all of the different churches that had made the trip to D.C. Also the building was just beautiful. I want to go back and see it again someday.

post 5 Alexandra Bradford

Stella, Modern Italian Cuisine Restaurant in Oklahoma City

Once a vintage-looking gas station, Stella was retrofitted into the fun classy bar and restaurant it is today. There are four rooms: (1) the Eames room, named after the style of chair they use; (2) the Knoll room (if I remember correctly, also named after the elegant furniture); (3) the Cavalieri room, named after the beautiful Italian opera singer; the wallpaper in this room is a print of her repeated potrait; (4) the Fornasetti room, named after the painter who was infatuated by her.

I worked here for only a couple of months, but you could feel the influence of Italy melded with an American flair from the structure of the building. As a guest, I think you would feel the sense of pride and passion the owner has for the business. However, the environment is relaxed and inviting, while at the same time allowing for a fancy night out with a significant other.

Personally, my feelings toward this building come from the time I worked there. I wasn't handling stress too well, the commute to work was almost two hours every day (more than I expected it to be), and although I finished my two weeks notice, I didn't show up for a catering event I agreed to work for them after I finished there. It doesn't matter the reason, because any would be an excuse. I learned a lot here, and I worked hard to be a successful server, which I accomplished.

Fred Lee #4

The double wide on stilts, or the bridge to nowhere. The Hillary Clinton library is one of the two places in Arkansas that I will never go to. (But, I hear that they are trying to reopen Dogpatch) 

Alexandra Bradford Post # 4

THE BAVINGER HOUSE

This house was designed by the architect Bruce Goff and was located in Norman, OK. There was one tall mast in the center of a spiraling wall of iron rock and aqua colored glass slabs. I was a freshman in college when there was an exhibit of Goff's work at the Fred Jones Art Museum that I went to. Architecture had always inspired me and was an interest of mine. His work is described as organic and playful, which one could see here.
As my mom and I drove to the Bavinger house, I couldn't believe this piece of work was right in our neighborhood and had been under my nose for fifteen years. It was a gray day and Bruce Goff's son greeted us and led the tour. As we walked up the stairs, there were pools of water and ceramic brown paper bags decorating the floors. The house was built like a sea shell, and as you wound up the steps, the perimeter became smaller and smaller. At the top there was a rope zip line that once stretched out into the woods.
My mom loved it. She is an artist, and she expressed that their son must have loved living there and how he was so lucky to have grown up there. I could tell by his reactions that he didn't agree, and I understood how he felt. It's a lovely structure to tour, but it would be hard to live there and have parents with radically different constitutions then his own. To hear person after person rave about the house could wear you down after so many years of leading tours of something unbearably personal.
Well, unfortunately or not, this man ended up blowing the Bavinger house up. I don't know exactly why, but I could see it as being an expression of his long standing frustration. I am glad that I got to see the house in person, and I can understand my mom's opinion of what a shame it was to lose it. However, this wasn't a commercial building. It was a home, it belonged to their family, and you can't see what goes on behind closed doors. Dynamite released the iron rock that was used in its construction, and it ultimately deconstructed it.

Charn Langford 3

Meers Restaurant

Meers is a restaurant located near Lawton, OK and is home to some seriously good burgers. The building is located on a seismic hotspot and occasionally you can feel the tremors. It is made up of several different buildings that are connected together, from the inside there are lots of different levels and steps. This building is maybe a stretch for this blog since it was not designed by an architect, I doubt there was a formal plan made at all. I chose this building regardless of it's legitimacy because its become a gem for the surrounding area. The sprawl of the building and the pioneer style facade really adds to the atmosphere and appeal of Meers and keeps people coming back again and again. 

Charn Langford 2

Guthrie OK, Oklahoma's first capitol

This is the original state capitol building for the state. It was only the capitol for three years upon which OKC was selected by majority vote to become the capitol (if you ask a local they'll probably tell you that the state seal was stolen in the night). This building and the other historical buildings located there are all influenced by victorian architecture. The red brick really makes the gold accents pop. It stands today as a testament to Guthrie's rich history.

William Adams



 

 

When I was but a lad, I lived in Izmir Turkey.  And in between running around barefoot in the streets and sneaking into mosques I had the opportunity to visit the ruins of Ephesus which are only a few miles south of the city. 

 

I really don't remember much of the buildings, the history, the artwork, or much beyond the fact that I went with a girl that I had a crush on and that I couldn't get into trouble for climbing on all the rocks and stone everywhere.  

Blog 1 Oslo Airport- Josh Cosgrove

In the Summer of 2013 I had the pleasure of traveling to Norway. The Oslo Airport was the first experience I had in the country and it was such a pleasant surprise as to how nice the airport was. The open spaces were the first thing you notice after you get off your plane and the spruce that is throughout adds a nice Scandinavian touch to the airport. I instantly loved the airport and it is one of the highlights of my trip.

Griffin Memorial Hospital post #3 by Sherman Brennan

This is one of the buildings on the grounds of the Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman.  The picture was taken in 2006 and I believe that renovations/restorations have been performed on some of the buildings but I do not know if this particular building is among them.  I have always been fascinated with Griffin Memorial in that it seems abandoned though apparently there are still patients on the grounds.

The balcony and its' bars are what really caught my eye.  It appears that the patients were allowed to get some fresh air on the balcony but that they were not able to leave the building or grounds without someone accompanying them.  I remember thinking that no matter what the patient's condition they would see the bars as keeping them from freedom, which could not have helped them with whatever issues had brought them to Griffin in the first place.  It serves as a good reminder, though, that people with mental and/or emotional problems were seen as just a step above criminals.  The look of the building is foreboding, due to the bars, while also being welcoming with the columns and benignly institutional facade.  I think it says a great deal about how we look at mental illness and those who suffer from any form of it.

by Sherman Brennan

US Capital Building- Brad Newell

Back in 2002 my church went to Washington D.C for the National Acolyte Festival. While we were there we got to tour the capital building. I was amazed at the grandeur of the building. I had always heard a lot about the building from my great aunt who had worked as a secretary for a congressman. It was great to see the place that a lot of her stories centered around. Overall it was the place that I enjoyed most.

William Adams



There have been many times that I have entered the Atlanta airport on my many travels.  This airport is rather large and uses subway cars to allow travel from one terminal to another.  (That's one of the parts I most enjoy)

With airports in general, they are the gateways to other countries.  The first impression that one gets is of the inside of an airport.  With the importance of first impressions, a well designed airport can get people excited to look around once they get outside. 

Eric Hebert #2

The Oklahoma State Capitol building has always been one of my favorite buildings in Oklahoma. I first experienced this building when I was eight years old and my class went on a tour of the building. Since then I have worked at multiple jobs that were with eye shot of this beautiful building. The location of this building is also superb as you can drive on the elevated portion of I-35 as you overlook the tall columns and the ornate dome that serve as the face of the building. Whether you are on the outside staring at the columns or on the inside staring up at the belly of the dome, the state capitol does not fail to impress.

nelly kouame, The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro is a Roman Catholic minor basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The basilica was constructed between 1985 and 1989 at a cost of US$300 million by my late President Felix Houphouet Boigny. This place represents a huge benefit for my country and make us proud. Almost each year, people around the world came to visit this prestigious place. The design of the dome and encircled plaza are clearly inspired by those of the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican City, although it is not an outright replica. The cornerstone was laid on 10 August 1985, and it was consecrated on 10 September 1990 by Pope John Paul II. The nearby Cathedral of Saint Augustine is the principal place of worship and seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Yamoussoukro. Guinness World Records lists it as the largest church in the world, having surpassed the previous record holder, St. Peter's Basilica, upon completion.

last stop Fred Lee wk3

This is the Range Control office where I spent the latter part of my military career. It is the command and control center for part of soldiers training.  Many soldiers were deployed and I am proud to have been a part of the training that helped them make it back home.

Alexandra Bradford Wk 3, Quigley's Castle

In my last post, I blogged about a humble theatre located in Eureka Springs. After a week at camp, my mom came up to hear our last concert and pick me up. Before we drove back to Norman, we stopped at this place, Quigley's Castle. A Italian woman named Elise Fioravanti moved to the Ozarks in 1919 and married at 18. She collected rocks for years and had dreamed of house like this one. During the Great Depression, since all materials for a new house were not affordable, she used the thousands of rocks she gathered to construct the walls. Her love of the surrounding nature shows in the window paneled walls where atriums of vines and flowers grow through the entire house.
This home was so whimsical, and after an intense week of camp, it was peaceful to walk through this dream house. There were thriving plants in the glass walls, and each lovely stone was hand-picked. Honestly, it was  inspiring to see this woman make her dream into reality. Eureka Springs is a familiar place, and I would love to go back some weekend.

Seattle Space Needle post #2 by Sherman Brennan

In 2011 I visited Seattle ostensibly to attend a music festival called Bumbershoot (it's more than just music; comedy and all of the arts have spaces provided for exhibitions) but also to see some good friends who had moved up to the Pacific Northwest just a couple of years previous.  The festival is held near the downtown, or Belltown neighborhood, of Seattle where we were staying at one of the hotels located in the area.  I was really excited to finally be at a music festival that didn't require baking in the heat of the sun or your tent.  Also, in an earlier trip to Seattle I had been close to the Space Needle (i was at the EMP Museum and the museum happens to have been designed by Frank Gehry, from the first video we watched in class) but nowhere near as close as I would be during the three day festival.  I am not so good with heights, even if I am in a building, so going inside and to the top would be another thing experienced in life.

I was only familiar with the Space Needle from television so when I got a sense of its' scale I was blown away.  It dominates the skyline of Seattle but also manages to make the EMP Museum, along with all other buildings in the area, seem small.  Unfortunately the line was way too big for me and my companions to wait in without grumbling excessively so we opted to try and get in at some point over the long weekend.  The grounds of the Seattle city center arts area are huge, with stages set up all over including indoor concert halls...that had air conditioning.

A good time was had by all, especially when our little group was able to see a really great band underneath the stars and the Space Needle.  It was a defining festival moment for me in that I will never attend another one that is outside during the summer, anywhere.  Also, it's the trip where though my fear of heights was never confronted at least I meant to go to the top of the needle.

By Sherman Brennan (not my actual hand but that of a really exuberant festival attendee)

Brad Newell- Grace Episcopal Church

This is Grace episcopal church in Muskogee, OK. It is the church that I grew up in as a child. They just redid the outside of the building and changed it from the original stone to the wood that you see here. I loved the way that it looks now it just seems to be more inviting then it once did.

Austin Harvanek (First Baptist McAlester) 1

This is First Baptist Church McAlester which was my home church while I was growing up from the time I was 5 when we moved there, until I graduated high school and moved up here. I spent a lot of time here when I was younger not just on Sundays and Wednesdays but also other nights of the week. The church family I had here really helped me become who I am today and not to mention all of my friends and there parents also went to the same church. My church family here was always there for me when I needed anything and they still are. My friends parents, just like my own, weren't afraid to make sure all of us stayed in check and were doing what we were supposed to be doing. This is also the place that I gave my life to the Lord and the place I was baptized. To say the least this church will always hold a very special place in my heart.