The Route 66 Gateways that grace the Mother Road at the eastern and western edges of Tulsa recently won an architectural design award.
The gateways, designed Dewberry Architects, received a People’s Choice Award at the American Institute of Architects Eastern Oklahoma 2016 Design Excellence Awards Banquet.
Steve Vogt described Dewberry’s design in this way:
Route 66 gateway structures now greet travelers on both the east and west sides of the city. Inspired by the Art Deco style of architecture, the gateways are constructed of steel clad with aluminum. Arms made of steel tube railing, reminiscent of Streamline Moderne classic automobile styling, reach out over the roadway and display the Route 66 shield and the word “TULSA.” The Zigzag Moderne style of the Art Deco era is introduced in the three columns that anchor and support the 48-foot-long arms that cantilever over the road.
I’ve enjoyed each and every opportunity to work on these Route 66 projects. The gateway projects, in particular, have been challenging and fun. We started from scratch in terms of design, knowing that these markers needed to be functional and cost-effective, but also sculptural and appropriate to the Route 66 era.
The gateways were constructed in 2014 for $930,000, using Vision 2025 sales-tax funds that were approved by voters. They’re illuminated at night with LED lights
The eastern one is on 11th Street (aka Route 66) just east of Interstate 44.
The western gateway is on Southwest Boulevard (aka Route 66), across from the historic Crystal City Shopping Center.
(Hat tip to Dennis Whitaker; image of the east-side Route 66 Gateway via Vision 2025)