Keeping Up With OKC

The BancFirst Tower (formerly known as Cotter Ranch Tower) has been an iconic staple of the Oklahoma City skyline since its construction in 1971 and is the second tallest tower in the metro. However, the evolution of the city’s downtown aesthetic, which includes modern towers adorned with colorful lighting capabilities, made the BancFirst Tower look outdated and unimpactful.

BancFirst bought the tower in 2018 as a part of its mission to consolidate its workforce, build a stronger presence in Oklahoma City’s expanding urban core, and craft an inviting space that benefits the community. The tower’s location on Broadway Avenue and Main Street made it an advantageous choice. The only thing left to do was completely renovate the Tower from its 70’s aesthetic to a contemporary, open space that would complement the style of Oklahoma City’s modern downtown. For that, they needed the right team.

The Crown Jewel

The Alvine Engineering lighting studio was selected as the architectural lighting consultant on the project by architecture firm Bockus Payne. Our lighting team was given the vast undertaking of transforming both the interior and exterior lighting in the BancFirst Tower to reflect the client’s objective to create an alluring, modern lighting design that invokes engagement with downtown denizens while also creating functional lighting solutions for the site.

The design was led by Alvine Engineering’s architectural lighting experts Michelle Eble-Hankins, Ph.D., P.E., LC and Ben Williams, LC. Michelle is an associate principal, and Ben is a lighting design lead. With a combined 37 years of architectural lighting experience, our team provided a veteran presence within the project team that was able to completely transform the building’s façade and large gathering spaces, making a night-and-day difference on the building’s visual impact.

Prior to the renovation, the antiquated arches that lined the top of the tower dated the structure and contributed to a lack of visual presence in the city’s downtown. Many of Oklahoma City’s downtown structures are equipped with color-changing lighting capabilities. In order to create a greater impact on the city skyline, our lighting designers worked closely with the owner and architect to create a crown lighting solution that would reinvent the building and create a stunning visual presence along the Oklahoma City skyline.

The tower’s crown lighting utilized 634 RGBA fixtures, giving the owner over 2,350 feet of luminaires to control. The luminaires are customizable by the foot and the granular design is coordinated via a Pharos DMX system which provides over 20 universes of control.

“They utilize their per foot control to mimic the colors of an Oklahoma sunset.” Michelle explained, “It’s challenging to replicate an Oklahoma sunset with just the RGB color spectrum. We worked hard to ensure we could craft a crown lighting solution utilizing luminaires that supported RGBA color control.”

Our team’s experience with sophisticated lighting controls proved exceptionally useful in providing the owner with a coordinated solution. Our team worked hand-in-hand with the manufacturer to program the Pharos controller to ensure the lighting solutions were user-friendly and provided the specific aesthetic the owner desired. Additionally, the fixtures lining the crown can be controlled in tandem with the fixtures illuminating the underground passageway entrances to create a uniform aesthetic during special events and holidays.

Connecting Infrastructure to Community

Prior to the renovation,  the BancFirst Tower’s plaza was dominated by concrete and provided little opportunity for pedestrian interaction. The updated renovations provided a promenade that was more immersive, highlighted by an extensive addition of greenspace filled with vegetation local to Oklahoma City’s ecosystem, wide pathways, and additional seating spaces that beckon tenants to actively engage with the space. The lighting design in the park supports the client’s intent to create a welcoming atmosphere that sets the tone for the tenant experience. In order to make a more inviting space, our team provided color-changing RGBA luminaires at the underground passageway entrances that create a brilliant glow with BancFirst’s iconic blue brand color and draw necessary attention to the underground concourse entrances. Ribbon lighting borders the outline of the greenspace structures, crafting a warm and hospitable atmosphere in the early morning and evenings.

“The RGBA luminaires in the underground passageway illuminate the uniquely shaped steel and glass structure and are oriented strategically to mitigate glare,” Michelle Eble-Hankins stated, “The client explained to us that the underground passageway was heavily underutilized. In order to revitalize the space, our job was to make it more noticeable and inviting for tenants.”

The project team worked diligently to recreate an unused alleyway into an outdoor gathering space lined with tables and chairs that both employees and guests may use for breaks and events. What was once a dark and unappealing concrete alley was transformed into an open-air seating area lined with warm festoon lighting and dotted with strategically placed uplights that highlight the surrounding greenery and evoke a peaceful ambiance.

“The festoon lighting helps create an inviting, hospitable space for tenants and pedestrians to enjoy,” Ben Williams explained, “Utilizing the outdoor space for leisure allowed the design team to maximize the usable interior space on the tower’s ground floor.”

A History of Success

Alvine Engineering’s lighting studio celebrates a rich history of success in providing superior lighting solutions in Oklahoma City.

Marquee projects include the Bricktown Underpass and Walkway Renovation and the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center. Both projects were honored with Awards of Merit from the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Illumination Awards in 2021.

About the Designers

Michelle Eble-Hankins Ph.D., PE, LC

Michelle graduated with her doctorate from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln (UNL) in 2008 and has amassed over thirty years of industry experience in lighting design. In addition to heading Alvine Engineering’s lighting studio, she is also an associate professor at UNL.

Ben Williams LC

Ben Williams is a lighting design lead and a senior member of Alvine Engineering’s architectural lighting studio. Ben has more than a decade of experience within the architectural lighting industry and graduated with a Master’s of Architectural Engineering from UNL.