Arup’s expertise includes acoustics, something OKPOP Director Jeff Moore said is important to this project.

“We plan to have an in-house studio for recording some of the music we’ll be curating,” he said.

Blackburn and Moore said no conceptual drawings have been presented because the design will be a collaboration among the team, the Oklahoma Historical Society and its financial supporters, which include the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

The design also depends to some extent on location — which, contrary to previous indications, apparently has not been settled.

“We are looking at several pieces of land in (Tulsa),” Blackburn said. “The location is so important, because this museum has to be self-supporting.”

Blackburn said the parcel at Archer Street and Boston Avenue identified a year ago as the museum’s future home is still a possibility but is not the only one.

He and Moore said a decision will have to be made this summer.

Most importantly, Moore and Blackburn said, the design must capture the essence of OKPOP as a “Crossroads of Creativity. … The (Oklahoma History Center) is very traditional in its design,” said Blackburn. “This celebrates creativity. The design has got to be creative.”

Randy Krehbiel 918-581-8365 randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com

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