yan tan #12

This is one of the Metropolitan libraries in Oklahoma City, and it was recently built right by my house. The building is made to look like there are oil rigs coming from it, and it represents Oklahoma's influence in the oil industry. The oil rigs are all private study rooms made for students to have a quiet environment where they can focus better. The building is made entirely of glass to enable natural light. The concept is different and definitely unique.

Yan Tan #11

The Fred Jones Art Museum here in Norman is one of my favorite places to visit. It features many rooms inside the museum, with 2 floors. The buildings are square shaped with triangular roofs and are all connected by glass panels. The interior is very modern and ornate. Each room features different types of art and artifacts. It is unique because the front of one of the rooms features stained glass of all types of colors and it is beautiful.

Yan Tan #10

The Empire State building is one of the most iconic buildings in America. It is known for its observation deck where visitors can gather and view the Manhattan area around them. The building is 103 story's high. It is designed in the Art Deco style and has a very modern concept. The building is a popular attraction for proposals and other various special occasions. When I was up in the observation deck, everything down belong was a blur because we were so high up. The building is 443 meters tall.

Yan Tan #9

The Sagrada Familia is a church in Spain that is still in the midst of construction. It features many gothic elements and designs, and the beginning of the construction dates back to the late 1800's. The building was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi. The church is still being worked on and is projected to be complete by 2026. It features many spires and 3 facades. They are representative of Catholicism and have important symbolic meaning to the church.

Laura Garcia #12

Liberty Memorial-Kansas City
This memorial is a fabulous work of art.The tower and surrounding buildings are all breath taking. The design was chosen during a contest and was submitted by Harold Van Buren Magonigle. Sculpture Robert Aitken and architect firm Wright and Wright made it happen. It sits on top a hill with views of the grand station and down town KC. Beautiful, heartwarming and well deserved by all the lives given during WWI.

Laura Garcia # 11

Manarola City- Italy
Okay. This is the one place in all these blogs I have not been but would love to go. This just looks so cool. Living on the edge(literally). This town was built in 1338 and is still standing even with the temperament of the sea. The way it is built to fit. Amazing.

Yan Tan #8

This is my high school that I attended in Oklahoma City. Putnam City North has recently built a new gym, which is featured in this photo. When I attended the school, the building was old and needed renovations. The performing arts center was the only part of the building that was nice, but now the new gymnasium has improved also. The building is much taller than the rest of the school, and has a much better layout than the rest of the school. It has tall window panes in the front of the building, and makes the school look a lot classier.

Laura Garcia #10

Titanic museum- Branson
Okay, so it's not and architectural wonder but come on! How cool is it that the Titanic is built again in Branson! Or at least half of it. This was a very cool place to go learn about the history of the Titanic and ship travel of that time. My children (which most of my blogs have been about, keeping them entertained and happy) loved this. It makes one feel so small imagining that there was a REAL one of these bigger and better at one time, and now it lays at the bottom of the ocean. Destroyed during its maiden voyage.

Alex Ngo #12

This is the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, in Houston Texas.  I went here with my orchestra group in my freshman year of high school.  We got to hear the Houston Symphony Orchestra perform, and it was definitely an eye opener.  The orchestra played so well, and it inspired a lot of us to work harder so we could aspire to be like that in our concerts.  It cost 7.4 million dollars to originally complete it.  The inside of the concert hall is unique because the ceiling is made of 800 hexagonal segments which can be raised or lowered to change the acoustics of the hall.  The segments can actually be lowered enough to close the upper balcony, so the seating capacity therefore fluctuates from about 2,300 to 2,908.  I will always remember my experience sitting there in the rich red seats of the concert hall with my good orchestra friends.

Laura Garcia #9

Bodie- California

 Bodie is a place that is truly frozen in time. The buildings are still standing and in better shape that some of the buildings from this era. Bodie sprang to life in 1859 when William S. Bodey found gold (in them there hills). There is still a mine on location, but we cannot enter for fear of collapse. The homes were so well built with materials on hand built by hand. They have and still are withstanding the harsh seasons. Go if you can.

Alex Ngo #11

Rodeo Drive is a two-mile long street, primary in Beverly Hills, California.  It is known for its luxury-good stores.  The larger business district surrounding Rodeo, known as the "Golden Triangle," is both a shopping district and a major tourist attraction.  This is not a building in particular, but a collection of buildings.  When I went to California with my girlfriend at the time we got dropped off here by our tour bus, and while waiting for a taxi, we were able to see very many cool buildings, and some great scenery.  The way that they organized the street and the buildings, it looks very close knit, but luxurious.  And I saw many Lamborghinis and Ferraris there.

Alex Ngo #10

Even though Union is my high school's rival, the Performing Arts Center at Union will always hold a place in my memory.  It is where we had one of our homecoming dances.  It was the year that I was a student class officer, and I had much to do with planning the event and organizing everything.   It is a very big and majestic building for a high school PAC.

#12-Brandon Mansur- Skydance Bridge

The Skydance Bridge was designed by locally by S-X-L. It was built as part of the maps project in an effort to improve downtown Oklahoma City. In one of the presentations someone talked about art and the effect it has on the community and I think this is a great example. With great architectural sculptures and new and improved buildings and layouts I really think OKC is on its way to being transformed into something special.

Statue of Liberty - Nicholas Von Busch - Blog 11

     The Statue of Liberty was constructed in 1875, a gift from France to the United States. It stands 305 feet tall and has greeted many an immigrant to the great land that is the United States of America. When traveling during the summer my family was able to visit the Statue. At one point in time you could take a tour that led all the way to standing at the top ring of the torch for a beautiful view but has since been shut down to the public (or as last I had heard). This symbol of liberty and freedom will forever stand tall and proud as we as a nation stand together. I hope to visit this statue in person someday.

Shane Parker #12

My favorite library is, of course, Bizzell Library. I have spent countless hours in this library over three and a half years and it became a comfortable place to me very quickly. When I first visited the University, this was one of the most visually striking buildings on campus. This isn't your everyday building when you are outside the academic setting, so walking in that large central structure for the first time filled me with awe. The contrasting use of white stone and red brick creates a very illustrious, almost noble appearance. This may be the first Gothic structure I saw in person, which means it would be responsible for me now loving the Gothic style. I cannot imagine a better building to be the centerpiece of campus.

Laura Garcia #8

Blue Whale- Oklahoma
FUN, FUN, FUN! My family loves this road side attraction. This was another driving around and finding where we are we came across. The Blue Whale is well known in these parts but in Oakland area, not so much. However we love this architectural wonder. The Blue Whale was built in 2 years 1970-1972 by Hugh S. Davis as an anniversary gift to his wife. The whale closed in 1988 but has been reopened since. So much fun!

Shane Parker #11

This is Powell Library, UCLA's main library. This is one of my favorite school libraries I've ever visited. It is one of the first four buildings on UCLA's campus, dating back to the 1920s. The interior architecture and design is just as if not more impressive than its exterior. This library's architecture makes you feel very small, which is appropriate with the amount of knowledge you are surrounded by. There are also mosaics in the entrance of the building adding to its legend.

Alex Ngo #9

Devon Tower, located in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is a 50-story corporate skyscraper, tied as the 39th tallest building in the US.  Construction began in October 2009 and was completed three years later in October 2012.  The office tower, a six-story rotunda and a six-story podium structure comprise more than 1.8 million sq ft and was initially estimated to cost $750 million.  The building is definitely a sight to behold. I remember it not only because that is where I had my first photo shoot, but also because it is one, in my opinion, of the most impressive buildings in Oklahoma City.

Heath Garwood #12 - CityPlex Towers - Tulsa, OK, USA

The CityPlex Towers in Tulsa are probably the most impressive set of buildings in Tulsa. While it's they are shorter than BOK Tower, the CityPlex Towers have a golden paneling on all sides, giving it a heavenly appearance. While I'm not a huge fan of Oral Roberts, I find the building's design to be quite ambitious and so it's quite impressive. That being said when you think about it being commissioned by a church leader, it comes off as somewhat gaudy and vain. It was built in 1981 and today is used mostly for office space.

Sara Davenport- Week 12

This is the OKC Museum of Art in Downtown OKC. I love this building because I really enjoy going to art museums. The first time I came here, I saw the Passages exhibit which had a bunch of old bibles and dead sea scrolls. The OKC MOA also has a cafe and rooftop terrace that has cocktail hours during the summer/fall with live music. It is a beautiful building with not a lot of flashy details, but through the main window you can see this amazing glass sculpture. This thing is huge and so beautiful and my favorite part of the building.

Shane Parker #10

This is the Arizona State Capitol. I love how different it is from the traditional capitol style like the one in Oklahoma. It gives off its own desert vibe, as many buildings in Phoenix do.

d12 chenxiao hu Dunhuang Caves

As you can see, this building is more like a stone cave. It was built at early of Qin dynasty. In the murals which form a rich heritage of Classical Chinese art can be detected the peculiar styles of different ages. It is the world famous treasure houses of art.

#11-Brandon Mansur- Skirvin Hotel

While I have never actually been past the front lobby of the Skirvin, my dad used to work in the Chase building next door. I remember visiting him at work and looking down on the Skirvin thinking that it was such a cool building and wondering why they did not fix it up. I really love older buildings and too often do they get forgotten and run down. I am really glad that this one has been restored. The Skirvin was built in 1911 by a man named William Balser Skirvin. It was originally a ten story two winged tower. The building has a pretty unique history that is longer than I can blog, however I recommend looking it up and reading about it.

Laura Garcia #7

Santa Fe Trading Post- Shawnee Ok
I fell in heart with this building when i first moved to Oklahoma. Driving around one day just looking at where I had ended up I saw this. It was all abandoned and boarded up. I wanted it BAD!. However; I was too late. Someone has bought it and for about two months the appeared to be fixing it up to its former beauty but they have ruined it as of now. The front is now stuccoed (poorly) the windows are cinder blocked and the building is empty again. So sad that history sits and rots.

Alex Ngo #8

This is the Space Center Houston, in you guessed it, Houston, Texas.  It is the official visitor center of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.  It had design input from Walt Disney Imagineering and was designed by award winning experience designer Bob Rogers, as well as the design team BRC Imagination Arts.  I remember this building because it was the first time I went on a trip without my family, my freshman year in high school.  It was with my orchestra group.  It addition to listening to an orchestra concert, we got to go to the Space Center and enjoyed the awesome attractions that it had to offer.  

Shane Parker #9

This is the Temple of Latter Day Saints in Gilbert, Arizona. Among all the amazing sights in Arizona this building may have been one of my favorite sights. This is one of those buildings that commands your attention. As it is a holy temple, I believe you have to be of the Mormon faith to enter, but based on the exterior I'm sure the interior is one of the most impressive sights around. In person it is one of the most visually impressive and aesthetically pleasing buildings that I have ever seen.

Colosseum - Nicholas Von Busch - Blog 10

     Constructed around 70 AD, the Colosseum is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. It's well known for holding gladiator battles and chariot races. One thing that has been considered to have taken place is ship battle rehearsals by flooding the arena. It could hold up to 80,000 spectators during the games. Titus Vespasian was the one who had it constructed for the ancient world. I hope to someday visit this ancient wonder of the world like my grandparents have, once I've graduated from OU.

Sara Davenport-Week 11

This is the back entrance to the Hadden Hall apartments in midtown OKC. Someone very close to me lives here so I spend a lot of time in this building. It is right next to one of my favorite restaurants, Packards, and it's also right next to the new food truck park Bleu Garten and countless other cool restaurants and bars. The building is a little over 100 years has been a Bible museum, a neon sign factory and a travel agency office as well as housing. Now it has cool, modern apartments with exposed brick each unit.

d11 chenxiao hu unversity of Arizona

The picture shows the library of the University. It looks ordinary and simple. However, thanks for the good utility rate of the space, it has much more silence study rooms which compare to our library. Most of the silence room is walking in room. Even the students at the top of the building, they still can saw the tall trees out of the window due to the special desert type weather.

Alex Ngo #7

This is Powell Symphony Hall, in St. Louis, Missouri.  Formerly known as the St. Louis Theater, it is the home of the St. Louis Symphony. It is named after Walter S. Powell, a local business man whose widow donated $1 million towards the purchase and use of this hall.  It seats 2,683, though when built in 1925 it originally house 4,100 seats.  In my junior year of high school, my orchestra class took us on a trip to St. Louis and we were able to get the pleasure of watching the St. Louis symphony perform in this building.  It was very extravagant, and the sound reverberated perfectly so we could hear every instrument ring throughout the hall.  I will always remember the lighting, ambience, company, and music of that night.

Heath Garwood #11 - The Cabildo - New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

New Orleans is an extremely fun city to be in and one of the elements of the city is it's sense of history and age. The Cabildo was built around 1799 and was the site of New Orleans colonial government. I loved walking around and seeing this building as it's a prime example of New Orleans roots and beginning influences. It's extremely well kept and just adds to the age and mystique of the place. It was designed by Gilberto Guillemard and is registered as a US National Historic Landmark.

Laura Garcia #6

Oakland Coliseum- Oakland California
Oakland coliseum had its first game in 1966 played by the Raiders. This stadium is located between the freeway and BART system which is very convenient for drivers and those who plan on getting home safe. The seating from behind home plate to the top of Mount Davis allows all to see the game from all angles. This is a very fun stadium. The city has plans to rebuild, but as a long time Oakland fan I hope not.

Shane Parker #8

The Cadillac Tower is one of the most prominent skyscrapers in Detroit. This building was built in 1927 and it was one of the first buildings outside of New York City and Chicago to have forty floors. Every time I visit Detroit I love to see the massive advertisements on the side, as that is not something you can experience anywhere in Oklahoma. This is a great skyscraper that brought some noteworthy architecture to Detroit in the 1920s.

Sara Davenport- Week 10

This is a shot of the main building of the Belmont Hotel in Oak Cliff in Dallas, TX. I have stayed at this hotel once for a weekend and I loved the art deco vibe. It also has a very delicious restaurant called Smoke attached which I highly recommend. I had a really great time staying here for a few days and the different style of the building and interior decoration helped me imagine I wasn't having a 'stay-cation' in my hometown. It also was apparently one of the first hotels to have year round air conditioning.

Alex Ngo #6

This is the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.  It is the journalism unit of the University of Oklahoma.  It is named for the former longtime publishers of The Oklahoman.  Designed by Oklahoma City-based architecture firm Rees Associates Inc., the 107,850-square-foot facility was completed in two phases and anchors OU's South Oval.  Ever since I first came to OU, this building has always stood out to me.  It is right on the corner of the Lindsey St. and the south oval, so I would pass it every day on the way to class.  I would walk by it a lot at night too, when the top of the building lights up in changing LED lights.  The marquee that scrolls around the building is also a nice touch too.  I will always remember this building at OU, as it looks so nice and it was the first building to stand out to me here.

Heath Garwood #10 - Devon Tower - Oklahoma City, OK, USA

I worked all summer in Devon Tower and so the building holds a measure of personal appeal to me. Much like Fountain Place in Dallas, Devon tower has an ultra-modern design, with unique polygonal features and a smooth, all-glass looking finish. I love seeing this building as it seems to personify success and industry in Oklahoma. It's an invigorating addition to OKC's skyline and holds it's own with almost any other skyscraper in the World. The building was designed by Pickard Chilton Architects, Inc. and construction was completed in 2012.

Laura Garcia #5

Candlestick Park- South Bay
This beautiful park was opened in 1960. The breeze off the bay, the sounds of the city, the horrible parking and way  to the park all make this one of the best parks I have ever been to. It was built by Charles Harney, who also sold the land to the city causing such a scandal.
2014 was the last year it was used and has been demolished. History and memories are all that is left.

Lincoln Memorial - Nicholas Von Busch - Blog 9

     The Lincoln Memorial is one of the coolest memorials in DC. Constructed in 1914, the memorial's architect was Henry Bacon. When visiting all of sites in DC this one stood out the most. The stern look of Lincoln forever immortalized in this memorial catches my eye every time. The exterior, like most monuments in DC is built to look like Greek architecture. Definitely a sight worth seeing.

#10-Brandon Mansur-The Gaylord Texan

The hotel was designed by the Hnedak Bobo Group. It has been a while since I visited the Gaylord Texan but I can never forget the main atrium. The hotel itself it huge and the atrium is no exception. When you step into it is almost like stepping into another town. The whole atrium is set up to commemorate Texas's rich history and looks to me to resemble the Alamo. Just the scale is pretty amazing.

Shane Parker #7

This is the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit where the Detroit Red Wings hockey team plays. I like how the arena reflects the oval shape of the hockey rink. Some teams' hockey arenas are spherical, so that makes this arena different. It is primarily used for hockey unlike some other arenas which are shared with other sports. It is one of only a few hockey arenas without sponsorship names. I also like how this arena was built downtown right on the water. This is the site of the only hockey game that I have attended, so this building holds a great memory for me. This is a very unique stadium which is fitting for Detroit, a very unique city.