OSU-Tulsa ‘Tops Out’ Vision 2025 Project
FIRST SIGNATURE: OSU-Tulsa President Gary Trennepohl was the first to sign his signature on the top of the Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center during the “topping out??? celebration November 1. With Trennepohl are OSU-Tulsa Trustees, from left, Joel L. Sander and Jay Helm, and David Kollman, division president of Flintco, Inc.
GTR Newspapers photo
Oklahoma State University supporters and community leaders created Tulsa history November 1 as they symbolically “topped out” OSU-Tulsa’s Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center, a Vision 2025 project.
OSU-Tulsa President Gary Trennepohl said the event celebrated the completion of the highest part of the building, a traditional milestone in the construction process. Construction on the $45 million research center, which will focus on research in advanced materials and bio-based technologies, began last October.
“We wanted to share this exciting day with the Tulsa community and our OSU family,” Trennepohl said. “Because of their support, the Helmerich ATRC has evolved from a concept into the impressive structure you see taking shape today.”
The theme for the event was “A Snapshot of History,” which featured guided signing tours to the top of the building. Participants were invited to become a part of OSU-Tulsa’s history by signing the base of the strobic fans that dominate the top of the building structure.
OSU-Tulsa administrators, trustees, faculty and staff were joined by representatives and construction workers of Flintco, Inc., the company constructing the building, for the signing tours.
“Today we recognize the tremendous progress made by our construction teams in building the structure,” said David Kollmann, division president of Flintco, Inc. “We’re pleased to report that construction of the 123,000-square-foot facility is on time and on budget.”
Funded through Tulsa County’s Vision 2025 initiative, the state’s higher education bond issue and Walter and Peggy Helmerich of Tulsa, research in the Helmerich ATRC will focus on four areas: advanced materials, bio-based technologies, energy technologies and information and control technologies.
Trennepohl said the center, which is expected to be completed in Nov. 2007, will stimulate economic development for Tulsa and Northeastern Oklahoma, resulting in collaborations with area businesses and the creation of new jobs.
Updated 11-18-2006
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