In 1958, the Citizens State Bank began construction. The gold dome building was the fifth geodesic dome constructed in the world, however it was the first to be used as a bank; it was described as “one of the nation’s most revolutionary bank designs.†The geodesic dome design is patented by Buckminster Fuller. The architects for the Citizens State Bank were Bailey, Bozalis, Dickinson, and Roloff of Oklahoma City. The dome is constructed of 625 panels, ranging in size from 7.5 to 11.5 feet in length, 60 – 70 pounds in weight each, and spanning a diameter of 145 feet. The interior covers about 27,000 square feet. The gold dome bank was an approximately $1 million investment.
In July of 2001 Bank One, which owned the Gold Dome building, applied to the Urban Design Commission (the result of 1998 efforts) for permission to demolish the building, citing that the structure was too large to serve as a bank and refurbishing it would be too costly (Bank One estimated it would cost roughly $1.7 million). Bank One intended to sell the property to Wal-Greens, which would place the new pharmacy across the street from its competitor, Eckerds.
A group organized to save the Gold Dome, “Citizens for the Golden Dome,†appealed to the Bank One president, urging him not only to save the building in deference to its unique history and contribution to the “urban character†of OKC, but to also apply for landmark zoning from the OKC Historic Preservation and Landmark Commission, and apply for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
By December of 2001, after several reprieves by the bank president, the time allotted by Bank One for buyers wanting to preserve the Gold Dome to come forward was up. However, the Bank One officials agreed once again to extend the postponement of demolition until January. Bank One stated they were open to other alternatives, but would have to go forward with plans to sell the building to Wal-Greens if a buyer did not come forward. Bank One even offered to help save the actual dome and have it transplanted to another site.
In July of 2002, a signed contract between Bank One and Dr. Irene Lam was disclosed to the public. Though not finalized, Dr. Lam discussed her desire to preserve the building. Dr. Lam is the current owner of the gold dome building.
In 2003, the Gold Dome was added to the National Register of Historic Places.Research compiled from the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoman Archives.
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