The new home to seven nonprofit partner organizations, Legacy Plaza encompasses three, renovated buildings on West 31st Street in Tulsa. The transformative community-focused campus was developed and funded through a generous gift from The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation. Contributing to the modern appearance and energy-efficient performance of this reimagined building complex, the aging windows were replaced with Tubelite Inc.'s 900RW ribbon window, Series 200 curtainwall and Wide Stile entrance systems.
Formerly the headquarters of Dollar Thrifty, the property originally was constructed in 1975, prior to the advent of commercial window systems with high-performance, low-e, insulated glazing and thermally broken framing members. Along with its non-thermally broken frames and existing 0.25-inch clear, monolithic glass with a reflective bronze film, time and weather had caused the caulking and seals to deteriorate.
Based on the forecast and calculations, Tubelite's systems were the basis of design when the project went to bid. Glazing contractor APAX Glass managed the phased window system replacement project beginning in 2017 with the East Tower. which had Key Construction as the general contractor. This was followed by the West Tower, which had APAX Glass acting as general contractor and also performing the glazing. On the adjacent three-story property, APAX Glass once again performed the glazing subcontract and LDKerns acted as the general contractor.
For the lower levels, APAX installed Tubelite's curtainwall and Wide Stile entrance systems. On the upper stories, Tubelite's ribbon window was inside-glazed to save time and hassle on the job site. The window system's 2.25-inch-wide by 4.5-inch-deep aluminum framing members were thermally broken and insulated to achieve the project's specified thermal performance, sound mitigation and condensation resistance.
Chad Hubbanks, vice president/estimator at APAX Glass stated, "This was a very successful project for APAX Glass and opportunity to show the Tulsa community what we are capable of performing. We received tremendous support from Tubelite on all three phases."
"Without updates, older window systems can create uncomfortable and unproductive interior spaces," explained Tubelite's client development manager in Oklahoma, John Wiemer, CDM, CSI, CDT. "Drafts, leaks, noise, glare and uncontrolled temperature fluctuations can cause people to avoid the windows rather than enjoy them. Optimizing window systems' performance also can help maximize floorspace and tenant satisfaction, which is especially valuable based on the important work being done by these nonprofit organizations."
In the East Tower, these tenants are Mental Health Association Oklahoma, CAP Tulsa, LIFE Senior Services and Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. The two in the West Tower are Family & Children's Services and Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. The on-campus, three-story building is home to the Assistance League of Tulsa, as well as its clothing distribution and thrift store operations.
According to Tulsa World, the Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation purchased the three-building campus for $5.9 million in 2015 and provided underwriting for the $60 million renovation project, which included the window replacement.
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum concluded, "Legacy Plaza is creating an unmatched synergy between our nonprofit sector and the residents served by the many valuable services in Tulsa."