Annual ULI Impact Awards 2023
By: J. David Chapman/February 16, 2023
The Urban Land Institute has had a huge influence on development in Oklahoma. For the past eight years, ULI Oklahoma has awarded Impact Awards to the most deserving projects. I am honored to serve as a judge, and, even though ULI leadership gives us a clear rubric in evaluating the nominees, this may be the most difficult evaluation I make all year. The decisions were difficult again this year with a host of great projects and developments nominated.
For Outstanding Public Initiative, the Cleveland County Wellness Square (The Wall) was chosen for its outstanding work of partnering with other organizations to provide low-cost programming through physical activity classes and other healthy resources. Congrats to the Cleveland County Health Department.
For the Small-Scale Development category, ULI decided to award Urban Edge @ JFK. As the first construction in the area since 2007, the site required significant remediation with approximately 100 tons of contaminated dirt being removed and replaced on the site. Congratulations to the team of Monarch Design + Build and OCURA.
In the Boutique Development category, the Walcourt Building was honored for redeveloping a vacant 12-room boarding house built in 1927 into a fully leased office building. Kudos to Walcourt Partners and Sine Construction.
In the Large-Scale Development category, Noun Hotel on historic Campus Corner in Norman was honored for its 100,000-square-foot hotel with 92 guest rooms, two suites, and ample room for community-building activities. Cheers to Noun Hotel and Manhattan Construction!
In the Small-Scale Rehabilitation & Restoration category, Edmond’s Ice House Project was honored due to its adaptive reuse of the former Edmond Ice Co. stitching together the existing structures into a unique, diverse mix of restaurants, event spaces, children areas and courtyards. Congrats to Brandon Lodge and Modus Construction.
In the most emotional moments of the evening, ULI recognized Gary Brooks and his team in the Distinguished Merit category for their restoration of the 33-story historic First National Center. Nothing I could say here would pay it justice, so I will leave it with that. Thanks, Gary, we love you!
Congratulations to all those nominated, and especially those who received awards, but it occurs to me that the real winners are the citizens of Oklahoma who have a great built environment and a wonderful organization such as ULI to motivate and honor those that create this environment.
J. David Chapman is professor of finance and real estate at the University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).
