11 Most Endangered
Gold Dome Bank
Year Listed: 2002
Location: Oklahoma
Current Status: Saved
Threat: Development
Since 1956, Oklahoma City's Gold Dome Bank has been a shimmering vision of the future. One of the most recognizable sites in Oklahoma City, the 150-foot-diameter dome was an early example of the geodesic dome patented by the futurist Buckminster Fuller and with its complex web of hexagons, the structure was designed to usher in a new age of technology. The current owner, Bank One, requested a permit to demolish the dome and replace it with a smaller box-style bank, while selling the remaining land to Walgreens for construction of a chain drugstore on the site.
Update
After a successful tax credit project, the Gold Dome Bank had its grand opening on May 14, 2005. In September 2006, the Oklahoma Main Street Program, a part of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and a partner with the National Trust Main Street Center, became the newest tenant. The Gold Dome also houses a variety of businesses and non-profits, including Asian-owned, African-American-owned and Gen-X owned businesses fulfill the mission of the Gold Dome Multicultural-Society. This historic landmark along Route 66, which anchors a newly-created Asian District, is a success story for all to learn from.
