Waurika DesignWorks: Beyond the Brick

Waurika, Oklahoma | Spring 2018 – Fall 2018
View the Final Report Below

In the spring of 2018, a collaboration between the city of Waurika and the University of Oklahoma’s
Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) sprung when the chamber of commerce was awarded a
matching grant from Oklahoma Municipal League. The aim was to make use of design students
from the Gibbs College of Architecture and staff from the IQC, as well as, work with community
members and stakeholders in facilitating a scheme to “REINVENT DOWNTOWN WAURIKA”.

Prior to the workshops that took place in the Fall of 2018, the chamber board members took a
few IQC staff on a main street tour to explore the history, assets, challenges, needs, and vision for
the city of Waurika. Waurika is the county seat of Jefferson County, located between Ardmore and
Randlett, with a population of about 2,000 people.

On October 16, 2018, the City of Waurika invited the IQC team on a 2-day visit to conduct a
workshop with over a dozen residents and stakeholders. The workshop included various activities
ranging from mapping exercises to the idea wall, calendar wall, and a place game to evaluate 3 key
spots on Main Street. On October 17, the IQC team led by the director, Shane Hampton, presented
a preliminary feedback from the workshop to the stakeholders at lunch and this created a series
of discussions that set the framework for this report.

On October 20, the team was invited back for the Brickstreet Classic Car Show, and also hosted a
group of Historic Preservation Planning students from OU. The class led by Ron Frantz assessed the
historic buildings downtown, taking inventory of architectural conditions and vacant buildings.
This information will help with possible submission to the Oklahoma Landmark Inventory which
is an initial step for consideration of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places.