Brockway Center
& Lyons-Luster Mansion
Working collaboratively with NEOKC community members and leaders, Lyons-Luster family descendants, and leadership members of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, Open Design was commissioned by the Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority (OCRA) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to develop and implemented a culturally responsive engagement, programming, and design process to reimagine adaptive-reuse and preservation strategies for the historic Brockway Center and the Lyons-Luster Mansion.
cultural assets
Brockway Center
The Brockway Center was named after Maude J. Brockway, a philanthropist and real estate developer along with her husband, William, in NEOKC. Mrs. Brockway was a teacher, artist, and co-founder of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. She used her real estate expertise to secure and maintain properties for the Women’s Club. The Brockway Center was an organizing space for the local club, which provided social, economic, and youth development resources to the community.
Lyons-Luster Mansion
The Lyons-Luster Mansion was home to Sidney Daniel Lyons and family in the early 1900s. Mr. Lyons was famously known as one of Oklahoma’s successful entrepreneurs, and the family name remains highly respected in the community. Mr. Lyons owned a block of the main businesses on NE 2nd Street and was the only Black individual who owned multiple residential and commercial properties in the historic Deep Deuce neighborhood. He was considered one of the wealthiest Black men in Oklahoma.
brockway center
Conceptual Exterior Rendering
Conceptual PROGRAM
The Brockway Center was named after William and Maude J. Brockway of Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Mrs. Brockway and her husband were community leaders and philanthropists who generated wealth through real estate development in the Oklahoma City (OKC) area.1 Additionally, Mrs. Brockway was a school teacher and an artist known for designing fashionable hat wear. In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, she was a founder of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs (Women’s Club). She served as president of the local chapter from 1925 - 1950. With her real estate expertise, Mrs. Brockway was instrumental in purchasing and maintaining multiple locations for the Women’s Club’s headquarters, beginning with the first property she acquired in 1920 from Mary and Thomas Edwards, located at 501 NE 4th Street.2
Conceptual Interior Rendering
Leaders of Oklahoma State and Oklahoma City Chapter of Colored Women’s Club at a National Conference. (From left to right: Mekeia Williams - Oklahoma State Treasurer, Joannie Wade - Oklahoma State Secretary, Jackie Gates-Jefferson - Oklahoma State President, Sandra Finney - Oklahoma City Local Club President, and Odette Scobey - Oklahoma State Past President). Source: Jackie Gates-Jefferson
Group discussion about the potential for the Lyons-Luster Mansion at the second Open Event focused on programming at the Ralph Ellison Library. Photo by Eyakem Gulilat
Group discussion about the potential for the Brockway Center at the Legacy Builder Committee engagement session focused on feasibility and potential operators at the historic Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Photo by StudioArt
William Shelton speaking at an engagement session in the historic Calvary Baptist Church. Photo by Eyakem Gulilat
The intention of this activity was to assess some of the community’s ideas for the future reuses of the Brockway Center and Lyons-Luster Mansion from a business perspective. This included identifying who in the community could be positioned to operate these sites in the future and how these ideas connect to the culture and priorities of the community.
LYONS-LUSTER MANSION
Conceptual Exterior Renderings
Conceptual PROGRAM
The conceptual program for the Lyons-Luster Mansion consists of a restaurant with a bar and lounge on the first floor of the main building and a library with office spaces for downstairs tenants on the second floor.
The vision for a restaurant and lounge space will accommodate live music with walls and small floor areas capable of exhibition/venue space for works of artists in residency and other local Black artists.
The conceptual programming for the adjacent building consists of artists in residency space while the two structures in the rear of the main building will be divided into separate facilities—a full kitchen and artist studios next to venue space and micro-retail.
Conceptual Interior Renderings
*Historic buildings will need to be updated to meet accessibility standards required by the authority having jurisdiction. For example, the program uses available to people upstairs also have to be available to people downstairs because the building does not have an elevator
Partners & Collaborators
Alana House - Resident & Assistant Dean for Student Services at Oklahoma City University School of Law
Allison Bailey - Resident & Certified Commercial Investment Member at Price Edwards and Co.
Alana House - Resident & Assistant Dean for Student Services at Oklahoma City University School of Law
Allison Bailey - Resident & Certified Commercial Investment Member at Price Edwards and Co.
Alana House - Resident & Assistant Dean for Student Services at Oklahoma City University School of Law
Allison Bailey - Resident & Certified Commercial Investment Member at Price Edwards and Co.