State leaders cut ribbon on renovated Jim Thorpe Memorial Office Building

OKLAHOMA CITY – State leaders, lawmakers and project partners gathered today as the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) marked the completion of a three-year, $70 million renovation of the Jim Thorpe Memorial Office Building in the Capitol Complex. Originally constructed in 1938, the historic building has been restored and modernized for continued state use and will house the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Arts Council, State Election Board and Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

The renovation makes the eight-floor building more accessible and efficient for both visitors and state employees while preserving key elements of its Art Deco architecture. Public-facing functions, including hearing and courtroom spaces, are now concentrated on the first floor, while updated office space will support agencies whose work affects Oklahomans in areas such as utilities, elections, the arts and water resources.

“OMES was proud to help guide this project from planning to completion,” said OMES Director Mark Wood. “The finished building honors the historic character while providing the infrastructure, accessibility and functionality needed to support modern state government.”

The office building has served state government for more than eight decades, but by the time the current renovation began in 2023, its infrastructure was in need of significant repairs and modernization. State lawmakers funded the renovation through House Bill 1011X and created the Jim Thorpe Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee through HB 1033X to review spending on interior and exterior repairs. The committee helped provide public oversight as the project advanced through competitive procurement, with a focus on responsible use of public funds in returning the historic building to long-term state service.

“The Jim Thorpe Memorial Office Building is an important part of our Capitol Complex and a lasting tribute to one of Oklahoma’s most cherished icons,” said Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle. “This renovation allows us to preserve the character and history of this remarkable building while giving the state a modern, functional space to serve Oklahomans. I’m proud to see this project completed and this historic building ready to serve another generation of Oklahomans.”

"This project is a great example of what can happen when we take a long-term approach to managing taxpayer dollars and the state’s assets," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. “The Jim Thorpe Building is an important part of Oklahoma’s history, and this renovation ensures it can continue serving the people of Oklahoma for generations to come. ”

The project took a design-build approach with QUAD Construction, Gardner Studio and Mass Architects, in coordination with OMES Construction and Properties, tenant agencies, and specialized preservation and engineering experts. That collaboration resulted in a building that retains its original character while supporting the infrastructure, safety and accessibility standards required for today’s public services.

“The completed renovation of the Jim Thorpe Building creates a better place to provide service to the citizens of Oklahoma,” said Jim Marshall, interim director of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and chairman of the Jim Thorpe Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee. “For the agencies moving in and the Oklahomans who rely on these services, this investment will make the building easier to access, more inviting and better equipped for the work ahead.”

Project teams restored and preserved defining features, including limestone walls, plaster ceilings, terrazzo floors and light fixtures. Behind those visible improvements, crews modernized core building systems, added energy-efficient windows consistent with the building’s original appearance, and addressed long-standing issues such as water infiltration, insulation and the reconfiguration of older spaces for modern public access, agency operations and safety requirements.

Originally known as the State Capitol Office Building, the structure was renamed in 1961 for Jim Thorpe, the Oklahoma-born Olympic athlete who remains one of the state’s most recognized figures. The completed renovation is a reminder to Thorpe’s family that his legacy continues to be honored in his home state.

“For our family, it is deeply meaningful to see Jim Thorpe’s name continue to be honored in a place dedicated to public service,” said Anita Thorpe, granddaughter of Jim Thorpe. “This building reflects a legacy of strength, perseverance and pride that still resonates in Oklahoma today.”

That legacy is also reflected in several works of public art in the building, including diligently preserved 1930s-era bas-relief sculptures incised into the stone walls in the lobby and the exterior pediment sculpture over the east door entrance, which were co-created by renowned Oklahoma art professors Doel Reed of Oklahoma State Univerity and Joe Taylor of the University of Oklahoma.

New public artworks were commissioned by the Oklahoma Arts Council through the state’s percent budgeted for public art program, created by the Oklahoma Art in Public Places Act. Oklahoma artists Dr. Jessica Moore Harjo and Erica Pretty Eagle Cozad (both Otoe Missouria, Osage, Pawnee, and Sac and Fox) created brass, copper and stainless steel ceiling installations for the first-floor corridors and the sixth-floor elevator landing using Sac and Fox designs that embody the state flower (the rose), the state wildflower (the Indian Blanket) and the swan – a symbol of survival and resilience.

“The renovation of the Jim Thorpe Building honors the history of this place and the important work of public service to Oklahomans,” said Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples. “From the 1930s-era stone carvings by OSU art professor Doel Reed and OU sculpture professor Joe Taylor to the new ceiling installations by Oklahoma artists Jessica Moore Harjo and Erica Pretty Eagle Cozad, the public art tells a story of heritage, resilience and service. The new works reflect and honor Jim Thorpe’s Sac and Fox heritage and include a subtle nod to his Olympic legacy and storied athletic achievements, connecting the building’s past to Oklahoma’s present and future.”

Agencies will move into the renovated building in phases beginning this winter, returning the Jim Thorpe Memorial Office Building to its role as a hub for essential state services in the Capitol Complex.

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services provides financial, property, purchasing, human resources and information technology services to all state agencies, and assists the Governor’s Office with budgetary policy matters. Our mission: Provide excellent service, expert guidance and continuous improvement in support of our partners’ goals. For more information, visit oklahoma.gov/omes.

Christa Helfrey
christa.helfrey@omes.ok.gov