How this headline may connect to industries in Oklahoma. Technical scores are below — click any ? for what a metric means.
TONIGHT AT SIX KOCO FIVE NEWS.WELCOME BACK.A CENTURY OLD BUILDING ON A HISTORIC OKC CAMPUS IS ABOUT TO GET A HUGE FACELIFT.OKLAHOMA CITY HAS SENT WELL KNOWN PERFORMERS KRISTIN CHENOWETH AND KELLI O’HARA TO BROADWAY, AND NOW THEY’RE HOPING THIS RENOVATION WILL HELP MORE STUDENTS GET TO THE BIG STAGE.KOCO PATRICK TALBERT WAS AT THIS MORNING’S HISTORIC ANNOUNCEMENT.OCU HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS EXCELLENCE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS.WE KNOW HOW TO TEACH AND HOW TO SUPPORT YOUNG ARTISTS.THE KIRKPATRICK AUDITORIUM AND THAT STAGE HAVE LAUNCHED THOUSANDS OF DREAMS INTO REALITY.BIG BUCKS WILL HELP STUDENTS HIT THE BIG TIME AT OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY.THURSDAY, UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED A $25 MILLION RENOVATION OF THEIR FINE ARTS CENTER.I SPOKE WITH UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT TODAY WHO TELLS ME THAT A PROJECT LIKE THIS AND A RENOVATION LIKE THIS IS LONG OVERDUE.IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.IT’S A 60 YEAR, 60 YEARS SINCE THE LAST RENOVATION OF THIS FACILITY, AND IT GETS A LOT OF WHERE, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS HAVE TO PERFORM HERE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THEIR RESUME.SO THIS BUILDING IS USED A LOT.AND IT WAS TIME.THE KIRKPATRICK FAMILY FUND IS KICKING THINGS OFF WITH A $13 MILLION GIFT.I THINK WE ALL BELIEVE IN THE UPLIFTING POWER OF THE ARTS.OCU HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR STUDENTS TO CHOOSE ARTISTIC LIVES FROM WHICH WE’VE ALL BENEFITED.KRISTEN SEES PASSION FOR THIS UNIVERSITY PERFORMING ARTS.HIS FAMILY’S COMMITMENT TO THIS INSTITUTION, THIS FACILITY WE’RE IN NOW IS STUNNING TO ME.I’VE NEVER WORKED WITH ANYBODY ON A PHILANTHROPIC PERSPECTIVE QUITE LIKE HIM.HIS PASSION HAS BEEN DRIVING A LARGE PART OF WHAT WE’RE DOING.LEADERS SAY THE RENOVATED FACILITIES WILL BE A REFLECTION OF THE GREAT TALENT THAT TAKES THE STAGE HERE AT OCU.3 OR 4 WEEKS AGO, BILLBOARD HAD US RANKED AS THE TOP INSTITUTION PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTION IN THE COUNTRY.FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PERFORMERS ON BROADWAY, OUR ALUMNI.THE RENOVATION OF THIS BUILDING TO ITS ORIGINAL, UNDERSTATED GLORY WITH OKLAHOMA GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE THAT INCLUDES THE HANDSOME ROOFLINE, THE BIG WINDOWS OUT FRONT, THE BAY WINDOW RIGHT OVER THE BIG FRONT DOOR, AND ALSO WINDOWS IN THE THEATER, ALL OF WHICH WILL BE RESTORED AND REVEALED IN A FRESH, BEAUTIFUL TOP TIER SPACE FOR GENERATIONS TO NOW LEARN AND PERFORM.CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, AND IT’S SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE BEFO Oklahoma City University unveils $25 million fine arts center renovation Oklahoma City University announced a $25 million renovation of its fine arts center, aiming to restore its historic Kirkpatrick Auditorium and enhance its performing arts facilities.Updated: 5:23 PM CDT May 21, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Oklahoma City University announced Thursday a $25 million renovation of its fine arts center, including updates to the historic Kirkpatrick Auditorium, which has been central to the university’s performing arts program for decades.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter“OCU has always been known for its excellence in the performing arts.We know how to teach and how to support young artists.The Kirkpatrick Auditorium and that stage have launched thousands of dreams into reality,” said Jane Jayroe Gamble, chair of the Oklahoma City University Board of Trustees.University President Kenneth Evans highlighted the overdue nature of the project, noting the facility’s last renovation occurred 60 years ago.“It’s been a long time coming.Sixty years … Sixty years since the last renovation of this facility.And it gets a lot of wear.You know, students have to perform here in order to be able to build their resume.So, this building is used a lot, and it was time,” Evans said.The Kirkpatrick Family Fund is jumpstarting the renovation with a $13 million gift.“I think we all believe in the uplifting power of the arts.OCU has paved the way for students to choose artistic lives from which we’ve all benefited,” said Christian Keesee, chairman of the Kirkpatrick Foundation.Evans expressed gratitude for Keesee’s commitment to the university and the arts.“Christian Keesee’s passion for this university performing arts, his family’s commitment, this institution, this facility we’re in now is stunning to me.I’ve never worked with anybody on a philanthropic perspective quite like him.His passion has been driving a large part of what we’re doing,” Evans said.Leaders emphasized that the renovated facility will reflect the caliber of talent nurtured at OCU, which was recently ranked by Billboard as the top performing arts institution in the country for Broadway performers among its alumni.Keesee detailed the architectural vision for the project, saying, “The renovation of this building to its original, understated glory, with Oklahoma Gothic architecture that includes the handsome roofline, the big windows out front, the bay window right over the big front door, and also windows in the theater, all of which will be restored and revealed in a fresh, beautiful top-tier space for generations to now learn and perform.” Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Construction is expected to begin toward the end of the next school year and is scheduled to be completed before the fall semester of 2028.Top HeadlinesMan in custody after fires set at Walmart stores in Oklahoma City metroVideo shows Samaritans’ efforts to rescue victims from fiery rollover crashMan shot, taken to hospital after breaking into neighbor’s home in Midwest City, police sayWhat to Wear Forecast: Get ready for heavy rainTIMELINE: Waves of rain Thursday, severe storms with tornado risk Friday in Oklahoma OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City University announced Thursday a $25 million renovation of its fine arts center, including updates to the historic Kirkpatrick Auditorium, which has been central to the university’s performing arts program for decades.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter “OCU has always been known for its excellence in the performing arts.We know how to teach and how to support young artists.The Kirkpatrick Auditorium and that stage have launched thousands of dreams into reality,” said Jane Jayroe Gamble, chair of the Oklahoma City University Board of Trustees.University President Kenneth Evans highlighted the overdue nature of the project, noting the facility’s last renovation occurred 60 years ago.“It’s been a long time coming.Sixty years … Sixty years since the last renovation of this facility.And it gets a lot of wear.You know, students have to perform here in order to be able to build their resume.So, this building is used a lot, and it was time,” Evans said.The Kirkpatrick Family Fund is jumpstarting the renovation with a $13 million gift.“I think we all believe in the uplifting power of the arts.OCU has paved the way for students to choose artistic lives from which we’ve all benefited,” said Christian Keesee, chairman of the Kirkpatrick Foundation.Evans expressed gratitude for Keesee’s commitment to the university and the arts.“Christian Keesee’s passion for this university performing arts, his family’s commitment, this institution, this facility we’re in now is stunning to me.I’ve never worked with anybody on a philanthropic perspective quite like him.His passion has been driving a large part of what we’re doing,” Evans said.Leaders emphasized that the renovated facility will reflect the caliber of talent nurtured at OCU, which was recently ranked by Billboard as the top performing arts institution in the country for Broadway performers among its alumni.Keesee detailed the architectural vision for the project, saying, “The renovation of this building to its original, understated glory, with Oklahoma Gothic architecture that includes the handsome roofline, the big windows out front, the bay window right over the big front door, and also windows in the th