OU-Tulsa architecture students who are working towards their master’s degrees recently studied Montereau’s award-winning design during an event that included a luncheon in their honor. Shawn Schaefer, Director of Graduate Architectural Programs at OU-Tulsa, led the group.
Vandever presented scholarship awards to Yani Aller and Jonathan Bijjiga. They were cited for their project to design housing for developmentally disabled adults. Applauding their recognition were Susan Sossamon and Barbara Harvey, co-founders of Sparrow’s Landing, a new non-profit organization that is planning to build a community where developmentally disabled adults can live, work and socialize in a safe, friendly and supportive environment.
Montereau resident Jack Wesenberg, Jamie Townsend, director of marketing, and Cathy Audley hosted the OU-Tulsa group including students Ryon Stirling, Ed Sharrer, Ryan Nowlin, Tom Costner and his wife Patty, and Marc Fairless and his wife Delynn.
Vandever told the group that Montereau was built on the site his grandparents, William K. and Natalie Warren, had selected for their retirement home. Although they were never able to build there, ultimately it was chosen as the perfect location for a retirement community. William K. Warren, Jr., Vandever’s uncle, asked him to develop the concept for Montereau in 1997.
Three things were key to Montereau’s success, Vandever said. First, it has a great sponsor, The William K. Warren Foundation. Secondly, it is in a great location at the demographic center of Tulsa where retirees can stay close to their roots. And, third, it had a great development team.
The team included Manhattan Construction represented by its president, John Snyder, who was joined by his brother James Snyder, president of Odell Architects in Charlotte, NC. James was in town to work on Tulsa’s new arena.
Bob and Bill Thomas, owners of Senior Star Living, co-developed Montereau with CRSA, Cooperative Retirement Services of America.
The award judges gave high marks to Montereau’s architectural design and interiors, and noted that the “great apartment layouts enjoy convenient orientation” to the 50,000 square-foot commons area with three restaurants, theater, art studio, fitness center, library, business center, bank, cappuccino room, gift shop and hair salon.
“We wanted Montereau to have an old world feeling,” Vandever told the students. “The challenge was to incorporate it with what was already in the city and what was already on the site. We incorporated the colors and style Tulsans like, then added a little flair. This was a heavily wooded area and we were careful to preserve many of the trees,” he said.
John Snyder said three features Manhattan was most proud of are the “rich and classy” conventional stucco, the concrete tile roof system, and the landscaping. He said the interior designer, who envisioned high ceilings and lots of natural light, played a significant role in the overall design.
Bonnie Manson, principal of Interior Design Associates of Nashville, TN, accepted a “Best of Seniors Housing” Platinum Award for Montereau’s interior design in 2005.
RLPS Architects in Lancaster, PA was the architect for Montereau.
Vandever said several members of the development team had worked for Walt Disney Company, including EDAW Landscape Architects in Atlanta, GA. Also on the team were John Reagan Architects, Columbus, OH; ABS Consultants, Inc., Denver, CO; Reese Engineering, Inc., Parker, CO; and Wallace Engineering of Tulsa.
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