Who am I part deux!

I thought it only fitting to introduce my participation with Modern Tulsa the same way Cole did. So I have entitled this “Who am I part Deux” After all shouldn’t you really know a bit about the people behind the scenes. So here it goes:

My name is Shane Hood, some call me hood, others have called me hoodlam which is either a tongue in cheek type of nickname or I am getting into a lot of trouble I don’t know about. I work with Selser Schaefer Architects in Tulsa, serve as the AIA Associate Director, Lortondale Neighborhood Association president and sit on the board of the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture.

I graduated with my degree in architecture from Drury University in Springfield Missouri where I tended to naturally gravitate towards design and history. It is these two interests that have fueled my interest in Modern Architecture.

I moved to Tulsa almost 5 years ago and was instantly shocked by the amount of good modern architecture. What was equally shocking was the fact that it was being torn down left and right. I knew that Tulsa took great pride in its Art Deco collection but while saving Art deco with its left hand it was destroying its great modern architecture with its right.

I was appalled and subsequently determined to educate people about the cultural and historical treasure they had in their own city. It was at this point that I stumbled upon the mid-century modern neighborhood of Lortondale and thought that this was the place to start. It has been 4 years since that time and I am happy to say that Lortondale is on its way towards being listed on the National Historic Registry.

However what about the rest of the modern architecture in Tulsa? I believe this website will provide the forum to educate Tulsa about the virtues of modern architecture. I am excited to be a part of the website and look forward to participating in the upcoming years.

-Shane Hood