By Marcy Marro, Managing Editor Oklahoma City’s fi rst Whole Foods Market is decked out with metal accents
Whole Foods Market is known for its passion for natural and organic food, and its fi rst store in Oklahoma City is emblematic of the company’s values and commitment to sustainability. Situat- ed along a creek, the 47,000-square-foot upscale market anchors The Triangle at Classen Curve, an urban, mixed-use development and continuation of the popular Classen Curve development in northwest Oklahoma City.
Completed in September 2011, the building was
designed by San Francisco-based Mark Cavagnero Associates, along with associate architect, Elliott + Associates Architects, Oklahoma City. Chosen for its durability, low maintenance and light weight, metal accents highlight the sustainable project.
LOCATION AND SUN CONTROL Building siting and sun control were two of the project’s biggest challenges, says Felicia Dunham, associate at Mark Cavagnero Associates. Within the
development, Whole Foods Market is located on a site with a park and creek to the north, Chesapeake Energy campus to the east, its front elevation facing south, and other retail businesses to the west. “The building had to be designed to be appealing from all sides,” says Dunham. “The choice of zinc and blue- stone for the cladding was integral to this effort.” With more than 300 sunny days a year, allowing
natural light into the store, while keeping out the direct sun was a challenge, says Dunham. Since the store’s front elevation faces south, keeping the sun
A zinc-clad canopy shades the store’s entrance, while a steel trellis made of stainless steel cable mesh panels creates a pedestrian arcade.