{"id":1004756250,"date":"2025-05-27T00:16:50","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T08:16:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/?p=1004756250"},"modified":"2025-06-01T23:07:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T07:07:34","slug":"how-science-tech-converge-in-oklahoma-citys-innovation-district","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/how-science-tech-converge-in-oklahoma-citys-innovation-district\/","title":{"rendered":"How Science, Tech Converge in Oklahoma City\u2019s Innovation District"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Oklahoma City\u2019s Innovation District was founded in 2019 on the premise that clustering businesses, institutions and people leads to economic growth<\/a>, job creation and innovation. One of the goals of the district\u2014to support the city\u2019s professional industries to collaborate in developing new technologies and services\u2014was recently achieved through a new mixed-use commercial development dubbed Convergence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sitting on 5.5 acres near NE Eighth Street and Interstate 235, close to Oklahoma\u2019s two largest universities, Convergence currently includes a 230,000-square-foot office building known as The Tower and the city’s Innovation Hall. Both of them were completed earlier this year. The second phase of the project is in the works and encompasses a Hilton Curio-affiliated 108-key Stiles Hotel and Stiles Park. Plans also call for a 250,000-square-foot office tower to be built in the third phase of the development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Convergence is the result of a collaboration between Mark Beffort (left) and Richard Tanenbaum (right). Image courtesy of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Convergence was born out of a shared vision between Mark Beffort, CEO of Robinson Park, and Richard Tanenbaum, CEO of Gardner Tanenbaum. The Innovation District was a “natural fit” for the duo’s aspiration, given its proximity to the Oklahoma Health Center, a hub of biomedical research, health care and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We saw the opportunity to connect institutions, researchers, entrepreneurs and companies in one vibrant, mixed-use campus that could serve as a catalyst for the city\u2019s future,” shared Beffort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oklahoma City is home to notable research institutions and industries, including aerospace, oil, gas and health care. The Convergence project amplifies these strengths by “creating a central hub where ideas and talent come together under one roof” according to Christy Gillenwater, president & CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. At full buildout, Convergence will provide essential infrastructure, drive workforce development and enhance community engagement, expects Jeff Seymour, president & CEO of OKC Innovation District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strategy behind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Convergence is the result of key partnerships between academic institutions, private industries and government entities. Collaborations with universities provide access to cutting-edge research and a talent pipeline, business and startup partnerships drive commercialization and technological advancement, while government support ensures strategic investment and infrastructure, according to Seymour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But how can one project cater to the needs of so many parties while also catering to the wants of the local community? “It starts with listening,” said Beffort. “We spent time with community groups, universities, startups, civic leaders and neighborhood associations. Feedback from those conversations shaped everything: from the programming of Innovation Hall to the integration of public spaces and pedestrian access. For investors and tenants, we focused on long-term value\u2014delivering quality, amenities and purpose-driven placemaking that aligns with how people want to work and live today.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sustainability is a critical piece of that long-term value creation and plays a big role in the project. The Convergence development team has been prioritizing it from day one, incorporating energy-efficient systems and low-impact landscaping, and focusing on walkability. Tenants, particularly those in tech, research and professional services, and the broader community see these features as “part of a larger commitment to responsible development and quality of life,” according to Beffort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chamber contributed to the project by developing strategies for attracting and retaining talent, starting with an overarching focus on product development and “making sure our region has the quality of life necessary for talent to thrive,” as Gillenwater puts it. An example is the Metropolitan Area Projects Plan (MAPS)\u2014a multi-year, municipal capital improvement program\u2014which has poured billions in public and private funding into improving the region\u2019s quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chamber is also actively advocating for legislative policies that increase the state’s competitiveness. It keeps leaning further into education and workforce development initiatives and fostering collaborations that drive improved outcomes and alignment with the workforce needs of tomorrow. It aims to promote the opportunities available in Oklahoma City by hosting meetings and conventions in key sectors, advancing aggressive digital strategies and bringing more visitors to the city through events such as the two sports\u2014canoe slalom and softball\u2014it is staging for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n