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A Home for Harmonious Congregation
The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a historic church turned into a home office, archive, and recording studio with a star-studded guest register. Built in 1915 as Grace Methodist Episcopal Church and converted by renowned local musician Leon Russell to The Church Studio (home of Shelter Records) in 1972, the historic creative workshop found itself in need of an upgrade to both preserve its past and create space for its future.
Rebuilding the Church
Broken down and boarded up, The Church Studio was purchased by philanthropist, music lover, and Leon Russell fan Teresa Knox in 2016. Knox, a collector of all things music from a young age, knew the rich local and industry history and artifacts attained by music lovers like herself was too important to not share with the public. Her goal in purchasing the facility was to revive the space to not only operate as a functional recording space for artists of all musical concentrations, but also as a lasting memory for visitors of the professionals that set the tone for those to come. However, with limited knowledge of the best way to properly store, display, and preserve these items, she knew she needed help to ensure as many pieces could be conserved to be viewed by generations to come.
FUN FACT: Effective Sept. 8, 2017, The Church Studio earned a designation to the National Register of Historic Places—the nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.
Composing the Right Arrangement
Skip over related stories to continue reading articleFocusing on their mission to support the understanding, appreciation, and advancement of music, the studio’s owners reached out to their local Spacesaver representative to provide support for the studio’s Archive project.
The studio’s owners knew they needed a local partner that had the experience and reputation to help with getting the space to showroom quality and support it during unknown growth and changes to come. Knox said they found Story through the work he had done with local museum projects, as well as real-world legitimate and accredited projects such as the work Spacesaver did with the Smithsonian.
“I liked the fact that they (Spacesaver) had an Oklahoma presence. Steve really learned a lot about our project, and he loves music and truly understood the significance of our building,” said Knox. “He would come and see us at a regular basis and was there throughout the whole process to help with any changes along the way.”
Setting the Tone for Longevity
When Knox took ownership of The Church Studio, it was boarded up and run down. There was only one safe access point and all paths needed to be lit by flashlight, which is how the Studio’s architect and Steve created the plan for what is now the remarkable showroom and display area within the Archive today.
Once the stage was set for renovation, our consultant went to work crafting the best possible arrangement for the wide array of artifacts Knox and other collectors had to share. First and foremost, the goal of creating the space—affectionately known as The Archive—was to allow permitted individuals to walk through the anthology of each artist on display, giving them a deeper understanding and appreciation of the artists’ work. To create the right mix of accessibility, adaptability, and preservation, our consultant utilized two versatile museum cabinets.
Needing to find the optimal solutions to adequately pair with the tremendous space transformation and securely preserve and display the Archive’s approximately five-thousand-piece collection, Story delivered several stationary 920 Series Cabinets with visual doors and 424 Series Showcase Flat Files with glass top drawers on casters. These versatile solutions not only allow staff to quickly and safely change out pieces and configure the space for the day’s need, but also provide fans, enthusiasts, and historians with an inside look at the church’s history, Leon Russell, Shelter Records, and Tulsa Sound musicians; all in one convenient location and with minimal handling. Each cabinet is outfitted with drawers and shelves that ensure historic items are properly stored and preserved for generations to come.
01. Producing a Top-Down View
The 920 Series: Preservation Cabinet, allows for customization of the storage accessories held within to support items from instruments to costumes and everything in between. Additionally, these units are equipped with visual doors that offer secure storage to all that’s inside without damage from overhandling or other agents of deterioration.
02. A Record-Settling Release
Our 424 Series Flat File is ideal for storing flat pieces, including records, posters, and other pieces of memorabilia. To increase access, visibility, and adaptability, The Church Studio’s cabinets are equipped with glass tops and casters—allowing curators to protect and present collections and situate the space in a manner that supports the day’s need.
A Space For You That Just Your Style
The space now displays artifacts, albums, and other pieces of history from musicians and musical eras. Hundreds of artists have been on display in the museum over the years, many of whom have also recorded in the studio space. Recording artists range from the local church group to tour musicians, to some of the highest grossing artists in history.
The aesthetic the systems brought to the space were a huge bonus. The cabinets offer flexibility to adjust the height of the shelves and drawers within the space and fit the room well.
“A lot of archival storage is in a back room and not many people get to look at it,” said Knox. “These systems allow the general public to engage with the items being stored within them, making the glass tops even more valuable.”
Not only does the space hold memories for artists and those in the music industry, but it also can be configured to host parties, receptions, and even weddings.
Your Museum Storage Specialists
At Spacesaver, we’re experts in creative solutions to museum collections storage challenges. Your local Spacesaver consultant can visit your facility, gain a thorough understanding of your collection’s needs, and work with our engineering and project management teams to design, manufacture, and install your new storage systems.
Reach out to a Spacesaver storage expert to learn more!
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