Rooftop garden in OKC provides fertile ground for community growth

The line between the indoors and the outdoors has become a little more blurred, thanks to a new space atop an Automobile Alley building.

"As we continue to see city projects and as people have more interest in being connected with the outdoors and with landscaping, and as land prices start to be more expensive, we're maximizing all of the opportunities associated with properties and projects," Boss said. "It provides a great amenity to people.""What's happening in Automobile Alley and the town is that we have a community that is building and growing," Mason said. "A vibrant community has a lot of facets, and one part of it is green spaces."A recently completed rooftop patio and garden, the brainchild of Steve Mason of Mason Realty and Cardinal Engineering, brings green space to the area and a sense of community to those who frequent it. That's just what Mason ordered."Next summer, we'll be growing tomatoes," Mason said.The rooftop patio and garden is atop the building that Rawhide occupies at 1007 N. Broadway. The area has benches, chaise lounges and other furniture, along with a bar area. Landscaping is a prominent piece of the design, with Mexican sedum, ice plants and feather grass, and part of the area is garden space, complete with irrigation.Mason said the rooftop garden provides a different feel than the Oklahoma City Museum of Art rooftop space because of the elevation. Because it's higher, the museum patio provides a vista view, he said, while his area is closer to street level, so people feel immersed in the city.Mason said the space is mostly for people who work in his buildings - there's Wi-Fi available for laptop productivity while catching some rays - and he anticipates nonprofit organizations using the rooftop for events.The architect for the project was the Office of James Burnett in Houston, which also works with Mason on Project 180. Jereck Boss, principal, said he was excited to be a part of something new and unique to Oklahoma City. The clean lines of the architecture were designed to blend with the landscaping, he said, and the space invites camaraderie."Right now, there's a nice breeze out there around 9 at night," he said. "In another month, it will be beautiful out there."

"Right now, there's a nice breeze out there around 9 at night," he said. "In another month, it will be beautiful out there."