From Quonset Gym to Grand Jeté: OKC Ballet Finds a New Home

With stunning natural light and plenty of open space, the Oklahoma City Ballet building seems like it was made for showcasing the dancers’ talents, but the city’s professional ballet company didn’t always call this place home.

A Building with a Different Purpose

Before becoming the OKC Ballet headquarters, the building was the American Energy Partners Fitness Center. Originally built as a corporate gym, it opened to the public in October 2015 and featured:

• A basketball court
• Two racquetball courts
• A rock climbing wall
• Two full floors with cardio and weight equipment

Custom Steel for a Custom Vision

SteelMaster’s curved panels serve as the cladding for the massive building. Unlike our typical prefabricated kits designed for easy construction, this project required a more customized approach.

American Energy Partners requested special curved panels without the usual pre-punched bolt holes. The panels were made from 18-gauge steel and mounted onto a custom-built superstructure.

Given Oklahoma’s history of strong winds and hail storms, the structure had to deliver not only a bold visual design but also serious protection, and our steel delivered.

The Transformation Begins

In February 2017, the Oklahoma City Ballet purchased the former gym and transformed it into a hub for their professional company, administrative offices, and ballet school.

“With the purchase and future renovations of this iconic building, Oklahoma City Ballet will have one of the premier dance centers in the entire nation,”
—Sally Nichols Starling, President of the OKC Ballet Board of Trustees

The building’s original design made it a natural fit for the Oklahoma City Ballet. Its clear span structure, originally intended to accommodate large gym equipment and open workout areas, offered the kind of unobstructed space that’s essential for dance.

Without interior support beams, the company gained wide, uninterrupted studios perfect for rehearsals, classes, and full-stage run-throughs. And beyond its structural benefits, the building was simply beautiful.

Flooded with natural light and finished with a sleek, modern aesthetic, it provided an inspiring backdrop that matched the elegance and artistry of ballet. What once supported physical strength and movement in the form of fitness equipment now supports it through grace and performance.

Built for What’s Next

From corporate gym to cultural landmark, this transformation proves what’s possible when vision meets the right structure. The Oklahoma City Ballet didn’t just find a building; they found a space that moves with them, supports their growth, and reflects the beauty of their craft. And at the heart of it all is the strength and versatility of steel.