Projects
Office + Workplace
Tulsa, OK

36 Degrees North - Basecamp

Basecamp: The Spark Behind Tulsa’s Startup Boom

Market
Office + Workplace
Type
Interior within Historic Rehabilitation
Services
Interior Design
Design Delivery Phases
Construction Administration
Size
11,400 Sq Ft
Year completed
2016
Client
George Kaiser Family Foundation
In collaboration with
Reception area at 36 Degrees North Basecamp in Tulsa by Lilly Architects. Modern industrial design with wood and concrete.
A vibrant community event at 36 Degrees North with an engaged audience, exposed brick walls, and large windows by Lilly Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A lounge area with modern seating, soft lighting, and industrial elements creating a relaxed workspace at 36 Degrees North by Lilly Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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Establishing Tulsa’s Entrepreneurial Hub

When the George Kaiser Family Foundation launched 36 Degrees North, Tulsa lacked a centralized space designed specifically for entrepreneurs, startups, and remote professionals. The buildout of 36 Degrees North Basecamp, located within the Universal Ford Building just off historic Main Street, provided a dedicated environment where ideas could take root and businesses could grow. Lilly Architects designed the space to balance functionality with adaptability, ensuring it could support a broad spectrum of work styles and business needs.

A Thoughtfully Organized Workspace

The 11,400-square-foot layout was carefully structured to facilitate both collaboration and focused work. A welcoming front-of-house area featured a reception desk, a large classroom for events and training sessions, and two small meeting nooks that provided comfortable spaces for impromptu discussions or individual work. A central conference room, flanked by two meeting rooms and adjacent restrooms, acted as the organizational anchor, naturally dividing the public-facing areas from the private workspaces beyond.

Conference room with repurposed glass table from a vehicle lift, modern lighting & vibrant buffalo painting at 36°N in Tulsa.
Flexible meeting room with modular seating, smart TV, and abstract glass partitions at 36° North, Tulsa, OK.
A modern meeting room with a wooden table, ergonomic chairs, and a bold "Hard Work Beats Talent" wall graphic at 36 Degrees North by Lilly Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A cozy built-in booth with wood paneling and black seating, repurposing an old vehicle lift at 36 Degrees North by Lilly Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A long industrial-style office hallway with exposed concrete columns, glass-walled rooms, and open workspaces at 36 Degrees North by Lilly Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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Flexible Spaces for Diverse Work Styles

Beyond the shared meeting spaces, the workspace offered a range of environments tailored to different working styles. Fourteen private offices provided dedicated areas for small teams and individual entrepreneurs, while open seating zones, a quiet room, and a pitch room supported both independent work and professional presentations. The break room and informal lounge areas encouraged connection and conversation, reinforcing the sense of community that defined 36 Degrees North.

Industrial Character with Modern Functionality

A notable design feature was the incorporation of industrial elements into the workspace, maintaining the integrity of the building while introducing modern functionality. Most striking was the repurposing of an old vehicular lift—once used to move Model T’s—into two built-in booths, demonstrating an innovative approach to reusing existing infrastructure while creating unique, semi-private meeting areas.

An Adaptive Legacy for the Future

For nearly nine years, Basecamp played a critical role in shaping Tulsa’s entrepreneurial landscape, providing an adaptable and well-supported workspace for a growing community of innovators. As 36 Degrees North evolved into Gradient and consolidated its operations into a new, expanded headquarters, Basecamp transitioned to its next chapter, now serving NYU as of 2025. The design’s inherent flexibility ensures that the space will continue to serve its users, supporting education, collaboration, and growth for years to come.

A meeting room with exposed brick walls, a glass partition, and professionals engaged in discussion at 36 Degrees North by Lilly Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A modern conference room with a large wooden table, ergonomic chairs, and industrial-style glass partitions at 36 Degrees North by Lilly Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A bright classroom space with modern seating, a projector screen, and industrial-style windows at 36 Degrees North by Lilly Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Open office space with exposed concrete walls, wood partitions, greenery, and professionals working at desks at 36 Degrees North by Lilly Architects in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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