Gardner Tanenbaum

Multifamily | Mixed-Use
Historic Preservation (HTC)
Adaptive Reuse

Oklahoma City, OK
Completed | 2021

The Presley transforms a once-vibrant landmark—the former Lincoln Plaza Hotel, where Elvis Presley famously stayed—into a dynamic residential community that honors its past while meeting contemporary housing demand in Oklahoma City. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the project utilized historic tax credits to support a full restoration and adaptive reuse of both the hotel and an adjacent two-story municipal building, converting them into for-rent residential units in response to the city’s growing need for thoughtfully designed housing.

Maintaining fidelity to the original architectural character and National Park Service restoration guidelines, the comprehensive renovation preserves key historic elements while introducing modern amenities and spatial upgrades that foster community and connectivity. Originally proposed to include office space, the two-story building was re-visioned as residential after a successful test fit, with its central courtyards allowing a mix of inward-facing shotgun-style units and outward-facing homes linked by a double-loaded corridor—a design response that both respects the building’s structure and enhances resident experience. The lower level accommodates open-air parking that serves the community efficiently.

Amenities at The Presley are extensive and thoughtfully integrated, including a restored pool and pool deck returned to their original size and shape, community rec center and fitness facilities, nearly 6,000 square feet of flexible work-from-home space, a café, athletic courts, interior courtyards, and multiple social and recreational zones that support active, connected living. These features reflect a vision for housing that goes beyond shelter, creating a place where residents can live, work, and gather within a revitalized historic context.

The project has been embraced locally not just as housing, but as a transformative contribution to the community, breathing new life into a storied site and anchoring broader downtown revitalization efforts in Oklahoma City’s Innovation and adjacent districts.

*Completed while employed at Gardner Studio; role: Project Architect/Project Lead.