Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Sector
Municipal
Location
Oklahoma City, OK
Year Completed
2018
The John D. Groendyke Wildlife Conservation Building in Oklahoma City represents a comprehensive $16 million renovation and expansion of the state’s long-standing Department headquarters.
Originally opened in 1966, the facility underwent a transformative retrofit after flood damage in 2013. The original 23,000 sq ft structure was stripped to its frame and retrofitted with new mechanical, electrical, IT, and security systems, while an additional 12,000 sq ft wing was constructed to the west and north, bringing the total to approximately 35,000 sq ft.
The new addition introduced daylight-filled interior spaces, a grand lobby, public exhibit areas, outdoor balconies with views of Downtown and the State Capitol, and a dedicated auditorium for education and stakeholder engagement. A new front entry now anchors the building with renewed civic presence, while interior public zones showcase Oklahoma’s fish, wildlife, and natural resources as part of the state’s educational mission.
“This place will be a source of pride for our sportsmen … and a destination spot within the Capitol complex to showcase and learn more about Oklahoma’s great outdoors.”
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Former Director J.D. Strong
Funded entirely through hunting and fishing license revenues, not tax dollars, the renovation remains a model of community-supported civic infrastructure.
The facility was formally dedicated in early 2019 and marked a milestone in how modernized design reinforces both departmental operations and public-facing educational outreach within the Capitol complex.
