E K Gaylord Boulevard

Long the main north-south access into and through Downtown, Broadway was severed by the placement of the new convention center during urban renewal. So a large boulevard capable of high traffic loads was created, veering off of Broadway and carrying cars directly to the big new public garages and the convention center.

Even before the Pei Plan was devised in 1964, urban renewal proponents made plans for the large convention center they so desperately wanted. The original plans put the facility on the west side of the Mummer's Theater between Walker and Lee. The Pei Plan placed it in its current location, arguing that it needed to be near the hotel district (which was Broadway) and have easy access to the railroad station and I-40. Pei also intended for the west side of Downtown to be residential. 

The new location was eventually accepted by the city, but Broadway presented a problem. Long the main north-south access into and through Downtown, Broadway was severed by the placement of the convention center. Pei's design ran Broadway under the facility but his clients nixed the idea because they wanted underground parking; they also thought it would be too noisy for those inside the building.

The compromise was to create a large boulevard capable of high traffic loads, that would veer off of Broadway and carry cars directly to the big new public garages and the convention center. The land was occupied by surface parking and low-density warehouses and light industry, so it was easily acquired and cleared. Originally called Santa Fe Avenue, it was named for Daily Oklahoman owner E K Gaylord in 1973.

Dryden, Dave . "New Routes Can Ease Downtown Driving." Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) November 3rd 1973. .26.