Ohr-O'Keefe Museum

The reconstruction process of the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum Of Art is nearing completion. Located in Biloxi, Mississippi, it is a non-profit art museum and arts center dedicated to the George E. Ohr, a artisan of great renowned in the world of ceramics. The museum is named for both Ohr and Annette O'Keefe, the late wife of former Biloxi mayor Jeremiah O'Keefe, Sr. Her name was appended to the museum in recognition of the family's ongoing contributions, which today exceed 1.8 million dollars.

The museum is designed by Frank Gehry Partners , whose work with Zahner in the past resulted in various high-profile architectural projects such as the Guggenhem in Bilbao, the Experience Music Project in Seattle, and the Pritzker Pavilion at Millenium Park, Chicago. Gehry met with Jerry O'Keefe in 1998, and agreed to design the new museum for Biloxi, Mississippi.

In his initial designs, Gehry envisioned a single building, dancing with the graceful live oaks. He later expanded the project into several buildings, scattered among the trees. "The trees are architecture, they are as interesting as any building. It's like if you go to a dance and your dance partner is the tree. She's a pretty partner, so we'll try and waltz her around a bit." --Frank Gehry

Constructing a complex building such as one of Frank Gehry's pods requires accurate engineering, which is why Gehry has partnered with Zahner® on many of his most complex projects. The pods are each engineered using the ZEPPS™ process, which include several patented systems which enable precise engineering, smooth construction, and uniform surfaces in the final product.

Panel Systems in CAD

Photograph of the the Jobsite in early 2010.

As the project neared completion in 2005, disaster stuck the southeast coastal areas of the Southeastern United States. Hurricane Katrina tore through Biloxi, destroying 90% of the buildings along the coast and the gulf. Many of the "floating" casino barges were torn from their footings, and cast along the shores causing futher damage. One of these casinos, the Grand Casino Biloxi, found its way onto the Ohr-O'Keefe construction site, where it's path of destruction was halted by the live oaks surrounding Gehry's Pods. The decision to nestle the buildings within the trees paid off, and damages were reduced.

Photograph of the Casino during Hurricane Katrina

Photograph of the Grand Casino Biloxi in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The pod-like structures were shipped back to the Zahner campus, where they remained in storage as the cleanup and re-construction process took place. The pods have now been shipped back and the museum is once again nearing completion.

More Projects

View All Projects

News & Updates

"Zinc shows its mettle" - The Miami Herald 4/20/2013

Zahner's Director of Marketing, Gary Davis, discusses the benefits and uses of Zinc in architecture.