Gradient celebrates grand opening of $40M facility

They raised the roof Thursday at 12 N. Cheyenne Ave.

Against a backdrop of balloons, drinks and DJ-led music, more than 450 people gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Gradient, Tulsa’s new $40 million innovation hub.

“This is probably the biggest party I’ve been to since I’ve been mayor,” Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols said. “And because this place is here, I have a good feeling that the party is only beginning.”

Formerly known as 36 Degrees North, Gradient offers more than 110,000 square feet of flexible workspace, programming and concierge access to local and national resources.

Over the past five years, Gradient has generated more than $1.4 billion in direct economic impact. In 2024 alone, it supported 479 businesses that created more than 3,800 jobs.

“The work that will happen here will shape our city’s identity, our economy and our place in the national conversation,” Nichols said. “And it’s not just creating companies. I truly believe it is about creating community, a community that’s inclusive, forward-thinking and determined to build a city where everybody has a chance to thrive.”

Justin McLaughlin, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Tulsa Regional Chamber, chairs Gradient’s board. The Chamber was among the organizations that originally teamed up to create 36 Degrees North in 2016.

“Gradient isn’t just a workspace; it’s a launching pad,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a place where big ideas take root, where connections turn into collaborations and where early-stage businesses find the support they need to scale and succeed

“…Before 36 Degrees North, entrepreneurship in Tulsa was merely a concept. Now, through the maturation of Gradient, entrepreneurship here is a phenomenon, a culture, a nationally known beacon of innovation.”

Gradient’s new facility, which places three former 36 Degrees North venues under one roof, is built on a site that had been vacant more than 20 years and formerly housed Oklahoma Tire and Supply Co. (OTASCO).

One of the largest entrepreneurial hubs in the country, it features a five-story atrium and two glass elevators topped by a skylight. Home to more than 3,700 members, Gradient also includes 160 offices, 25 conference rooms and two wellness rooms

“This is for you; this is for Tulsa,” Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell said. “This is for our 77 counties. This is for those, yes, that are moving to Oklahoma. But this is for Oklahomans that have a dream for a business, and they didn’t know where to go. They do now.”