A sweeping terrazzo artwork by Oklahoma City artist Matt Goad will greet fans as they enter Continental Coliseum, creating one of the largest public art installations in the city’s history.
The Oklahoma City Council approved Goad’s design, “One Voice. One OKC,” for the arena’s 80,000-square-foot main concourse. The permanent artwork will be embedded into the terrazzo flooring, transforming the concourse into an immersive public art experience when the new downtown arena opens in 2028.
Goad’s design features overlapping concentric sound waves in varying shades of blue, representing the collective energy of thousands of fans coming together in a single voice. Rather than creating a traditional focal-point artwork, the piece is intended to become part of the architecture itself.
“My goal isn’t for people to walk in and think, ‘That’s a really cool floor,'” Goad said in a city news release. “My hope is that they experience a remarkable space where the architecture, light, materials and artwork work together as one. The terrazzo is just one voice in a much larger composition.”
The flooring may incorporate shell, recycled glass, porcelain and reflective mirror aggregates, creating subtle shifts in color and light throughout the concourse. According to the city, the materials are designed to reward repeat visits, revealing new details from different viewpoints and under changing lighting conditions.
Goad was selected from a field of 30 artists from around the world who responded to Oklahoma City’s call for artists. His proposal was chosen through the city’s public art selection process, which included community representatives, design professionals and city staff.
The commission is funded through Oklahoma City’s 1% for Art ordinance, which dedicates one percent of eligible construction costs for city-owned buildings, parks and trails to public art. The program has helped create dozens of permanent installations throughout Oklahoma City.
The project continues Goad’s long history of creating large-scale public artwork. He previously designed the terrazzo flooring at Will Rogers World Airport, another installation that blends artistic expression with public architecture.
Continental Coliseum broke ground in March following voter approval of a new downtown arena in 2023. The approximately $900 million venue will become the future home of the Oklahoma City Thunder and is expected to open ahead of the 2028-29 NBA season.