Oklahoma City research outlines keys for economic growth.

By Paula Burkes Erickson, The Daily Oklahoman Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Dec. 26--Budding Oklahoma City architect David Wanzer looks right at home in his new office at 226 E Second. His 1,000-square-foot space features a red-brick wall, exposed ceiling pipes, a concrete floor and modular furniture Wanzer and partner Brett Johnson designed. Overhead are apartments.

The offices have the trendy feel of a loft in Boston or San Francisco, but they're situated in downtown Oklahoma City -- in the historic Deep Deuce neighborhood, a few blocks north of Bricktown.

"We plan to practice modern architecture, commercial and residential," Wanzer, 35, said. And with the ongoing revitalization of downtown Oklahoma City, "we feel like we can jump onto the ride and be a part of it," he said.

Wanzer could be the poster child of the workers city leaders are trying to retain and attract -- talented professionals of all cultures and ages, but especially those in their 20s and 30s.

"We realized the economic development model has fundamentally changed," said Drew Dugan, director of education and workforce development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. "No longer can we just go after big business. We've also got to make sure Oklahoma City has a quality of life where people want to be," Dugan said.

The city learned its lesson when …