Associate professor of architecture Dr. Lee Fithian was awarded a PhD in Engineering in December 2019.
The title of the dissertation is “Active Building Facades to Mitigate Urban Street Pollution.” This multidisciplinary research utilized current thinking in planning, engineering, science and architecture, and proposes an interdisciplinary solution (an active Double Skin Facade) for addressing urban air pollution related to increasing urbanization.
It advances the premise that buildings are interconnected with urban infrastructure, with buildings serving as a resource and not just as a load, and the use of an active building facade to remediate environmental air pollutants beyond the building’s perimeter, representing a fundamental paradigm shift as to the nature of buildings in the urban environment.
The abstract and dissertation can be found at https://shareok.org/handle/11244/323255.
The Gibbs College of Architecture celebrates fifth-year architecture student Haley Praytor, who has been recognized at the national level for her design work. In early March, Haley received a Graduate Division Award of Merit for her submission to the 2025 Metal Building Manufacturers Association student design competition.
Ronald Frantz Jr., emeritus professor, has been named a 2026 Mary Means Leadership Award recipient, the highest honor presented by Main Street America. The award was announced at the Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, recognizing leaders who advance preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
