Second-year architecture students at the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture recently worked to create ideas for a new canopy in Andrews Park’s amphitheater in Norman, Oklahoma.
The original tensile structure used to cover the stage of the amphitheater collapsed in Summer 2020 after a violent thunderstorm. The goal of the studio project was to design a new “experiential canopy,” both for the stage and the seating areas of the amphitheater.
The collapsed canopy in Andrews Park.
Students were asked to work in teams to explore multiple overhanging structures thought to celebrate and strengthen the enduring and powerful bonds that have existed through history between performing arts, public spaces, and landscape.
At the beginning of the semester, students visited the site and documented its layout and the programming of the amphitheater through sketching and diagramming. For the second part of the project, students worked in teams to design innovative shading systems for the amphitheater.
The students presented their design proposals via Zoom during second year midterm reviews, where they received feedback from faculty and planners from the City of Norman Parks and Recreation Department.
Second year studio classes are taught by Dave Boeck, Francesco Cianfarani, Joe Dolan, and Ken Marold.
View select proposals in the gallery below.
A team of Construction Science and Architecture students from the Gibbs College of Architecture made their mark on the national stage this week, earning third place out of 37 universities competing at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Competition, held during the International Builders' Show in Orlando, February 16-18, 2026.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has elevated Gary Armbruster, FAIA, ALEP to its prestigious College of Fellows—AIA’s highest membership honor—for his exceptional work and sustained contributions to architecture and society. Fellowship recognizes architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant impact at a national level. Members elevated to this distinction carry the FAIA designation after their name.
Students from the Spring 2026 Graduate 4 Architecture Design Studio, led by Professor Amy Leveno, exhibited their work at the School of Visual Arts. The exhibition, titled Reimagining the OU School of Visual Arts, featured drawings, models, and animations developed throughout the semester's studio project. The show was hosted in The Spotlight, a creative gallery space located on the first floor of the Fred Jones Art Center, and ran from January 20–30, 2026.
