Recently, René Peralta was invited to join the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ASCA) Leadership Committee by ACSA’s newly appointed president, Dr. Lynne M. Dearborn. René, who is the Herb Greene Teaching Fellow at Gibbs College, is among just six faculty from institutions across the country invited to serve on this committee.
ACSA was founded in 1912 by ten charter members. The organization is an international association of architecture that helps to prepare future architects, designers, and change agents. ACSA provides venues for international peer review and recognition for scholarly journals, conferences, awards, and student design competitions. The faculty works to enhance teaching and research through volunteers and members. They offer partnership with peer organizations in education and practice around the world.
The Leadership Committee that René will be serving on will meet once a month to work on several different issues, including gender, racial, and socioeconomic equity in architectural education, fostering dialogue about education to advance architectural pedagogy, and developing more inclusive programming to engage community colleges and non-professional architecture programs. The committee also aims to help with faculty hiring and guiding students into careers beyond the university.
René studied architecture at the New School of Architecture in San Diego and the Architectural Association in London. He has served on the faculty at UCLA and University of Washington, and as director at Woodbury University in San Diego. René’s work explores the contemporary and future forms of the urban border between the United States and Mexico. His work has been featured in many museums around the U.S. and beyond. He also serves on the Board of Directors Fundación Esperanza de México (FEM).
“I am honored to be part of this committee and bring my 20 years of expertise in teaching in both public and private, Mexican and U.S. universities, as well as in community colleges.” – René Peralta
Please join us in congratulating René!
Photo credit: Stefan Falke
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.
