Gibbs College Architecture alumna Jessica Hester (Class of 2011) was recently named to the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s 2021 “Forty Under 40.” This program annually honors 40 individuals under the age of 40 who have been nominated as best in class by their peers in all industries.
Hester is CEO and Principal Architect of Verdant Studio, located in Rogers, Arkansas, which she built by hiring a “team of team of 12 professionals with overlapping creative disciplines focusing on art, architecture and research.” They work on a broad selection of project types–from public art to retail, hospitality to healthcare, and more.
To read her “Forty Under 40” profile, visit the link 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.
