Thank you to the Gibbs College alumni, design professionals, student volunteers, and event organizers who participated in this year’s IIDA ZeroLandfill OKC event!
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Texas-Oklahoma chapter recently hosted the 2021 ZeroLandfill OKC event. The organization partnered with Oklahoma City interior designers and architects, encouraging them to clean out their discontinued or un-used finish materials from their libraries. They then donated these materials that would normally be thrown away to IIDA ZeroLandfill. These materials include carpet tiles, laminate chips, tile samples, wood flooring, fabric swatches, metal chips, wall coverings, etc. During the event on October 23rd, teachers, artists, and the general public could come pick up materials to upcycle for their own use.
Since 2014, the IIDA ZeroLandfill OKC project team has partnered with the architectural and interior design community to collect expired or un-used sample material for re-purposing back into the community. Since 2014, they have diverted over 55 Tons from Oklahoma landfills. IIDA ZeroLandfill OKC is an annual up-cycling program that supports the supply needs of local artists and educators, while reducing pressure on local landfill capacity. This year, 13 tons of materials were diverted from landfills including from the OU Interior Design Materials Resource Library!
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.
