Dr. Tiziana Proietti, an assistant professor of Interior Design and Architecture, recently spoke at a Kansas State University event titled “Generators of Architectural Atmosphere.” Dr. Proietti presented the keynote talk, The Experience of Architectural Proportion Through a Scientific Perspective, in which she explored human perceptions of architectural proportion.
In her presentation, Dr. Proietti asked how modern science can advance our understanding of the experience of proportion of the flesh-and-blood person who moves freely in the built environment. Seeds of empirical approach to the topic were introduced through the analysis of the work of several architects, such as Nikolai Ladovsky and Hans van der Laan. Following this analysis, pertinent modern scientific studies were described emphasizing tangencies with the empirical thinking of proportion. Dr. Proietti concluded by presenting the work she has conducted at the Sense|Base Lab as an example of investigating architectural proportion through methods of science. She introduced two experimental approaches: external observation and immersive observation.
The Sense|Base laboratory, directed by Dr. Tiziana Proietti, is housed here at the Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma. It is an interdisciplinary laboratory that bridges architecture and neuroscience with an emphasis on the perception of architectural proportion. Dr. Proietti is also working with the scientist Dr. Sergei Gepshtein at Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Together, they are developing an interdisciplinary program of research to intertwine neuroscientific knowledge and architectural design and to test long-standing hypotheses about the human response to architectural proportion. Explore more of Dr. Proietti’s work.
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.
