Congratulations to Viridiana Hernandez Sevilla, who, for the second year in a row, has received the Robert L. Wesley Award!
The Robert L. Wesley Award was created in 2020 by the S.O.M Foundation to support BIPOC undergraduate students enrolled in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, or structural engineering programs across the US. The award, named in honor of OU alumnus and former S.O.M. principal Robert L. Wesley, aims to support the academic development of the student recipients.
Born and raised in Cuernavaca Morelos, Mexico, Viridiana moved to the United States at the age of nine. She would then attend Norman North High School and complete a two-year program at Moore Norman Technology Center for CADD, where she earned honors from the National Technical Honor Society.
"The In-Between" by Viridiana Hernandez Sevilla.
She is currently a second-year Architecture student at the University of Oklahoma, while also pursuing a minor in entrepreneurship. Her goal is, “to graduate from the University of Oklahoma representing my Mexican heritage.” She lists her mother, the drive to help others, and the ability to become an example of overcoming adversity as her biggest motivators.
She hopes to become the first in her family to obtain a college degree and to one day own her own design-build firm. Because she has not been able to visit her home country, she dreams of working internationally and becoming an advocate for people who come from a similar background, “showing that it is possible to achieve anything if you really push for it.”
Ted Reeds, Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Gibbs, says, “Viridiana is a truly remarkable young lady. While enduring a pandemic, holding down a job, attending my four-hour class—either on Zoom or in person with 100 percent class attendance—and always maintaining a smile, she turned out remarkable work. Her projects were complete, well-crafted, and thoughtful.”
The Gibbs College of Architecture is incredibly proud of Viridiana’s achievements and knows she will continue to do amazing work!
Read more about Viridiana’s work and the 2021 Robert L. Wesley Award.
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.
