Dr. Somik Ghosh and Dr. Ben Bigelow, Haskell and Irene Lemon Division of Construction Science faculty members, along with Vivek Patel, a Construction Science alumnus, recently published a paper in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s publication Cityscape. The paper examines the current use of panelized components in homebuilding in the Oklahoma City and Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Panelization is a type of prefabrication in which certain framing components are built off site and then transported to the site for assembly. This technique has been reported to make homebuilding more efficient and affordable. Panelization might also offer a one strategy to help with the growing labor shortage. Despite these benefits, adoption of panelization in the United States has been relatively limited.
Researchers from the Haskell and Irene Lemon Division of Construction Science conducted ten semi-structured interviews with production homebuilders from the OKC and DFW metropolitan areas in order to better understand the benefits and challenges of panelization.
Although most of the benefits (faster, more consistent, and less waste) and challenges (cost, logistics, and labor issues) found in these interviews were consistent with previous research, new benefits related to warranties and new challenges relating to transportation and delivery were identified. In addition, the study concludes that national and regional production builders differ in their priorities and perceptions of panelization: national builders are trying to increase their use of panelization, whereas regional builders are moving away from it.
Congratulations to Dr. Ghosh, Dr. Bigelow, and Vivek Patel on their publication!
A project designed by Gibbs College of Architecture faculty member Austin Lightle has been selected for BuildFest 2026, a national art and architecture festival held at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in New York, on the historic grounds of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival.
Two Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture alumni are helping shape recommendations that could influence affordable housing design and construction across Oklahoma.
The University of Oklahoma Libraries recently welcomed Carl Siegel as an Architecture Librarian and Archivist and Assistant Professor. In his role, Siegel supports students, faculty and staff across the Gibbs College of Architecture while also serving as archivist for the American School of Architecture Archives.
