The Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) project partners recently won nearly $150,000 in funding from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) to enhance public spaces and walkability. The City of Pryor Creek and Town of Luther both received funding, which will go to streetscape and park improvements identified in IQC workshops in 2019 and 2020.
Both IQC projects were made possible in part by sponsorship from the Oklahoma Municipal League (OML), an annual partner of IQC. OML supports IQC’s Community Request for Proposals, which invited Oklahoma towns and cities to submit projects.
A section of the City of Pryor Plan.
The City of Pryor Creek will receive $102,000 to improve walkability, wayfinding, accessibility, and safe crosswalks. These streetscape improvements are related to an IQC design workshop in March of 2020, conducted in partnership with Pryor Main Street, the Mayes County HOPE Coalition, and City of Pryor.
Part of the Town of Luther plan.
The Town of Luther will receive $36,000 to carry out improvements at Wild Horse Park. IQC developed a conceptual plan for the park in partnership with the Town of Luther Parks Commission and Friends of the Park, during a Fall 2019 community engagement and design process.
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture assistant professor Amy Leveno and Mark Leveno, co-founders of OFFICIAL Design, have received a 2026 AIA Central States Region Design Award for the firm’s Granger Annex Community Center project in Garland, Texas.
Construction Industry Speaker Series welcomed Stephen Evans from the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum to give a lecture on better conversations and relationship building.
The University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame recognizes a select number of high-character individuals who have made a significant and lasting positive impact on Gibbs College, its students, staff, faculty, alumni and/or to communities across the globe. The impact may have been, or continues to be, in the form of service and mentorship, sustained professional excellence, and/or advancement and financial support. Joseph Edgar Smay is part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class.
