In 2020, a student team from the University of Oklahoma participated in the EPA Campus RainWorks Challenge. This competition is a green infrastructure design competition for American colleges and universities. It aims to engage with the next generation of environmental professionals, foster a dialogue about the need for innovative stormwater management techniques, and showcase the environmental, economic, and social benefits of green infrastructure practices.
The OU team, led by faculty advisor Bret Betnar (former Adjunct Assistant Professor in Landscape Architecture), developed a series of design interventions with the goal of solving the flooding problem on OU’s campus. Their interventions would improve stormwater management on campus which would conserve water as well as improve campus walkability and accessibility.
The student team included Aman Golshan (MLA alumnus 2021), Yi-Wen Yeh (MLA alumnus 2021), Bradley Andersen (current MLA student), and Samin Shokoohi (MLA alumnus 2021). They competed against fifty-seven other student teams and were awarded an Honorable Mention in Community Engagement in the Master Plan Category.
The team was also advised by Leehu Loon (Director of Landscape Architecture), Dr. Sarah Little (Professor of Landscape Architecture), Carrie Evenson (City of Norman), and Dr. Robert Nairn (Division of Engineering WaTER Center). They were also assisted by Brandon Cox, Kyle McGhee, and Jason Reeves from OU Facilities and Landscape Services.
Bradley Andersen wrote, “This competition is an excellent chance to test your abilities while working with a team to solve complex community issues. It also allows the student to interact with municipal agencies and various specialties that you don’t typically work with.”
Another team member, Yi-Wen Yeh, wrote, “I hope that more of these competitions can be held so that students can have constant opportunities to challenge themselves, not only to increase their knowledge in various aspects, but also to learn the opportunity to cooperate with each other, because when we enter the workplace, we need to cooperate with others often.”
Explore the team’s proposal below!
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.
