Thirty-eight architecture undergraduate and graduate students recently took a two-day field trip to Bentonville, Arkansas and Wichita, Kansas. The students visited multiple architecture offices and firms as well as toured the Crystal Bridges Museum and Exploration Place.
In Bentonville, the students explored the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The museum displays American art exhibitions, features beautiful architecture, and is surrounded by 120 acres of Ozark wilderness with five miles of sculpture and walking trails. Students also visited Marlon Blackwell Architect’s office in Bentonville. There, they were able to meet Marlon Blackwell, founder and principal of the firm, as well as tour the firm’s Thaden School project.
In Wichita, the students visited Exploration Place, a science and technology interactive museum. They also attended an office visit at Hutton, a design-build firm in Wichita. Hutton does both the design and construction components of projects, allowing for a more seamless workflow.
The students at a trail rest area at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
During this trip, students were able to engage with real examples of great design. As Amy Leveno, Assistant Professor of Architecture, explains, “The experience of moving around and through an excellent piece of architecture unparalleled. In addition, the students were able to get up close to the details of how a building is put together which relates directly to the design work they are doing in the Design 7 / Grad 3 studio. They also got to meet Marlon Blackwell, visit his office, and tour his Thaden School project. Exposing students to acclaimed architects and different work environments really opens their eyes to the many different future paths their lives can take.”
Travel-study experiences like this one are an integral part of the architecture curriculum at Gibbs College. Leveno writes, “Travel is undoubtedly an incredible learning experience. Even short trips, like this one to Arkansas, exposed the students to so many new things: a different climate, environment, culture, aesthetic, etc. and how the architecture can respond.”
The Design 7 instructors were Daniel Butko and Amy Leveno. The Grad Design 3 instructors were Amber Sarmiento and Sam Callahan.
View more photos from the trip in the gallery below.
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
The OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) 2024 collaboration with the Historic Threatt Filling Station has been recognized in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newly released Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity – a story-driven publication exploring how road trip culture and place-based tourism can fuel economic growth in rural communities.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Camille Germany, Chief of Staff, has been named the 2026 recipient of the university-wide Jennifer L. Wise Good Stewardship Award.
