René Peralta, a lecturer in Architecture at OU and alumnus of the Master of Science in Planning, Design and Construction program (Dec. 2022 graduate), was recently awarded the 2022-2023 Architectural Research Centers Consortium’s (ARCC) King Medal.
One student from every ARCC member college is awarded this medal each year to recognize their innovation, integrity and dedication to architectural and environmental design research. Peralta was recognized for his master’s thesis, “Design and Construction Technology in Mexican Social Housing at the End of the 20th Century.”
In his thesis, Peralta examines the Mexican government’s attempts to provide housing for working class citizens. Specifically, he explores the role of construction systems and their sociocultural impact on the region’s urban development. According to Peralta, Mexico’s 20th century housing policies produced thousands of housing units that materialized into low-income neighborhoods during the global economic crisis of the period.
Peralta served as the inaugural OU Herb Greene Teaching Fellow from 2019-2021.
Congratulations to Rene Peralta for receiving this well-deserved recognition!
Petya Stefanoff, Chair of the Educational Committee with the American Planning Association, Oklahoma Chapter (APA-OK) and Gibbs College PhD candidate, has developed a new training program for local government officials. The program, focused on land use, zoning principles, and land development, recently certified its first graduates with Certified Citizen Planner status.
Gibbs Construction Science and Architecture students recently traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 8 Student Competition. The team partnered with Czech Technical University and secured third place in the Design-Build category.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2026 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
