In October, a group of Architecture students represented OU at the 2023 National Organization of Minority Architects Conference in Portland, Oregon. The annual NOMA conference brings together NOMA members, allies and students to engage in thought-provoking seminar sessions, connect with industry experts and celebrate member achievements.
Accompanied by their NOMA faculty advisor Shooka Motamedi, students Trey London, Janvi Patel, Sasha Alexander and Hishaam Ramoy presented their project, JANU, and competed at the Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition. For the competition, the students designed a mixed-income residential development in the heart of the historically Black neighborhood Albina.
The Hill Block building in the early 1900's. Photo courtesy of Prosper Portland.
The Albina neighborhood was once a thriving hub of African American culture, politics and social life in Portland. However, a series of gentrification efforts and discriminatory housing policies displaced many of these residents and destroyed their tight-knit community. The lot of the historic Hill Block building, a pillar of this once thriving African American commercial district, still sits vacant almost 50 years after its destruction.
The students were challenged to create a design concept that restored this cultural hub and honored the Black community. Their designs had to include cohesive commercial, retail and community spaces that addressed the housing equity issues in the region and bridged the gap between Albina and the broader city of Portland.
The students began working on their project during summer 2023, alongside Architecture students Roy Nitzan and Hiroki Mishima who could not attend the conference. Their concept was inspired by the iconic Hill Block cupola and the city’s rose symbol, signifying growth, transformation and the strength and heritage of the Black community.
A perspective rendering of JANU.
With JANU, the students hoped to provide a blueprint for Albina’s economic revival, emphasizing community enrichment and empowerment. They tackled the community’s pressing housing challenges by offering a diverse range of housing options, from market-rate units to affordable rentals. The site also fosters entrepreneurship, facilitates access to education and supports workforce training.
According to the students, JANU embodies the principles of restorative justice, not only in its design and function, but also in its commitment to healing and reconciliation. While they did not win the competition, they are incredibly proud of the project they created. The full 2023 Barbara G. Laurie Student Competition Submission Gallery can be viewed at https://submit.noma.net/gallery/pQRXENlM.
Learn more about JANU by watching the video below.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture announces John Harris as Associate Dean for Research ad interim, effective Aug. 25, 2026, until the permanent position is filled.
Gibbs College is pleased to announce the 2026 Gibbs College Faculty & Staff Awards recipients. These individuals were recognized by Dean Butzer during the Gibbs College Back to School Meeting and will be honored during the Celebration Banquet in October. They were nominated by their colleagues via an open nomination process.
Telesis, the Gibbs College of Architecture’s student journal, has been awarded a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts to support its next two issues, “Pause” (Volume IX) and “React” (Volume X).
