University of Oklahoma Architecture alumnus Asa Highsmith was recently recognized as an honoree in the Architectural League of New York’s 2023 Emerging Voices competition. The Emerging Voices program is an annual event that recognizes outstanding Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design firms across North America.
This year’s winners were selected by a reputable board of judges who reviewed submissions from over 50 competitors. Highsmith’s firm, Common Works Architects, was awarded along with seven other accomplished firms.
Common Works Architects was founded in 2015 by Highsmith in Oklahoma City. According to Highsmith, the firm is dedicated to “democratizing design and elevating that which is common.” The firm has designed a wide variety of different projects including residences, restaurants, and public spaces.
Village Park by Common Works Architects.
Common Works was previously listed among Architect’s Newspaper Interior’s “Top 50 Architects and Designers of 2022” and highlighted in a Metropolis New Talent Feature.”
Learn more about the Emerging Voices Award and see the full list of recipients.
Past emerging voices from the OU Architecture program include Brian Phillips of ISA and Lyn Rice of Rice+Lipka.
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
