Oscar Concessao, an alumnus of the OU Master of Urban Design program, and his wife Ponni Concessao recently designed the Telangana State Secretariat, the largest state capitol in India. Their firm, OCI Architects, won a national competition held by the Telangana government and was chosen out of a large pool of accomplished firms, also making Ponni the first woman architect in India to design a State Secretariat.
Oscar and Ponni Concessao.
The Concessaos founded OCI Architects in 1996, shortly after completing school in the United States and returning to their hometown of Chennai, India. Their firm has received widespread recognition for its innovative designs, and has won over 150 international, national and state awards. They have designed a large variety of projects at universities, hospitals, government state buildings and now, the largest state capitol in India.
Their firm completed the State Secretariat in just two years, despite the struggles brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. They utilized local materials and a blend of Eastern and Western cultures to reflect the heritage and traditions of the local Telanagana people in their design. The 1.2 million-square-foot building received a Green Gold rating from the Indian Green Building Council, which recognizes the project’s national excellence.
Featured Image: Exterior view of the Telangana State Secretariat.
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.
