A new pergola designed by Urban Design students Virginia Paiva and Samiul Haque was recently installed at Chapman Green in downtown Tulsa. The pergola was funded by a grant from the Claritin® Clarity Parks Project, which helps restore community outdoor spaces that have been impacted by natural disasters. The grant was administered by the Project for Public Spaces, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and maintaining community places.
Chapman Green is a public park that is used for a variety of community events, including Tulsa Mayfest. However, with the park’s previous lack of shade and Tulsa’s sometimes severe summers, the park could quickly become unbearably hot. Led by Shawn Schaefer, director of OU’s Urban Design program, the students conducted in-depth observations and research to determine innovative design solutions for the park. In collaboration with several organizations and the local community, the students developed the idea to install a pergola.
The pergola designed by Virginia Paiva and Samiul Haque.
The project originally began in 2020, but it was delayed for several years due to the pandemic and other issues. The pergola now joins 20 previously planted trees to provide shade for park visitors. According to Schaefer, the project was a true community collaboration. Schaefer and his students would like to thank the local stakeholders and organizations that contributed, including:
Feature Image: Chapman Green, photo by Stephan Pingry.
During the Spring 2026 semester, students in Interior Design Studio IV and Graduate Studio IV gained hands-on experience in educational facility design through a semester-long partnership with MA+ Architecture.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture congratulates Dr. Tammy McCuen, Robert E. Busch Professor of Construction Science, on beginning her term as president of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC), an international organization dedicated to advancing construction education through teaching, research and service.
Following years of contributions to the College’s research and strategic initiatives, Gibbs College shares that Associate Dean for Research and External Engagement Angela M. Person, PhD, will step down from her position at Gibbs College as she moves to Tucson with her family, effective June 30, 2026.
