“Passing,” an exhibit by OU architecture student Ryan Godfrey, is now on display in the main hall of the Bizzell Memorial Library. This display focuses on three homes built between 1938-1951 that encapsulate different ways that buildings can be qualified as queer spaces. The exhibit also provides reading recommendations for those interested in the intersection of architecture, gender, and sexual identity.
Although this exhibit centers around three homes, it has a much deeper meaning. Godfrey wanted to showcase how much has changed since this topic was first discussed in academia in the 1990’s. Over the past 30 years, representation and understanding of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has progressed greatly.
“2SLGBTQIA+ rights are in danger at the moment. Meanwhile, OU, a public university in a red state, has the word 'queer' in 600pt font in the main hall of its library. An exhibit that celebrates a few queer people and houses, before it was legal, and showcases how queer people don’t disappear because of laws is powerful to me,” said Godfrey.
During the creation process, Godfrey worked with Gibbs faculty Dr. Wanda Liebermann and Marco Piscitelli, as well as Exhibits Coordinator James Burnes and faculty of the OU Library. According to Godfrey, “a lot of love and care went into this exhibit, from the descriptions to the laser-cut letters.”
This exhibit will run until the end of the spring 2023 semester. Head over to the Bizzell Memorial Library to check out Godfrey’s project and learn more about queer spaces.
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.
