A collaborative project between the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency was recently featured in The Oklahoman. A team of OU researchers are currently redesigning the Oklahoma Housing Needs Assessment (OHNA), an online source of detailed information about Oklahoma’s 77 counties. The project is led by Shawn Schaefer and Francesco Cianfarani from the Gibbs College of Architecture, as well as Ron Barnes and Joe Havlicek from the Gallogly School of Engineering.
The OHNA was first launched in 2016 and has been a key resource for affordable housing developers across the state. The site provides detailed information about household compositions, populations and subpopulations and disaster readiness and preparation. As explained by Holley Mangham from the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, this data helps developers and non-profit organizations determine the type of housing that is needed and where this housing is needed the most. However, after seven years, the site is in urgent need of an update.
Rather than a collection of 77 separate reports, the new-and-improved assessment will be “a tool for you to find data,” said Schaefer. The updated site will allow users to search maps, tables and other presentations of data to easily find what they want, including individual affordable housing projects. Additionally, the website will be updated periodically to provide users with accurate information.
The new site is set to launch in summer 2024 and will be maintained and enhanced by the research and development team at OU.
Read the full article in The Oklahoman.
Featured Image: Schaefer presenting at the recent Commercial Real Estate Summit.
A team of Construction Science and Architecture students from the Gibbs College of Architecture made their mark on the national stage this week, earning third place out of 37 universities competing at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Competition, held during the International Builders' Show in Orlando, February 16-18, 2026.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has elevated Gary Armbruster, FAIA, ALEP to its prestigious College of Fellows—AIA’s highest membership honor—for his exceptional work and sustained contributions to architecture and society. Fellowship recognizes architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant impact at a national level. Members elevated to this distinction carry the FAIA designation after their name.
Students from the Spring 2026 Graduate 4 Architecture Design Studio, led by Professor Amy Leveno, exhibited their work at the School of Visual Arts. The exhibition, titled Reimagining the OU School of Visual Arts, featured drawings, models, and animations developed throughout the semester's studio project. The show was hosted in The Spotlight, a creative gallery space located on the first floor of the Fred Jones Art Center, and ran from January 20–30, 2026.
