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In their first ten days of school, first-year Architecture students collaborated on designing, making and flying air vessels, or kites. The students were led by Architecture faculty Tamar Zinguer, Shooka Motamedi, Dayton Clark, Jordan Loofs, Hunter Read, Ted Reeds and Chris Morrey.
In order to create a successful air vessel, students had to design in terms of lightness and lift. Unlike most works of architecture which are heavy and anchored to the ground, the success of a kite is measured primarily by its ability to be airborne. Their kites also needed to be visible from the ground and responsive to wind and the hand pulling it.
An Architecture student with their kite.
When designing their air vessels, students looked at kites designed by a variety of different scientists for inspiration. Specially, they examined the large tetrahedral kites designed by Alexander Graham Bell. While kites are typically viewed as objects of play, many designers have adapted them to a variety of purposes. For generations, kites have also been used to carry messages, measure the direction and force of wind and mimic birds and planes.
An Architecture student releasing their kite.
This project allowed first-year Architecture students to have fun while simultaneously planning and thinking critically about design. Zinguer expressed her excitement for the project, “Despite the unusual lack of wind in Oklahoma, we all witnessed a few successful designs. Most successful was the sense of collaboration that the project initiated from the very first days of the semester.”
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.
