Ronald Frantz Jr, associate professor of Architecture, was recently recognized at the 2023 AIA Honor Awards Celebration. The AIA Oklahoma Honor Awards Program recognizes exceptional members for their distinguished leadership and commitment to the quality of life in Oklahoma.
The event took place on Sept. 15, 2023, at the First National Center in downtown Oklahoma City. Frantz received the AIA Oklahoma Award for Lifetime Achievement, which recognizes a lifetime of distinguished leadership and dedication in Architecture and the community. This award is AIA Oklahoma’s highest honor.
Frantz has dedicated his career to revitalizing Oklahoma’s historic downtowns and equipping its residents with preservation training and tools. He has worked to protect architectural treasures across the state for the benefit of current and future generations by guiding preservation efforts in the design profession.
Before and after photos of Hotel Love in Purcell, Oklahoma, which was preserved with the help of Frantz.
Some of his most notable projects include the Automobile Alley Revitalization (1995-1999) and the Paseo Historic District (1983-1991). Frantz was previously an architect and assistant director for Oklahoma Main Street Center and is currently a member of Oklahoma City’s Main Street Advisory Board. He is also a pro-bono preservation consultant for the Guthrie National Historic Landmark District and a founding co-organizer of Oklahoma’s Annual Statewide Preservation Conference.
Frantz began working at OU in 2011 as the Director of Small Town Studios for the Institute for Quality Communities. In 2013, he took over as coordinator of the Environmental Design program. He has worked diligently to improve the program’s image and craft a more cohesive academic experience for students. Under his leadership, student enrollment in EnD has increased from four students in 2013 to 80 students in 2023.
Congratulations to Frantz for receiving this award!
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.
