The U.S. Department of Transportation has selected the University of Oklahoma (OU) led Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC) as the 2023-2027 USDOT Region 6 Regional University Transportation Center.
Under the umbrella of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this center brings federal funding of $3 million per year to OU along with $3 million per year in matching funds. With a focus on improving durability and extending the life of infrastructure and safety, the SPTC will leverage the strengths of OU, and its partner institutions, in transportation engineering, materials, construction, climate, and weather to develop implementable solutions to create climate resilient infrastructure in Region 6. It will also catalyze transportation education and workforce development for the Region.
Dr. Tammy McCuen, Professor of Construction Science, is part of the OU multidisciplinary research team representing engineering, construction, and geography and environmental sustainability. She will play a key role in Workforce Development focused on people with disabilities and non-violent incarcerated people. She will also explore the use of building information modeling (BIM) for the location and documentation of existing utilities and assets on infrastructure projects.
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
