In collaboration with OU Landscape Services, first-year Environmental Design student Justin Jones is designing new planting beds on the east side of Gould Hall. This project ties into Jones’s Field Work course with Ron Frantz, director of the EnD Division.
Jones (left) with Torrey Redmon (center) and Joe Mars (right) from OU Landscape Services.
Inspired by his passion for plants and landscaping, Jones transferred to Gibbs College last semester to gain knowledge in the Landscape Architecture field and help him in his current role in OU’s Landscape Services. While Jones has only been in Gibbs College for a short period of time, he has already had a significant positive impact on the Gibbs community.
Jones with his planter bed designs.
“The landscape department is really striving to return campus to its former glory,” Jones said. “Many have told us how well-maintained grounds are therapeutic and help them relax. This is one of our main goals for the OU community.”
Jones planting in the new garden.
With this project, he hopes to improve the environment of Gould Hall and the surrounding OU campus and encourage interest in the LA program. While Jones has not taken any LA classes yet, the Historical Preservation course he took with Professor Frantz sparked his interest in the discipline. After he completes his undergraduate education, Jones hopes to continue his studies in the LA program.
Jones and OU Landscape Services planting in the new garden.
Make sure to check out the new planter beds outside of Gould Hall!
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
The OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) 2024 collaboration with the Historic Threatt Filling Station has been recognized in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newly released Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity – a story-driven publication exploring how road trip culture and place-based tourism can fuel economic growth in rural communities.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Camille Germany, Chief of Staff, has been named the 2026 recipient of the university-wide Jennifer L. Wise Good Stewardship Award.
