Date
Please note, this event is now sold out.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Institute for Quality Communities is proud to announce the visit of Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine Inc., on Thursday, April 11th to share stories and lessons learned from the iconic Atlanta BeltLine project. The event will take place at Gould Hall’s Buskuhl Gallery from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. RSVP is required to attend.
The Atlanta BeltLine is an internationally recognized urban revitalization effort that has demonstrated how greenspace and a historic railway can serve as catalysts for economic development, connectivity, cultural preservation, and transformative design. Higgs will discuss how the project has created opportunities for cultural flourishing, inclusive economic development, strengthened social cohesion, and stronger neighborhoods in Atlanta.
This special event has been inspired by an ongoing collaboration between Environmental Design and Interior Design Studio 4 students at Gibbs College and the community of Taft, one of Oklahoma’s existing Black townships. Under the guidance of College of Architecture faculty Mia Kile, Marco Piscitelli, and Vanessa Morrison, students are working with Taft community leaders on their existing projects to reimagine an abandoned railway and historic school site to support placemaking, cultural tourism, and quality of life goals.
During his visit, Higgs will share insights on the BeltLine’s successes and challenges, and how the project’s lessons can be applied to revitalization efforts in other communities. The event will conclude with a moderated discussion, providing attendees an opportunity to engage with Higgs and ask questions.
Learn more at iqc.ou.edu.
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.
