Although he was born and died in North Texas (Wichita Falls and Tyler), Norm was a proud Sooner. Raised and educated in Wewoka and Norman, he became Midwest City’s first planning director, later assuming the role of planning director for Oklahoma City during the mid-1970s. His career then expanded beyond Oklahoma, leading planning programs for Broward County, FL; Austin, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Durham, NC; Cape Coral, FL; and Wichita Falls, TX. Norm was always in pursuit of innovative solutions to complex challenges.
In Broward County, he drafted Florida’s first mandatory home rule plan and land development code, also implementing the state’s first impact fees. In Austin, he managed the Austinplan process, ensuring the adoption of a mandatory home rule charter amendment. His tenure in Oklahoma City was marked by service on the State Task Force on Planning and Zoning and the Oklahoma State Capitol/Medical Area Zoning Commission.
Norm’s planning efforts were recognized with awards from both the Florida and Nevada chapters of the American Planning Association (APA). Beyond public service, he was a partner in an Oklahoma City development firm, focusing on inner-city housing rehabilitation and shopping center development.
He received a Bachelor of Architecture in 1962 and a Master of Regional and City Planning in 1966, both from the University of Oklahoma.
Norm Standerfer
May 06, 1938 - January 22, 2024
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.
