Last month, Gibbs architecture students represented OU’s chapter of NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architect Students) at the 2024 National Organization of Minority Architects Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. The annual NOMA conference brings together NOMA members, allies and students to engage in thought-provoking seminar sessions, connect with industry experts and celebrate member achievements.
Accompanied by their NOMA faculty advisor Shooka Motamedi, students Terry Chishimba, Ashley Gonzalez, Grace Hill, Hishaam Ramoly, and Roy Nitzan presented the OU chapter’s of NOMAS project, SEAM, and competed at the Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition. For the competition, the students focused on the repurposing of an abandoned highway that bisects an urban community with a new transit hub, housing and commercial development.
OU NOMAS students present their design solution.
The full OU NOMAS team consisted of Hishaam Ramoly - President, Roy Nitzan - Vice President, Grace Hill - Administration, Whit Hull, Drew Ngo, Charles Kim, Sasha Alexander, Terry Chishimba, Ashley Gonzalez, Daniel Kyabayinze, Eryne Degeorge, Seaira Hull, and Albert Rogers.
The OU NOMAS team.
While attending the conference, OU’s NOMAS group was invited to the White House, an opportunity provided by their parent organization, the National NOMA Organization. OU was one of the few universities nationwide whose students had the chance to visit the White House.
This trip to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., was made possible by the support of Gibbs College faculty members, with special thanks to Dean Hans Butzer, Director of Architecture Daniel Butko, Chief of Staff Camille Germany, and Faculty Advisor Shooka Motamedi.
OU NOMAS students at the White House.
Reflecting on their experience, group members say they shared a common sense of pride—pride in their organization and its mission, pride in the university’s support in achieving their goals and aspirations, and pride in being part of something greater than themselves.
While they did not win the competition, they are incredibly proud of the project they created. The full 2024 Barbara G. Laurie Student Competition Submission Gallery can be viewed on the SEAM website.
Learn more about the OU chapter of NOMAS on their Instagram @nomas.ou and their blog.
Learn more about SEAM by watching the video below.
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.
