Gibbs Construction Science students recently represented The University of Oklahoma at the Associated Schools of Construction Region 8 Student Competition in Dublin, Ireland, and secured first place in the Construction Management and Quantity Surveying category. The annual competition brings together construction science students from 15 colleges and universities across Europe and the U.S. to compete and learn from each other using real-world scenarios and projects.
The OU Construction Science team preparing for their presentation.
Students Brody Adams, Jared Schenk, Ella Bevins, and Kade Berryman, coached by Dr. Tammy McCuen, represented OU in the Construction Management and Quantity Survey Tract of the Associated Schools of Construction Region 8 Student Competition. For the competition, the team had eight hours to create a proposal for the construction of the Irish Life headquarters in Dublin, which included delivering a conceptual cost estimate, construction schedule, site logistics plan, building information modeling execution plan, and community engagement strategy.
The Construction Science team outside the Irish Life headquarters.
The team observed that as one of few schools without a partnership with a European school they had a lack of knowledge about how construction management is done in Europe as opposed to the United States, which could hold them back from achieving their goal of winning the competition. The team determined that in order to overcome this disadvantage, they needed to research the competition area as much as they could before the competition started. Doing this required the investment of countless hours of research outside of school on subjects such as community engagement, exchange rates, etc.
The Construction Science team before giving their presentation.
After completing their deliverables, the team had just three hours to refine and rehearse their presentation. The team then gave their 15-minute presentation to a panel of industry experts and defended their work during a Q&A session.
The OU Construction Science Team presenting their proposal.
Reflecting on their experience, group members mentioned two main takeaways from their experience. First, they emphasized the importance of approaching new projects with humility—acknowledging what they didn’t know and putting in the effort to overcome challenges. Second, they underscored the value of confidence—not just in their own abilities, but in their teammates as well—and trusting the collective work put in to achieve a common goal.
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.
