OU Gibbs College of Architecture faculty in partnership with OU Gallogly College of Engineering and the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) have developed the Oklahoma Housing Needs Assessment. The project was overseen by Dr. Francesco Cianfarani, architecture, Professor Shawn Schaefer, urban design, Dr. Ronald Barnes and Dr. Joseph Havlicek, electrical and computer engineering. They were supported by a $925,487 grant from the OHFA to create a comprehensive tool and accompanying report to plan for and address housing needs across Oklahoma.
The assessment allows users to explore housing markets at state, metropolitan, and county levels. It is used by policymakers, real estate developers, and community organizations to identify gaps, conduct market feasibility studies, and develop targeted strategies to meet housing needs. The availability of this web-based resource ensures that people have access to real-time data and visualizations that support evidence-based housing policies.
This transdisciplinary collaboration allowed the team to build an intuitive interface that empowers users to query housing data, generate maps, and explore statistical trends. Faculty from architecture and urban design brought expertise in spatial planning, housing typologies, and community engagement. Electrical and computer engineering faculty provided the technical infrastructure necessary to develop a user-friendly digital platform. Graduate students across disciplines contributed to ensure diverse perspectives were integrated into the research and design projects.
The study revealed significant disparities between Oklahoma’s urban and rural housing markets. While population growth and employment opportunities drive up demand and prices in metropolitan and suburban areas, rural regions face population decline and economic stagnation. The study found that Oklahoma remains relatively affordable compared to other states, however, the cost of owning a home is growing faster than the national average. It saw gaps in affordable rental housing, primarily for extremely low-income and very low-income households. A limited availability of affordable rental units means some households are priced out of the market, causing an increased risk of homelessness. Rising home prices are also reducing access to owner-occupied units for middle-income families and constraining their housing options.
Learn more at the Oklahoma Housing Needs Assessment website.
OHFA: Darrell Beavers, Corey Bornemann, Danette Carr, Emily Myers
OU: Ronald Barnes, Miles Capehart, Francesco Cianfarani, Tyler Duncan, Shane Hampton, Vasu Deva Sai Nadha Reddy Janapala, Rajith Kumar Kedarisetty, Bhavesh Kilaru, Joseph Havlicek, Sonu Malla, Bert Manieson, Inamullah Mohammad, Kalyan Mutukundu, Shawn Schaefer, Carmen Pate, Markquis Yirsa, Preslie Watkins Anderson
Petya Stefanoff, Chair of the Educational Committee with the American Planning Association, Oklahoma Chapter (APA-OK) and Gibbs College PhD candidate, has developed a new training program for local government officials. The program, focused on land use, zoning principles, and land development, recently certified its first graduates with Certified Citizen Planner status.
Gibbs Construction Science and Architecture students recently traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 8 Student Competition. The team partnered with Czech Technical University and secured third place in the Design-Build category.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2026 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
