OU Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Jack DeBartolo III, FAIA, principal and design leader of DeBartolo Architects, has been appointed as the Goff Chair of Creative Architecture for 2025. As Goff Chair, DeBartolo is invited to give a public lecture in the upcoming semester, open to all Gibbs students, faculty, and staff.
In his upcoming lecture, DeBartolo will share insights into his design approach and philosophy. The lecture will take place on April 14, from 4:00pm to 5:30pm, in Nielsen Hall, Room 170. It will be an opportunity for students, faculty, and practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of how thoughtful design can shape meaningful architectural solutions.
Jack DeBartolo III is renowned for his dedication to bringing significance and order to daily human experiences through innovation in materials, creative shaping of space, and the powerful use of light. He received his initial training in architecture at the University of Arizona in 1992, followed by graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. In 1996, DeBartolo joined his father to form DeBartolo Architects, a studio committed to architectural excellence and creating relevant, functionally-tuned environments for people.
DeBartolo is passionate about humanitarian architecture and education. As a Faculty Associate at The Design School at Arizona State University since 2006, he has led graduate students to design a new orphanage and school in Ethiopia. He continues to train future architects by teaching a professional practice course at ASU.
Under his leadership, the studio has developed a diverse portfolio, including residential projects, coffee and bicycle shops, higher education facilities, major church campuses, solar shade pavilions, and automotive museums. The firm was named the 2012 AIA Arizona Firm of the Year, reflecting its commitment to crafting architecture that is specific to place, responsive to function, and sensitive to culture.
Skoop project by DeBartolo Architects. Image courtesy of DeBartolo Architects.
DeBartolo’s design philosophy is rooted in simplicity, functionality, and clarity, aiming to create spaces that respond to the needs of clients in a way that moves the soul. He views architecture as a sacred endeavor and a profound responsibility, seeking to design spaces of enduring value for both clients and the communities they inhabit.
Featured Image: Photograph of Jack DeBartolo, courtesy of DeBartolo Architects.
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.
