OFFICIAL, the design practice founded by Assistant Professor of Architecture Amy Leveno and her partner Mark Leveno, has been recognized with an AIA Oklahoma Design Award for their Riverhills Residence project.
Situated on a one-acre site with a natural westward slope toward downtown Fort Worth, Riverhills Residence is thoughtfully designed to engage both the panoramic views and the site’s unique topography. The land’s uniform drop at its center creates a natural internal courtyard, allowing the architecture to embed itself seamlessly into the hillside.
Riverhills residence. Photo courtesy of OFFICIAL.
From the street, the home presents a low-slung façade that aligns in scale with neighboring residences, establishing a subtle and contextual street presence. To the west, the design opens outward to the expansive vista and inward to the intimate lower-level courtyard and pool. A continuous balcony wraps the second floor, connecting interior spaces with the landscape and offering ever-changing perspectives of the courtyard and the sweeping view beyond.
The landscape design transitions from formal plantings around the residence to existing and native vegetation as it descends the slope, reinforcing the site’s natural character. Deep overhangs and sliding solar screens provide passive solar control, filtering sunlight while preserving openness and visual connections to the outdoors. Tiered levels throughout the house further enhance the relationship between interior and exterior spaces, creating a dynamic interplay between built form and landscape.
The Gibbs College community congratulates Professor Leveno and her firm, OFFICIAL, on this well-deserved honor.
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.
