Gibbs Construction Science and Architecture students recently represented The University of Oklahoma at the Associated Schools of Construction Region 5/TEXO student competition in Dallas-Fort Worth, and secured first place in the Design-Build, International Design-Build, and Open Commercial categories. Each year, university students in construction programs travel to DFW to showcase their skills and connect with TEXO member companies about career opportunities. This year OU sent a record number of students (56) and also had a record amount of success, with three teams winning 1st place, two earning 2nd place, and two earning 3rd place. Seven students earned best presenter awards, and students won 1st and 2nd place in the impromptu speaking competition.
Construction Science students Brody Adams, Kade Berryman, Ella Bevins, Jared Schenk, and Architecture students Breanna Walls and Piper Smith were coached by Dr. Tammy McCuen and Alan Moring represented OU in the Design-Build category , which they won. For the competition, the team had sixteen hours to create a proposal for the construction of new athletic facilities on the campus of a private academy, their proposal was evaluated based on: presentation of design, preconstruction, and construction services. The presentation required each team to demonstrate knowledge and skills in the design-build process including design process, design management, design phase cost analysis, value management, scheduling, and construction planning.
Design-build winners with Tammy McCuen.
Construction Students Brooke Harkins, Tanner Harris, and Architecture student Jasmine Salinas, along with students from Czech Technical University, coached by Johnny Gaffney represented OU in the International Design-Build category, which they won. The Design-Build process is an interdisciplinary team effort for innovative problem solving. It is intended for designers and constructors to collaborate from the onset to prepare a strategic response to a Design-Build solicitation.
International design-build winners.
Construction Students Jonah Deitte, Faith Hanlon, Emilie Hart, Brooke Hatcher, Kaitlan Pollock, Jack Roehm were coached by Matt Reyes in the Open Commercial Construction category, which they won. The problem chosen for the competition required each team demonstrate skills in: proposal writing, compliance with proposal requests, scheduling, problem solving, construction logistics, quality assurance, cost estimating, and risk management.
Open Commercial Construction winners with Matt Reyes.
These competitions, held annually in February, were one of the most successful competitions the Gibbs College of Architecture has ever participated in. They are a measure of the strength of the Lemon Construction Science Division and how it is viewed nationwide.
Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Petya Stefanoff, who is pursuing her doctorate in the Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) program, has been appointed the new role of Director of Community Development for the City of Shawnee, Oklahoma. She joined the city in 2024.
Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design and director of the Institute for Quality Communities, has received national recognition for her book Model Schools in the Model City. The book has been named a finalist for the 2026 the PROSE Awards.
Gibbs College of Architecture Regional + City Planning Professor of Practice Vanessa Morrison and Associate Professor of Architecture Deborah Richards’ Open Design Collective received top honors at the inaugural BlackSpace Urbanist Collective Studio KIN Pitch Night Competition, held last month in Brooklyn, New York City.
