Fifth year architecture student, Benjamin Jawad, won an AIA Dallas Student Design award for his project 8209 Park Lane. The project was developed in the Design 7 course under the direction of Amy Leveno.
The competition allowed entries from current architecture students from Texas and Oklahoma, both from the undergraduate and graduate level. The competition sought entries that were, “responsive to beauty, poetry, context and previous condition, inspiration, process, environmental and social impact, economy and consumption.”
“Ben’s award submission was creative, thoughtful, well conceived, and beautifully represented,” said Leveno. “His win is a huge accomplishment.”
Jawad’s submission, 8209 Park Ln., was a community housing project based in Victory Meadow, Texas. His submission was the only entry out of Oklahoma to receive an award.
”The project was the result of months of research, iterations, and many late nights in the studio. The project type, location, and brief all presented interesting new challenges that I hadn’t dealt with before, and each decision required balancing practicality and sustainability while addressing the needs of a marginalized community,” said Jawad. “I’m honored to have the project acknowledged by professionals and industry leaders, and it means a lot to know that my ideas resonated with others beyond the studio. The experience as a whole has inspired me to keep designing and creating work that makes a positive impact on the communities it serves.”
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.
