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 annual competition challenges university students to tackle a comprehensive, real-world construction and development scenario. This year's competition selected a location in Alabama, where teams were charged with selecting a lot, identifying a target consumer, and designing a home from the ground up. Beyond the design element, students were also required to develop a full sales and marketing plan, cost estimates, project schedules, a construction management plan, and a detailed financial analysis outlining how they would fund and ultimately profit from the venture.
The team was composed of students from the Construction Science (CNS) and Architecture (ARCH) programs, bringing together a range of skills and perspectives that represent the way real construction and design projects actually come together. The team was coached by CNS Assistant Professor Bryan Bloom.
Team members included Kendall Knighton, Kate Brigmon, Francesca Costanzo, Jared Schenk, and Matthias Wittenberg from CNS; Sasha Alexander, Chloe Bys, Natalia Koo Vinatea, and Carson Holmes from ARCH; and Barbara Garcia from END.
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.
