Left to right: Ty Brown-Field, Seaira Hull, Terry C. Chishimba and Eryne DeGeorge
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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.
Seaira Hull, Accelerated M. Arch Student, Class of 2028
Category: Community Engagement
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Amber Wiley, Director, OU Institute for Quality Communities
The Oklahoma Cowboys Campus project develops a community-driven design framework for a future cultural and educational campus in Oklahoma County. The initiative will host three public workshops to gather input on the campus’s identity, spatial needs, and long-term vision.
The Oklahoma Cowboys Charitable Foundation is working to establish a permanent campus to preserve and advance the legacy of Black cowboys and cowgirls in Oklahoma through education and cultural programming. This project supports the foundation’s early planning phase by centering community input on program priorities, storytelling, and land stewardship.
Seaira Hull
Terry C. Chishimba, Eryne DeGeorge, and Ty Brown-Field, Accelerated M. Arch Students, Class of 2027
Category: Exhibition & Events
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Francesco Cianfarani, Associate Director of Curriculum and Assessment
This project examines the feasibility of reintroducing Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing as an affordable housing model in Oklahoma City. The research investigates structural, financial, and policy barriers to SRO development while identifying opportunities for contemporary application.
Using a design-by-research approach, the team will develop a flexible framework based on housing stock, development costs, funding models, and zoning conditions. Outcomes will be shared through a Gould Hall lecture and may be presented at conferences or published in professional venues.
Left to right: Ty Brown-Field, Terry C. Chishimba and Eryne DeGeorge
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards is a grant initiative supporting student-led design and research projects that address critical issues in the built environment. Projects can be developed at Gibbs College, across the University of Oklahoma campus, and throughout the state.
The program encourages interdisciplinary exploration of topics such as environmental justice, health disparities, housing, transportation, food systems, education, and public space. Approaches may include design, analysis, mapping, construction, collaboration, and other forms of creative inquiry.
Award funding for GDAA projects typically ranges from $1,500 to $8,000, depending on project scope and merit, with multiple grants awarded annually. The program is supported by the Gibbs College of Architecture and the OU Institute for Community and Society Transformation.
On April 24, 2026, the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture hosted its annual Graduate Student Showcase, a celebration of research, design innovation, and creative exploration across all graduate programs within the College.
The Gibbs College of Architecture celebrates fifth-year architecture student Haley Praytor, who has been recognized at the national level for her design work. In early March, Haley received a Graduate Division Award of Merit for her submission to the 2025 Metal Building Manufacturers Association student design competition.
Ronald Frantz Jr., emeritus professor, has been named a 2026 Mary Means Leadership Award recipient, the highest honor presented by Main Street America. The award was announced at the Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, recognizing leaders who advance preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.
