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During the Spring 2026 semester, students in Interior Design Studio IV and Graduate Studio IV gained hands-on experience in educational facility design through a semester-long partnership with MA+ Architecture.
Led by faculty members Mia Kile and Andrea Edwards, along with graduate teaching assistant Thinh (Henry) Duong, the studios focused on the design of elementary education environments. Throughout the semester, MA+ Architecture supported the studios through expert guest lectures, project site tours, and project progress critiques that connected students directly with current professional practice.
The partnership is led on the MA+ side by Gary Armbruster, FAIA, ALEP, and Katelyn Bell, LID, NCIDQ. Their engagement helped students explore the complex design decisions that shape learning environments for young children, including safety, well-being, functionality, material choices, budgets, and timelines.
For Kile, the partnership offers students an important opportunity to connect studio learning with the realities of professional design practice. “We are fortunate to have this partnership with MA+. The collaboration gives interior design students a powerful real-world learning experience. Working alongside seasoned professionals helps students understand how design decisions balance form, function, materials, budgets, and timelines. It also builds essential teamwork and problem-solving skills. These partnerships deepen students’ understanding of the full design process, leading to more innovative, thoughtful, and refined solutions—a win–win for learning and future practice!”
As part of the collaboration, Armbruster and Bell visited Interior Design Studio IV to deliver a presentation on trauma-informed design and school safety in elementary education settings. Their presentation introduced students to design strategies that foster emotional well-being, strengthen perceptions of safety, and create supportive spaces where young learners can thrive.
Additional lectures were delivered by Andrea Durbin, Director of Interior Design at MA+, focusing on the return on investment of good design. Katie Byers, an elementary school teacher and interior designer, also recorded a flipped classroom video for the students, offering a unique perspective on how classroom layout and design choices directly impact learning from an educator’s perspective. Students applied these principles throughout the semester as they developed studio projects that respond to the needs of elementary school communities.
Designers from MA+, Katelyn Bell, Andrea Durbin, Blaire Folkes, Piper Pittman, Sara Ketabi, Allison Winn, and Candice Leinneweber, along with Melissa Park from Devon Energy, provided valuable feedback during both the schematic design and design development presentations.
Students also toured an active construction site at Capitol Hill High School, guided by Folkes, Leinewebber, Ketabi, and Bell, along with members from Flintco Construction. This immersive field experience helped them expand their knowledge of construction detailing and further develop their final construction documentation.
The final lecture, presented by Interior Designers Piper Pittman and Kalie Sheppard, introduced the Sunset Hill project, the same project on which the students had been working. This experience allowed students to see how a professional design firm addressed similar design challenges and provided an opportunity to ask questions about the strategies and decisions involved in resolving complex design issues.
The collaboration reflects Gibbs College’s commitment to connecting students with practitioners and preparing future designers to address urgent real-world challenges through thoughtful, evidence-informed design.
MA+ Team Members
Gary Armbruster FAIA, ALEP - Principal Architect + Partner
Katelyn Bell, LID, NCIDQ, IIDA, WELL AP, Fitwell Amb. - Licensed Interior Designer
Andrea Durbin, LID, NCIDQ, IIDA, ALEP - Director of Interior Design
Candice Leinneweber, AIA, NCARB, NCIDQ, WELL AP - Director of Design
Blaire Folkes, LID, NCIDQ, IIDA - Licensed Interior Designer
Sara Ketabi, LID, NCIDQ, IIDA, WELL AP - Licensed Interior Designer
Piper Pittman, LID, NCIDQ - Licensed Interior Designer
Allison Winn - Interior Designer
Katie Byers, LID, NCIDQ
Devon Energy
Melissa Park, LID, NCIDQ, IIDA, WELL AP
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The University of Oklahoma Libraries recently welcomed Carl Siegel as an Architecture Librarian and Archivist and Assistant Professor. In his role, Siegel supports students, faculty and staff across the Gibbs College of Architecture while also serving as archivist for the American School of Architecture Archives.
