The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of the 2025 Graduate Student Research Enhancement (GSRE) Award, a new program designed to support graduate-led research with strong potential to advance scholarship across the design and construction disciplines.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to announce that the University of Oklahoma Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships has awarded $30,052 through the Strategic Equipment Investment Program (SEIP) to support the launch of the Mobile Urban Design Unit (MUDU). This new resource will allow OU teams to bring high-quality tools for research and community engagement directly into towns and neighborhoods across Oklahoma.
On November 19, 2025, Gibbs College of Architecture hosted a panel focused on how artificial intelligence can be integrated into the University of Oklahoma’s (OU) and College’s policies and practices, as well as its teaching and research efforts.
We are pleased to announce that our Ph.D. student, Rafael Hernandez, has been awarded the prestigious American Council for Construction Education’s National Housing Endowment Scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. The National Housing Endowment is a philanthropic branch of the National Association of Home Builders.
Telesis is the student-led journal at the University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture. The Telesis team is considering the theme of “DESIGN_LESS” in its forthcoming issue (Vol. VIII). We invite you to contribute your work–design proposals, essays, stories, poetry, art, or other media–to this exciting publication until November 14, 2025. Contributors may be students, faculty, professionals, or community members from inside and outside the University of Oklahoma.
Gibbs College welcomes new assistant professors Terry Clinefelter in the Haskell & Irene Lemon Construction Science Division and Dr. Wei Liu in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design.
20 students in the Gibbs College of Architecture’s American School Design+Build (ASDB) program, including 13 architecture students, 6 construction science students and 1 environmental design student, are partnering this semester with WildCare Oklahoma, and together they have been named one of five North American finalists for the Land Rover Defender Service Awards. The honor carries the opportunity for a $30,000 grant, with funding supported by Chase and other high-profile sponsors, including Disney. Public voting is now open through October 19, 2025, to determine the winner of the Animal, Wildlife & Marine Welfare Award.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture recently hosted the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) 2025 Faculty Bootcamp. Once a year, construction educators and industry partners join together and shape the future of the industry. Over the span of several days, professionals explore new technologies, exchange best practices, and strengthen their commitment to preparing the next generation of industry leaders.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to announce the appointment of Terry Clinefelter as an Assistant Professor in the Haskell & Irene Lemon Construction Science Division at the University of Oklahoma, beginning in Fall 2025.
Please join us in congratulating the 2025 Gibbs College Faculty & Staff Awards recipients. Recipients were honored by Dean Butzer during the Gibbs College Back to School Meeting and will be recognized during the college awards banquet in October. They were nominated by their colleagues via an open nomination process.
OU Construction Science students from the Haskell & Irene Lemon Division Construction Science have a long tradition of excelling in regional, national, and international competitions. From design-build to commercial and heavy civil projects, they have consistently earned top honors while gaining hands-on experience that mirrors the pace and teamwork of the construction industry.
Telesis, a journal produced by students and faculty in the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, has earned first-place with the 2025 Douglas Haskell Award for Student Journals for its sixth volume, “The Essence.”
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture dean Hans E. Butzer addresses graduates during the Spring 2025 commencement ceremony.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to announce the release of Telesis “Unfold,” the dynamic seventh volume of its award-winning student journal. Fully led, curated, and created by students, this seventh volume embraces the theme of unfolding, encouraging deep reflection, process-driven exploration, and storytelling from the margins.
A team of graduate students from the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture claimed a significant victory April 27, earning top honors in the Multi-Family Housing Division of the international BuildingNEXT competition, held at the U.S. Department of Energy’s laboratory in Golden, Colorado.
On April 18, 2025, 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 event transformed Gould Hall into a vibrant exhibition of ideas where students shared their work with faculty, peers, and the broader community.
An unprecedented coalition of Oklahoma’s academic institutions, Tribal Nations, industry leaders, nonprofits, and government agencies has officially submitted a full proposal to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Engines Program. Titled WxFORGE — Forging New Frontiers in Extreme Weather Resilience and Innovation, the effort aims to position Oklahoma as a national leader in resilient infrastructure technologies, workforce development, and weather-adaptive innovations.
The Tampa International Airport highlighted the story of its Executive Vice President for Planning & Development and Maintenance, Smitha Radhakrishnan. Radhakrishnan earned her Master of Science in Construction Administration at Gibbs College.
Please join the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture in celebrating our four Outstanding Seniors in the Class of 2025, one from each of Gibbs College’s undergraduate programs.
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.
A message from Dr. Amber N. Wiley, director of the OU Institute for Quality Communities.
The University of Oklahoma Graduate College has honored Dr. Somik Ghosh, associate professor of Construction Science, with the “Graddy” award, recognizing his outstanding commitment to supporting graduate students. Each year, these awards celebrate graduate liaisons and VIPs from across campus who go above and beyond to foster student success.
The 2025 Charles W. Graham Travel Study Gala was a record-breaking success, with over $75,000 raised. The proceeds from this event directly benefit students who are eager to travel and gain hands-on learning experiences.
Gibbs Construction Science students recently represented The University of Oklahoma at the Associated Schools of Construction Region 8 Student Competition in Dublin, Ireland, and secured first place in the Construction Management and Quantity Surveying category.
Telesis, the student-led journal at the University of Oklahoma’s Gibbs College of Architecture, proudly announces the release of its sixth volume, “The Essence”. This edition embarks on a profound journey to rediscover what lies at the core of our work as designers and creators, a return to fundamentals in an era often characterized by superficiality and digital distractions.
The 2024 Gibbs College of Architecture Celebration Banquet brought together students, faculty, alumni, and donors to celebrate scholarship awards and induct three distinguished alumni into the Gibbs College Hall of Fame. Held at the Sam Noble Museum, the event recognized the achievements and commitment of the Gibbs College community.
University of Oklahoma senior Mohamed Elgouhari has been named a finalist in the SEC Start Up competition for student-athletes in the Southeastern Conference for his personal fitness app Gametime Rehab.
OU Construction Science assistant professor and principal investigator of the Construction Innovation and Analytics Lab (CInnaLAB), Dr. Kofi Asare, has published two studies that advance the application of data-driven analytics and Digital Twins for predictive maintenance in buildings. His research highlights the potential of predictive maintenance to save 8% to 40% in maintenance costs, reduce operational inefficiencies and optimize energy consumption in buildings.
Doyle Phillips, Associate Professor in the Haskell & Irene Lemon Construction Science Division at the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, has been elevated to the prestigious Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) College of Fellows. This recognition is one of the highest honors CSI can bestow and is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the construction industry and to the Institute.
The University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame recognizes a select number of high-character individuals who have made a significant and lasting positive impact on Gibbs College, its students, staff, faculty, alumni and/or to communities across the globe. The impact may have been, or continues to be, in the form of service and mentorship, sustained professional excellence, and/or advancement and financial support.
On Aug. 28, students from the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture joined school and community leaders to celebrate the opening of an educational greenhouse and outdoor garden space they designed and built for the John Rex Charter School in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt joined in the ribbon-cutting celebration.
University of Oklahoma senior Mohamed Elgouhari has been named a finalist in the SEC Start Up competition for student-athletes in the Southeastern Conference for his personal fitness app Gametime Rehab.
Gibbs College is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Gibbs College Faculty & Staff Awards. These outstanding individuals were honored by dean Hans E. Butzer during the Gibbs College Back to School Meeting on August 14, 2024. Recipients were selected by the Gibbs College Awards Committee following an open nomination process.
Dr. Ben Bigelow, associate professor and director of the Lemon Construction Science Division at Gibbs College, was recently highlighted in a USA Today article informing readers of the factors they should consider when purchasing a home warranty. Dr. Bigelow provided insights for homeowners navigating the warranty process as well general tips for home maintenance.
Matt Reyes, associate professor of Construction Science, was recently recognized at the 60th Annual Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) International Conference. Reyes received the 2024 ASC Regional Outstanding Educator Award, which recognizes the top educator in ASC Region V.
An interdisciplinary team of Gibbs graduate students recently competed in the TEXO Foundation Region 5 Student Competition in Hurst, Texas. The team of six competed in the Design-Build division in the Graduate category and won second place with their design proposal.
An interdisciplinary team of OU students from the Gibbs College of Architecture, Gallogly College of Engineering and Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication was recently selected as a finalist for the 2024 Solar Decathlon Competition. The team is competing in this year’s Design Challenge in the Single-Family Housing Category.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is excited to announce the Spring 2024 Career and Internship Fair! The event will take place on Thursday, February 22, 2024, from 3:30 – 6 p.m. at the Thurman J. White Forum.
Gibbs College’s annual Charles W. Graham Travel Study Gala will be held on February 23, 2024, from 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. at VAST (333 W. Sheridan Ave, 50th Floor, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 – click here for parking information). It will feature a three-course meal with fine wine pairings. Individual tickets are $200. All proceeds support student travel study scholarships and opportunities.
During summer 2023, the fourth annual Grassroots Women’s Peace Conference was convened at St. Monica’s Vocational School in Gulu, Uganda. The conference was organized by OU’s Center for Peace and Development and St. Monica’s as well as 10 other grassroots women’s organizations. The conference also received support from a gift by the Gibbs College of Architecture.
Representatives from Flintco recently visited Gould Hall, bringing along a donation of $10,000 to bolster the Braxton Byrd Memorial Scholarship. Braxton was a 2022 Construction Science graduate who was well known to all of his classmates for his selfless approach. He was a top student in his class and was always willing to give his time to help others. Braxton tragically passed away a few short weeks after graduation. The scholarship harkens to Braxton’s giving heart and will continue to help Construction Science students.
Telesis is the student-led journal at the University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture. Following its last volume, “Adaptive Practice” (Vol. V), the Telesis team is considering the theme of “The Essence” in its forthcoming volume (Vol. VI). We invite you to contribute your work–design proposals, essays, stories, poetry, art or other media–to this exciting publication until Monday, November 27, 2023. Contributors may be students, faculty, professionals, or community members from inside and outside the University of Oklahoma.
A group of OU Construction Science students recently had the opportunity to lay concrete masonry units as part of their Fundamentals Lab class. The Fundamentals Lab is designed to give students hands-on experience with common building materials used in the commercial building industry.
The University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture, in partnership with the OU School of Visual Arts, is pleased to announce that Alison Fisher and Craig Lee will give a public lecture as a part of the 2023 Goff Lecture Series. The lecture will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 4:30 p.m. in Nielsen Hall, room 170.
A group of students from Peru recently spent the week at the Gibbs College of Architecture as part of a collaborative project between the University of Oklahoma and the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. The project, “Inti Wasi Sustainable and Affordable Cold Climate Housing,” received funding from the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund during the spring 2023 semester.
Bruce Wilkinson, OU alumnus and major supporter of Gibbs College, recently received a Regents’ Alumni Award from the OU Board of Regents and OU Alumni Association. This award celebrates the profound way OU alumni and supporters shape the university’s vibrant future.
Nils Gransberg, adjunct instructor of Construction Science, was named as a co-principal investigator on a project for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. Gransberg and his team received an NCHRP Synthesis Project Award and a $55,000 grant for the project “Open-books Pricing Practices for Construction Manager/General Contractor and Progressive Design-Build Projects.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation has selected the University of Oklahoma-led Southern Plains Transportation Center as the 2023-2027 USDOT Region 6 Regional University Transportation Center. Under the umbrella of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, this center brings federal funding of $3 million per year to OU along with $3 million per year in matching funds. Dr. Tammy McCuen, Professor of Construction Science, is part of the OU multidisciplinary research team representing engineering, construction, and geography and environmental sustainability
Telesis, the Gibbs College of Architecture’s award-winning student journal, is releasing its fifth edition in Fall 2023. This edition, “Adaptive Practice,” called for contributions from interdisciplinary problem solvers who reject the status quo and redefine “business as usual” through their work.
Gibbs College is excited to announce that Gould Hall underwent several renovations during summer 2023. These building improvements were made in an effort to meet the growing needs of students, faculty and staff, as student enrollment has increased by over 300 students in the past five years.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is excited to announce the Fall 2023 Career and Internship Fair! The event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, from 3-6 p.m. at the Thurman J. White Forum.
Please join us in congratulating the 2023 Gibbs College Faculty & Staff Awards recipients. Recipients were honored by Dean Butzer during the Gibbs College Back to School Meeting on Thursday, Aug. 17. They were nominated by their colleagues via an open nomination process.
OU Gibbs College is pleased to announce that Thomas Kang is invited to give a public lecture in the upcoming fall semester. Thomas Kang is a professor in the Department of Architecture & Architectural Engineering at Seoul National University (SNU) in Korea. Before that, he was a professor in the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science at OU and has held various affiliated positions at universities around the world.
OU Gibbs College is pleased to announce that David Logan is invited to give a public lecture in the upcoming school year. Logan is currently the Director of Tax & Trade Policy Analysis for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
OU Gibbs College is pleased to announce that Chadwick Allen is invited to give a public lecture in the upcoming fall semester, co-sponsored by OU Departments of English, Film & Media Studies, Geography and Native American Studies. Chadwick Allen serves as the Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement at the University of Washington Seattle (UW), where he is also a Professor of English and Adjunct Professor of American Indian Studies. He has published numerous books and has conducted interdisciplinary work on Indigenous earthworks – a study of cultural and political revitalization through the built environment.
Following an internal search, the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture has appointed Suchismita (Suchi) Bhattacharjee as associate dean for academics and college administration, effective July 1, 2023.
OU Gibbs College is pleased to announce that Jonathan Tate is invited to give a public lecture in the upcoming fall semester. Jonathan Tate is the founder and principal of OJT, an award-winning architecture firm based in New Orleans. OJT was established in 2011 as a creative, expansive, and exploratory practice with a desire to contribute to contemporary discourse.
The Gibbs College of Architecture and OU Libraries invite you to celebrate exhibitions on the American School in California. These exhibitions showcase the works of John Marsh Davis and Mickey Muennig, two architects who studied at OU under Bruce Goff and went on to have distinguished careers in California.
Twelve Gibbs students recently traveled to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona for a travel study course led by Interior Design Professor Mia Kile. Taliesin West was architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and studio in the desert and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark.
OU Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that David J. Lewis, a principal of LTL Architects and dean of Parsons School of Constructed Environments, has been appointed as the Goff Chair of Creative Architecture for fall 2023. For his lecture, Lewis will discuss his work related to the Manual of Biogenic House Sections, which articulates how plant-based and low-carbon materials can produce a profound rethinking of section in houses.
The OU Center for Peace and Development (CPD) is now accepting applications for the fall 2023 Security in Context (SiC) Research Fellows grant. All OU graduate students are eligible to apply, and selected students will receive a scholarship of $2,500 for the upcoming fall semester.
This semester a group of construction science students enrolled in this spring’s Design+Build course has been constructing a greenhouse and outdoor learning space for Crutcho Public Schools in Oklahoma City. Each spring semester, the Design+Build course gives construction science students the opportunity to build a real-world, full-scale project for an underrepresented or under-resourced community.
On April 6, third-year Construction Science, Architecture and Interior Design students travelled to Dallas for an interdisciplinary field trip. The students got to learn from industry professionals and gain hands on experience at a construction job site and architecture office.
OU Construction Science Professor Bryan Bloom received the Provost’s Award for Outstanding Engaged Teaching. This award recognizes faculty that utilize innovative teaching techniques that promote community collaboration and high-quality, engaged learning.
Dr. Tammy McCuen, Professor of Construction Science, received Provost’s Award for Outstanding Service, which recognizes excellence in OU-related outreach and service activities.
GCA Communications intern Kathlyn Dannewald spoke with Zach Punnett, a Construction Science Alum here at Gibbs! We sat down with Zach to learn about his experiences as a builder and company owner in the residential construction industry.
A team of Gibbs students was recently selected as a finalist for the 2023 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition that has inspired thousands of students worldwide to enter the clean energy workforce since its inception in 2002. This competition challenges student teams to create innovative building designs that address real-world issues, including climate change, environmental justice, and affordability.
An integrated Design-Build team of OU students from Construction Science, Architecture, and Interior Design won 1st place at the TEXO Foundation | Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 5 student competition.
A gift to the University of Oklahoma will honor alumnus and esteemed architect Bob Faust by creating multiple new faculty and staff positions dedicated to the American School, an innovative design practice developed at OU in the 1950s and ’60s. Sherry Faust, Bob Faust’s spouse, has made a multi-million-dollar planned gift in his honor to University Libraries and OU’s Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture.
The 2023 Charles W. Graham Travel Study Benefit Dinner was a huge success, with about 200 attendees and over $34,000 raised. The 11th annual event was held Friday, February 11, at Vast restaurant in Oklahoma City. The proceeds from this event directly benefit students who are eager to travel and gain hands on learning experiences.
A collaborative project between the University of Oklahoma and the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano in Peru (UNAP) was recently awarded a grant to investigate affordable and sustainable housing in the Andes. The project, “Inti Wasi Sustainable and Affordable Cold Climate Housing,” received funding from the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund.
PhD student Abhay Chavan and Construction Science faculty Dr. Somik Ghosh were recently awarded funding as a part of the Gibb’s College of Architecture’s Program for Research Enhancement. Each year, this merit-based program grants funds to Gibb’s faculty members in order to increase their research and creative activities.
GCA Communications intern Kathlyn Dannewald spoke with Grace Olaleye, who was recently named deputy manager of risk-based estimating for the Mega Mobility Investment Program at HNTB. She is also an alumna of the Master of Construction Science program at Gibbs College of Architecture. We sat down with Ms. Olaleye to discuss her job as part of the Program Management Consultants for Georgia Department of Transportation, and how she got into construction science.
A team of Gibbs students recently traveled to Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic, for the 2022 Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region-8 Student Competition. The group was paired with three other students from Birmingham City University in the United Kingdom for the international event.
Gibbs College’s annual Charles W. Graham Travel Study Benefit Dinner will be held on February 10, 2023, from 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. at VAST (333 W. Sheridan Ave, 50th Floor, Oklahoma City, OK 73102). It will feature a three-course meal with fine wine pairings.
Construction Science student Piper Petree was selected as Gibbs College’s Outstanding Senior for 2022. Every Fall, the dean of each undergraduate college at OU selects one accomplished student to receive this Award of Merit.
OU Construction Science Associate Professor Matthew Reyes and his Auburn colleague Ben Farrow recently had an article published in the International Journal of Construction Education and Research. This journal publishes original works that address current construction-related issues across the globe.
Construction Science associate professors Matthew Reyes and Somik Ghosh have been awarded a second grant by the Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC) for $39,845.
Dr. Somik Ghosh, Associate Professor in the Haskell and Irene Lemon Division of Construction Science, recently presented his research findings at the Oklahoma Building Summit & Expo in Oklahoma City. The summit was held on September 14th and 15th and was attended by over five hundred attendees and over seventy exhibitors.
Last spring, Construction Science students enrolled in Professor Bryan Bloom’s Design+Build course constructed a greenhouse for local nonprofit Engage Learning’s Makerspace in Oklahoma City. The Design+Build course, offered every spring, gives construction science students the opportunity to build a real-world project to serve a community partner.
Gibbs College invites applications for several faculty and staff positions. Please help us share these opportunities broadly. We are excited to be adding to our amazing team!
Telesis, the Gibbs College of Architecture’s award-winning student journal, is releasing its fourth edition in Fall 2022. This edition, “Habitation,” questions how we may ensure all things, living and non-living, may continue to inhabit our planet. “Habitation” continues the overarching theme explored in “Isolation”: “How can design aid people’s sense of belonging?”
The Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) recently completed a year-long project sponsored by the Association for Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG). ACOG's Community Economic Resiliency Initiative allowed the IQC to launch a new Community Engagement Fellowship, in which four Gibbs faculty members and a dozen Gibbs students provided planning services in the cities of El Reno, Guthrie, and Harrah.
Please join us in congratulating the 2022 Gibbs College Faculty & Staff Awards recipients. Recipients were honored by Dean Butzer during the Gibbs College Back to School Meeting on Thursday, August 18. They were nominated by their colleagues via an open nomination process.
The Design-Build Institute of America’s Southwest Region (DBIA-SW) recently awarded support to Ethan Watson, a Construction Science student, and Dr. Tamera McCuen, Professor of Construction Science. These awards were the first of their kind to be awarded by the DBIA-SW.
Traci VanDalsem, an alumna of Gibbs College’s Haskell and Irene Lemon Division of Construction Science, was recently named Vice President of Client Experience at RedTeam Software.
Five graduates from the Gibbs College of Architecture received Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards this April. This award recognizes the top grade point average for each undergraduate major.
Dr. Tamera McCuen, Professor of Construction Science, was recently elected to the Associated Schools of Construction’s Board of Directors as the 2nd Vice President. The Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) represents over 150 Construction Management programs in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Emad Najmi Sarooghi, a Ph.D. student in the Haskell and Irene Lemon Division of Construction Science, and Dr. Tamera McCuen, a Professor of Construction Science, recently presented their research on smart cities’ strategies for contractors at the 58th Annual International Associated Schools of Construction Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Construction Science associate professors Matthew Reyes (left) and Somik Ghosh (right) have been awarded $29,982 for a one-year project sponsored by the Southern Plains Transportation Center.
