The 2018 AIA Central States’ Student Design Competition recently challenged students to design an urban neighborhood which could reinvent the “art of city life” in downtown Tulsa’s Pearl District. The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture team placed second with their proposal entitled “Collective.” Their project introduces apartments, office spaces, retail shopping and an art gallery to the area. Collective also strongly addresses the existing buildings located on the site and the site’s need for water management. The GCA team included Evan Sack, Kyle Berger, Tanaka Kawondera and Ben DeCuyper with faculty sponsor Francesco Cianfarani. Other participating universities included Oklahoma State University, Washington University, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, University of Nebraska, Drury University and Iowa State.
Featured Image: The GCA team’s rendering of “Collective” for the 2018 AIA Central States Student Design Competition
For more information about the competition, visit the AIA Central States Emerging Professionals website.
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.
