Two teams of five students from the Gibbs College of Architecture competed in the ULI Hines Student Urban Design and Development Competition this past January. Two of the students from GCA to participate included Sara Overturff, who is working on her Master’s in Construction Management, and Kimberly Huff, a 5th-year Architecture student.
The competition brings together groups of upper-level students from at least three different disciplines to challenge themselves in an exercise in responsible land use. Each team has two weeks to come up with a development plan for a real, large-scale North American city. With their final product, teams are required to supply graphic boards and narratives of their proposed plans, including designs and market-feasible financial information.
Diagram from Kimberly Huff’s group’s project.
“Competing in the ULI Student Competition illustrated for me the intersection of urban design, architecture, and construction,” said Overturff. “Being a part of an interdisciplinary team within the College of Architecture was an amazing experience to not only interact with students from different degree programs but also combine our areas of expertise to create a space that enhances the overall Miami community. Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to have a better understanding of my peers and how they work.”
Although the competition is completely idea-based, the winning team receives $50,000 and the finalist teams each receive $10,000. For the competition, Overturff created the pro forma financial statement, and the design and financial narratives for her team. Huff helped create her team’s graphic logo, and diagram and renderings of their project, which was called “Wynwood Portrait District.”
Logo from Kimberly Huff’s group’s project.
“The ULI Hines competition was a steep learning curve,” said Huff. “The time constraint required extreme efficiency of design practice. Each of us constantly had to question our ideas, representation, and then streamline our solution to be as clear as possible. It was a way of design completely different from anything we had done before, and I think we all thrived in the process.”
The ULI Hines Student Competition is part of the Urban Land Institute’s effort to raise interest among younger generations in creating better communities. Learn more about the compeition.
Feature image credit: Kimberly Huff, rendering of “Wynwood Portrait District” project
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 American Institute of Architects (AIA) has elevated Gary Armbruster, FAIA, ALEP to its prestigious College of Fellows—AIA’s highest membership honor—for his exceptional work and sustained contributions to architecture and society. Fellowship recognizes architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant impact at a national level. Members elevated to this distinction carry the FAIA designation after their name.
Students from the Spring 2026 Graduate 4 Architecture Design Studio, led by Professor Amy Leveno, exhibited their work at the School of Visual Arts. The exhibition, titled Reimagining the OU School of Visual Arts, featured drawings, models, and animations developed throughout the semester's studio project. The show was hosted in The Spotlight, a creative gallery space located on the first floor of the Fred Jones Art Center, and ran from January 20–30, 2026.
