Associate Professor of Architecture Daniel Butko’s acoustic consulting work on the CO-OP Ramen House project, with award-winning firm Marlon Blackwell Architects, was recently recognized with an AIA Interior Architecture Award.
The 2021 Interior Architecture program “celebrates the most innovative and spectacular interior spaces. Impactful building interiors make their mark on the cities, places and spaces where we live and work.”
The original submission for CO-OP Ramen describes the interior:
"Beaded steel curtains obscure views into the restaurant, shrouding the complete experience until diners enter the space. The curtains also reduce and soften the light entering the restaurant, furthering the calming aura and encouraging hushed tones among those dining within. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a wooden ceiling, crafted from construction-quality plywood, that runs throughout the restaurant. The ceiling, which boasts careful joinery and detailing, is illuminated by concealed fixtures. Light travels through the depth of the plywood in the deeply coffered ceiling, forcing an interplay of light and shadow in its recesses.
The wood's warmth contrasts with the restaurant's concrete block walls, a reference to its handmade character and the market's industrial history. Its warm yellow finish resonates with the custom-made white oak furniture. While different, it is clear that they were both crafted by the same hands. A 12-foot living green wall helps soften the carefully laid block walls, and guests are provided views of the chefs at work in the open kitchen. A variety of seating, from booths to communal dining tables to bar seating, is provided."
Congratulations, Prof. Butko!
Featured image by Timothy Hursley.
Gibbs College faculty Ken Marold[PA1.1] and Bryan Bloom were recognized at the 2026 ACSA Architectural Education Awards during the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) 114th Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, held March 26–28, 2026.
Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Dr. Suchismita (Suchi) Bhattacharjee, Associate Dean of Academics and College Administration and Associate Professor of Interior Design, has received the campus-wide Graduate Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Graduate Students.
Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to announce that Dr. Wanda Katja Liebermann, associate professor of Architecture, has been awarded the University of Oklahoma Vice President for Research and Partnerships Award for Excellence in Research, Design, and Creative Expression in the Humanities and Fine Arts for her scholarly monograph, Architecture’s Disability Problem.
