The University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame (GCA HOF) recognizes a select number of high-character individuals who have made a significant and lasting positive impact over time to Gibbs College (GCA), 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. Joe and Jayne Buskuhl are part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class.
Make a donation in honor of Joe and Jayne Buskuhl
The Jayne and Joe Buskuhl Scholarship Fund was established in 1996 to provide assistance to academically promising undergraduates, graduate students, or candidates eligible for admission majoring in Architecture, Construction Science, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Regional and City Planning, Environmental Design, or Urban Design to facilitate recruitment and/or retention and international programs associated with these areas of study.
Joe Buskuhl, FAIA, was born in the small rural town of Blackwell, Oklahoma, and grew up working with his dad, a contractor, building houses. Based on his experience, Joe understood what an architect brought to the design and construction process and chose to study architecture. He attended the University of Oklahoma, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in 1964. Joe married Anita Jayne (Jayne) in 1962 while a student at OU. Upon graduation, the Buskuhls moved to Dallas and started a family.
After spending some time working in Dallas, Joe’s career was interrupted by the Vietnam conflict. He was accepted into Officers Candidate School and spent three years in the military, developing invaluable leadership skills. When he returned home from Vietnam, Joe started working for Harwood K Smith and Partners, now HKS. Joe spent 44 years at HKS, advancing from draftsman to principal-in-charge, and eventually serving as president for 14 years. During his time at HKS, Joe worked on over 25 million square feet of projects on five continents, valued at over $2.5 billion. He was involved in many commercial projects, including high profile buildings like Thanksgiving Tower, also known as Santander Tower, in downtown Dallas and AT&T Stadium, where the Dallas Cowboys play.
Joe and Jayne have supported education through the creation of the endowed Joe and Jayne Buskuhl Scholarship at the University of Oklahoma and through their contributions to the Blackwell Education Foundation. Jayne, who passed away in 2017, was a true partner to Joe throughout his career, and was also an influential leader of many community organizations.
Although he is now retired, Joe continues serving the architecture community through his volunteer service. Joe has served as the president of the Dallas Center for Architecture (DCFA) board of directors, president of AIA Dallas, member on the board of the Texas Architectural Foundation, and Chair of the College of Architecture Board of Visitors. He has been recognized by the University of Oklahoma as a distinguished alumnus and is a recipient of the Regents Award. He was also elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects.
The University of Oklahoma College of Architecture is proud to announce that Model Schools in the Model City, authored by Director of the Institute for Quality Communities, Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., has been named one of ten finalists for the 2026 ASALH Book Prize for Best New Book in African American History and Culture.
This semester, students in the LA 5535 Studio: Ecological Planning and Design, led by Prof. Afsana Sharmin, took on an ambitious hypothetical project to redesign key parts of the OU campus. Their mission: to tackle the critical real-world challenge of stormwater management through innovative green design.
Petya Stefanoff, Chair of the Educational Committee with the American Planning Association, Oklahoma Chapter (APA-OK) and Gibbs College PhD candidate, has developed a new training program for local government officials. The program, focused on land use, zoning principles, and land development, recently certified its first graduates with Certified Citizen Planner status.
