OU Interior Design student Riham Hamed was recently selected for the 2023 Metropolis Future100 program. Created by Metropolis Magazine, this program recognizes the top 100 architecture and interior design students in the United States and connects them with leading design firms. A team of experts led by the Metropolis editor-in-chief selected the finalists for their innovative, thoughtful, and inclusive designs.
According to Hamed, “This award means everything. This type of recognition helps me advance and know that hard work is always recognized. It feels great to be acknowledged by such a prestigious magazine and it gives me the motivation to keep improving myself and achieving more goals.”
Hamed's design of a boutique hotel in Australia for her Master’s Program at Gibbs College.
Hamed is an incredibly talented architect and interior designer, originally from Cairo, Egypt. She first discovered her passion for design as a young child, as she was always sketching, creating, and painting. Her appreciation for the arts eventually transitioned into her love for architecture and the design elements of buildings.
Hamed decided to pursue this childhood passion at Helwan University in Egypt, where she got her bachelor’s degree in architecture. Post graduation, she went on to work in the architecture industry for 4 ½ years. She eventually made her way to OU through the Fulbright Program, which provides scholarships to students and young professionals to pursue graduate studies, research, and teaching opportunities across the globe.
Hamed's design of a boutique hotel pool.
Hamed is currently in her second year of the Master of Interior Design program. During her time at Gibbs College, she has worked on a variety of different projects that have expanded her understanding of the interior design industry. Her favorite project was one she completed during the fall 2023 semester, where she designed a boutique hotel located in Cairns, Australia. Hamed was challenged to immerse herself in entirely new culture to ensure that her project represented the nature and culture of the indigenous people of Cairns.
The dining area in Hamed's boutique hotel design.
Hamed is finishing up her last semester at OU, and has been working diligently to complete her final design thesis. The project is a research paper, focused on the role of the built environment in fostering the safety of autistic children in public education settings. After graduation, Hamed wants to utilize her classroom knowledge and experiences to make the design world a more inclusive space. Specifically, she wants to create spaces that promote the health and wellbeing of those with disabilities.
A collaboration center in Hamed's boutique hotel design.
While reflecting on her time at Gibbs College, Hamed explained how her approach to the design process has been significantly impacted. According to Hamed, “I used to think it was about picking materials and making everything work in terms of aesthetics, but I learned that design is supposed to feel good, support human health, and make people more productive.”
Part of the lobby in Hamed's boutique hotel design.
Hamed is incredibly grateful for her time at OU and all the wonderful people that have supported her along the way, including her family, professors, and her master’s thesis committee, Professors Mia Kile, Dawn Loraas, and Emily Kuntz, as well as her supporting husband, Mo.
Congratulations to Riham Hamed for this well-deserved recognition!
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.
Gibbs Construction Science and Architecture students recently traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 8 Student Competition. The team partnered with Czech Technical University and secured third place in the Design-Build category.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2026 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
