The City of Broken Arrow City Council recently adopted the Aspen Landing Waterfront Vision, an ambitious exploration of riverfront development conceptualized by OU Urban Design students. The vision is based on a study by students that identified potential to improve and expand over 230 acres of park land along the riverfront in southern Broken Arrow, known as Aspen Landing. Each year, the Urban Design Studio selects a service-learning project that allows students to gain real-world experience.
Led by Shawn Schaefer, Director of the Urban Design Studio, students collaborated with Broken Arrow Special Projects Planner Farhad Daroga and a group of community stakeholders. They conducted a variety of research and community engagement efforts as well as a study to discover the development potential of property in the south Broken Arrow region. This study provided a framework for their vision, which will guide the development of property along 1.5 miles of the Arkansas River waterfront.
The goal of the project is to attract new visitors and retain existing ones who attend athletic events in the city. The student’s suggestions included a 2,500-foot multi-use pier, a large outdoor amphitheater and the expansion of youth sports programs. They also recommended a variety of attractions such as a boardwalk, a kayak launch, a nature center and a Ferris wheel. The students presented their findings to the council on June 22, and the vision was unanimously approved on August 15.
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.
