Ronald Frantz Jr, associate professor of Architecture, was recently recognized at the 2023 AIA Honor Awards Celebration. The AIA Oklahoma Honor Awards Program recognizes exceptional members for their distinguished leadership and commitment to the quality of life in Oklahoma.
The event took place on Sept. 15, 2023, at the First National Center in downtown Oklahoma City. Frantz received the AIA Oklahoma Award for Lifetime Achievement, which recognizes a lifetime of distinguished leadership and dedication in Architecture and the community. This award is AIA Oklahoma’s highest honor.
Frantz has dedicated his career to revitalizing Oklahoma’s historic downtowns and equipping its residents with preservation training and tools. He has worked to protect architectural treasures across the state for the benefit of current and future generations by guiding preservation efforts in the design profession.
Before and after photos of Hotel Love in Purcell, Oklahoma, which was preserved with the help of Frantz.
Some of his most notable projects include the Automobile Alley Revitalization (1995-1999) and the Paseo Historic District (1983-1991). Frantz was previously an architect and assistant director for Oklahoma Main Street Center and is currently a member of Oklahoma City’s Main Street Advisory Board. He is also a pro-bono preservation consultant for the Guthrie National Historic Landmark District and a founding co-organizer of Oklahoma’s Annual Statewide Preservation Conference.
Frantz began working at OU in 2011 as the Director of Small Town Studios for the Institute for Quality Communities. In 2013, he took over as coordinator of the Environmental Design program. He has worked diligently to improve the program’s image and craft a more cohesive academic experience for students. Under his leadership, student enrollment in EnD has increased from four students in 2013 to 80 students in 2023.
Congratulations to Frantz for receiving this award!
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.
