his summer, third-year Ph.D. student Felipe Flores served as an architectural associate at DLZ Corporation. DLZ is one of the leading consulting firms within the realms of architecture, engineering and surveying. It currently occupies the 139th spot on Engineering-News Record’s esteemed list of the Top 500 Design Firms in the United States. Additionally, it stands as the 11th largest firm in the Midwest, boasting a workforce of over 800 individuals spread across 29 offices.
As an intern, Flores was an integral part of the design team at the St. Joseph office in Michigan. He contributed his expertise to several noteworthy projects, including the renovation of the USPS Chicago Bulk Mail Center in Forest Park, IL, the modification of an existing master plan for the Livonia City Department of Public Works in Livonia, MI, and the conceptual design of the Ingham County Potter Park Zoo’s new animal hospital in Lansing, MI.
The design proposal for the Cultivating Kentucky community garden.
He also played a pivotal role in the conceptual design phases of the Delhi Township Fire Station in Cincinnati, OH, and the Michigan State Police Training Academy’s Drive Track Building Replacement. Among these remarkable projects, Flores holds a special reverence for Cultivating Kentucky, primarily due to its altruistic mission to serve the Morganfield, KY, community. Cultivating Kentucky is a non-profit organization that works to combat social isolation in rural areas of the state.
Cultivating Kentucky project goals.
Its mission centers on nurturing community-based learning and programming with a strong emphasis on nutrition, wellness, art, recreation and mental health. Flores and the DLZ team were thrilled to be an integral part of this significant project. As the representative designer, Flores played a pivotal role in developing a conceptual design for a new community space intended for hosting community programs and retreats.
A perspective view rendering of the Cultivating Kentucky design.
According to Flores, the clients were deeply impressed by the team’s design proposal and underlying project rationale. Jason Vetne, the division manager at DLZ, expressed his enthusiasm by stating, “It’s not often that a client uses the word ‘profound’ in response to a presentation.”
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.
