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. Charles Robert Goins is part of the 2024 Hall of Fame class.
Make a donation in honor of Charles Robert Goins
The Robert “Bob” Goins Regional & City Planning Scholarship Fund (#42843) provides financial assistance to students enrolled in the Regional & City Planning program at Gibbs College. Student recipients will receive the Robert “Bob" Goins Regional & City Planning Scholarship.
Charles Robert Goins, born in Norman, Oklahoma, on July 1, 1929, is a distinguished figure in Oklahoma’s architecture and urban planning communities. A native Oklahoman and veteran of the Korean War, Goins earned both his Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Regional and City Planning degrees from the University of Oklahoma. At the University of Oklahoma, he served nearly five decades in the division of Regional and City Planning and contributed as the interim director of the Institute for Quality Communities. His post-retirement endeavors included teaching roles at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, highlighting his commitment to education and mentorship throughout the state.
Throughout his career, Goins made substantial contributions to urban planning and design. He co-authored several influential publications, including Oklahoma Homes: Past and Present (1980) and three editions of the Historical Atlas of Oklahoma (1986, 1995 & 2006), which garnered recognition as the 2007 Oklahoma Book Award for Best Non-Fiction. His expertise in the New Towns movement is evidenced by his research and extensive slide collections documenting urban design across various cities in the United States and Europe.
Historical Atlas of Oklahoma
Earlier in his career, Goins was involved with the Institute for Quality Development, which contributed to city planning projects in towns across Oklahoma. Goins also served as the consultant city planner for Ada, Oklahoma, from 1966 until his retirement, and supported planning in numerous other communities. His consulting work has shaped many community projects, from city planning and historic preservation to innovative design projects like the Legacy Trail and various urban and campus plans. In addition, Goins was the design planner for many important Oklahoma projects, including Norman’s own Legacy Trail, between Acres and Duffy streets, as well as the popular pedestrian and bicycle pathway from State Highway No. 9 to the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.
In addition to his professional achievements, Goins has been actively involved in public service and community development. His contributions include design work for memorials and historical plazas as well as numerous advisory roles on urban planning committees. His accolades, including the University of Oklahoma Regents Award (2001) and the Rotary Foundation’s Paul Harris Fellow designation, reflect his enduring impact on both the academic and practical realms of architecture and urban planning.
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.
