OU Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Jack DeBartolo III, FAIA, principal and design leader of DeBartolo Architects, has been appointed as the Goff Chair of Creative Architecture for 2025. As Goff Chair, DeBartolo is invited to give a public lecture in the upcoming semester, open to all Gibbs students, faculty, and staff.
In his upcoming lecture, DeBartolo will share insights into his design approach and philosophy. The lecture will take place on April 14, from 4:00pm to 5:30pm, in Nielsen Hall, Room 170. It will be an opportunity for students, faculty, and practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of how thoughtful design can shape meaningful architectural solutions.
Jack DeBartolo III is renowned for his dedication to bringing significance and order to daily human experiences through innovation in materials, creative shaping of space, and the powerful use of light. He received his initial training in architecture at the University of Arizona in 1992, followed by graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. In 1996, DeBartolo joined his father to form DeBartolo Architects, a studio committed to architectural excellence and creating relevant, functionally-tuned environments for people.
DeBartolo is passionate about humanitarian architecture and education. As a Faculty Associate at The Design School at Arizona State University since 2006, he has led graduate students to design a new orphanage and school in Ethiopia. He continues to train future architects by teaching a professional practice course at ASU.
Under his leadership, the studio has developed a diverse portfolio, including residential projects, coffee and bicycle shops, higher education facilities, major church campuses, solar shade pavilions, and automotive museums. The firm was named the 2012 AIA Arizona Firm of the Year, reflecting its commitment to crafting architecture that is specific to place, responsive to function, and sensitive to culture.
Skoop project by DeBartolo Architects. Image courtesy of DeBartolo Architects.
DeBartolo’s design philosophy is rooted in simplicity, functionality, and clarity, aiming to create spaces that respond to the needs of clients in a way that moves the soul. He views architecture as a sacred endeavor and a profound responsibility, seeking to design spaces of enduring value for both clients and the communities they inhabit.
Featured Image: Photograph of Jack DeBartolo, courtesy of DeBartolo Architects.
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.
