Dr. Lee Fithian, Associate Professor of Architecture and Director of the OU Online MS in Sustainable Architecture at the University of Oklahoma’s Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, recently contributed to the new book Teaching Carbon Neutral Design in North America: Twenty Award-Winning Architectural Design Studio Methodologies, edited by Robin Puttock and published by Routledge. Fithian’s chapter, titled “Introduction to Conceptual Design Performance Analysis for Carbon Neutrality,” explores strategies for integrating carbon-neutral principles into the early stages of architectural design.
Fithian’s research and teaching efforts focus on the application of biological and ecological models to architectural design. Each of her studios carries a strong focus on the technical development and integration of analytical visualizations to develop “green” architecture.
With over 17 years of commercial and governmental practice experience, Fithian previously served as the Director of Sustainable Design at Benham Companies. She has also played a pivotal role in founding the Oklahoma Sustainability Network and the State Chapter of US Green Building Council. Currently, she serves on the National AIA Building Performance Advisory Committee, further advancing her commitment to sustainable design.
With this achievement, Fithian joins a distinguished group of educators and practitioners who are shaping the future of architectural education and practice. Her chapter serves as a valuable resource for both students and professionals striving to create a built environment that is both innovative and ecologically responsible.
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
