Gibbs Construction Science and Architecture students recently represented The University of Oklahoma at the Associated Schools of Construction Region 5/TEXO student competition in Dallas-Fort Worth, and secured first place in the Design-Build, International Design-Build, and Open Commercial categories. Each year, university students in construction programs travel to DFW to showcase their skills and connect with TEXO member companies about career opportunities. This year OU sent a record number of students (56) and also had a record amount of success, with three teams winning 1st place, two earning 2nd place, and two earning 3rd place. Seven students earned best presenter awards, and students won 1st and 2nd place in the impromptu speaking competition.
Construction Science students Brody Adams, Kade Berryman, Ella Bevins, Jared Schenk, and Architecture students Breanna Walls and Piper Smith were coached by Dr. Tammy McCuen and Alan Moring represented OU in the Design-Build category , which they won. For the competition, the team had sixteen hours to create a proposal for the construction of new athletic facilities on the campus of a private academy, their proposal was evaluated based on: presentation of design, preconstruction, and construction services. The presentation required each team to demonstrate knowledge and skills in the design-build process including design process, design management, design phase cost analysis, value management, scheduling, and construction planning.
Design-build winners with Tammy McCuen.
Construction Students Brooke Harkins, Tanner Harris, and Architecture student Jasmine Salinas, along with students from Czech Technical University, coached by Johnny Gaffney represented OU in the International Design-Build category, which they won. The Design-Build process is an interdisciplinary team effort for innovative problem solving. It is intended for designers and constructors to collaborate from the onset to prepare a strategic response to a Design-Build solicitation.
International design-build winners.
Construction Students Jonah Deitte, Faith Hanlon, Emilie Hart, Brooke Hatcher, Kaitlan Pollock, Jack Roehm were coached by Matt Reyes in the Open Commercial Construction category, which they won. The problem chosen for the competition required each team demonstrate skills in: proposal writing, compliance with proposal requests, scheduling, problem solving, construction logistics, quality assurance, cost estimating, and risk management.
Open Commercial Construction winners with Matt Reyes.
These competitions, held annually in February, were one of the most successful competitions the Gibbs College of Architecture has ever participated in. They are a measure of the strength of the Lemon Construction Science Division and how it is viewed nationwide.
Associate Professors Lee Fithian, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Pober have published a chapter in the recently released New Perspectives in Indoor Air Quality, published by Elsevier. Their contribution, titled “Chapter 16 – Architecture and the Challenges of Indoor Air Quality,” examines the relationship between architecture and indoor air quality.
Dr. Ladan Mozaffarian, Assistant Professor of Regional and City Planning, has been selected to serve as Co-Chair of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Planners of Color Interest Group (POCIG) for the 2025–2027 term.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Tahsin Tabassum, a recent graduate of the college’s Master of Regional and City Planning program and current doctoral student at the University of California, Irvine, for receiving the prestigious 2024–2025 American Planning Association (APA) Outstanding Student Award.
