Double Your Impact: Support the Legacy of the American School at Gibbs College

The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce a new opportunity to support the continued study and preservation of the American School—a transformative approach to architectural education rooted at the University of Oklahoma (OU) in the 1950s and ’60s. At the heart of the American School architectural movement are three powerful principles: contextual, resourceful, and experimental. These guiding themes have shaped an approach to design that considers local geography, resources, and communities, creating timeless architecture that resonates deeply with its environment.

To advance this legacy, the American School of Architecture Strategic Priorities Fund was established to provide flexible support for programs and initiatives that promote research, scholarship, and public engagement. These include guest lectures, exhibitions, publications, and archival acquisitions that enrich the American School Archive at OU.

Double Your Impact
In support of this effort, Sherry Faust has committed $100,000 in matching funds, meaning every gift of $1,000 or more will be matched dollar for dollar—doubling the value of each contribution. Gifts of $5,000 or more may be pledged over two years.

This matching opportunity builds upon previous investments by the Faust family and represents a continued commitment to honoring the legacy of architect and educator Bob Faust, a student of Bruce Goff and a lifelong advocate for the values of the American School.

Matching funds have already made possible several exciting projects, including:

• Exhibitions such as “Do Not Try to Remember: The American School of Architecture in the Bay Area” at the San Francisco Center for Architecture and Design and “Creating Waves: The Architecture of James H. Fox” on the OU-Norman campus.
• Publications, including a softcover edition and expanded reprint of the now sold-out Outré West: The American School of Architecture from Oklahoma to California book.
• Archival initiatives, including a planned digitization project to make 3–5 high-impact collections from the American School Archives globally accessible online.

Make a Contribution
By contributing now, donors will help ensure that the Archive remains a living resource for students, scholars, and practitioners. The fund directly supports the infrastructure needed to preserve and share the American School’s rich history with future generations.

To make a gift or learn more, visit give.oufoundation.org/AmericanSchool, or contact:

Josh Hall
Senior Director of Development
jshall@ou.edu

Featured image: Prairie House, Herb Greene. Photograph courtesy of Bob Bowlby, American School Archives, University of Oklahoma Libraries.