The Gibbs College of Architecture recently welcomed Stephen Evans, Director of Education & Public Programming at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, as part of the Construction Industry Speaker Series, Fall 2026, organized by the Haskell & Irene Lemon Construction Science Division. His presentation focused on Better Conversations, a Memorial program that helps people discuss sensitive or controversial topics in a civil, respectful way.
Better Conversations is both a program and a framework. It is inspired by the consensus-building process of the 350-person task force that wrote the Memorial Mission Statement, which created the Memorial and Museum and still guides them. Stephen also highlighted the Oklahoma Standard of service, honor, and kindness.
Participants reflected on prompts tied directly to their future professions: how site leaders can build trust across language and cultural divides on diverse crews, where to draw the line between job site banter and behavior that alienates team members, and how to challenge assumptions about who belongs on the tools, in the trailer, or on a job site at all. The discussion underscored that the built environment is shaped not only by drawings and materials but by the relationships among those who design and build it.
The series continues with Jonathan Haywood, Vice President of Relationship Development at Andres Construction, on the importance of relationships in the AEC industry. We thank Stephen and the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum for sharing this work with our community and look forward to Jonathan’s presentation.
Construction Industry Speaker Series welcomed Stephen Evans from the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum to give a lecture on better conversations and relationship building.
The University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame recognizes a select number of high-character individuals who have made a significant and lasting positive impact on Gibbs College, 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. Joseph Edgar Smay is part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class.
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture congratulates three architecture students who were recognized in the 2026 AIA Dallas Student Design Awards.
