The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture places a unique emphasis on community engagement through its practice-oriented, teaching-first framework. These efforts define our success in five key areas, which are threaded throughout our students’ work and community connections: Arts & Culture, Development, Education, Health and Social Equity. These themes reflect the ethical and sustainable lenses through which our students apply their knowledge. Their successes are measured through stories that unfold in places as diverse as Muskogee, Oklahoma; Italy; and Uganda.
The Institute for Quality Communities is a community engagement program in the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture. IQC partners with Oklahoma communities to address local challenges, and brings best practices to Oklahomans through the biennial Placemaking Conference.
Gibbs College is also home to the “Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA)” which allows students to propose a student-led project that critically engages topics of community, social and economic concern within the built environment.
Below are some highlights from recent community engagement efforts. Additional examples can be found on the news page. For more information about recent and upcoming projects, contact Angela Person (a@ou.edu).
Gibbs College of Architecture Assistant Professor Dr. Ladan Mozzafarian in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design (PLAD) recently published a new research article in Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives with former RCPL student and co-author Tahsin Tabassum.
Two Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture alumni are helping shape recommendations that could influence affordable housing design and construction across Oklahoma.
During the Spring 2026 semester, students in Interior Design Studio IV and Graduate Studio IV gained hands-on experience in educational facility design through a semester-long partnership with MA+ Architecture.
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
The OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) 2024 collaboration with the Historic Threatt Filling Station has been recognized in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newly released Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity – a story-driven publication exploring how road trip culture and place-based tourism can fuel economic growth in rural communities.
