Ed Sharrer, a GCA Urban Design graduate program alumnus, was recently named the manager of Tulsa’s Destination Districts program. After six years as the director of the Kendall Whittier Main Street program, Sharrer’s success led to a phone call from Tulsa’s mayor, G.T. Bynum, asking Sharrer to take on this new role.
In addition to stimulating economic growth in neighborhoods, the program, implemented by the Tulsa Planning Office, will “provide districts with the technical assistance, guidance, and occasional financial support to help them implement the vision they have for themselves.”
“The goal is to draw people into a diverse range of parts of the city and really help unite our city in a better way moving forward as a community,” Bynum said.
Read the full article at Tulsa World.
Photo credit: Matt Barnard/Tulsa World.
The Gibbs College of Architecture celebrates fifth-year architecture student Haley Praytor, who has been recognized at the national level for her design work. In early March, Haley received a Graduate Division Award of Merit for her submission to the 2025 Metal Building Manufacturers Association student design competition.
Ronald Frantz Jr., emeritus professor, has been named a 2026 Mary Means Leadership Award recipient, the highest honor presented by Main Street America. The award was announced at the Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, recognizing leaders who advance preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.
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.
