Drawing on a survey of over 4,000 professional practice organizations, DesignIntelligence (DI) has named two University of Oklahoma design programs in the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, interior design and landscape architecture, among the “Most Hired From” in 2019. Last year, the landscape architecture and architecture programs at Gibbs College were both ranked. DesignIntelligence has also listed Gibbs College dean Hans E. Butzer among the most admired design educators in the country for the second time.
“We appreciate DI’s recognition of programs our size and the survey’s 9,000+ respondents’ affirmation of the strength of our Interior Design and Landscape Architecture programs,” said dean Butzer.
Butzer continued, “Our studios’ student-faculty ratios are ideal and foster exceptional learning environments. Simply put, design professionals cherish our students because they are so well-prepared to make big contributions in offices and in their communities.”
The OU Architecture program moved up two spots on the prestigious “Most Admired Architecture Schools” list, ranking 17th in the nation among public institutions and 37th overall.
The University of Oklahoma Landscape Architecture program ranks seventh nationally in the category of “Most Hired From” among programs with fewer than 20 graduates, ahead of the University of Southern California, Auburn University, Oklahoma State University, and others. This is the second year in a row that the University of Oklahoma Landscape Architecture program has been ranked.
The University of Oklahoma Interior Design program ranks seventh nationally in the category of “Most Hired From,” among programs with fewer than 20 graduates, ahead of the University of Arkansas, California College of the Arts, the Columbus College of Art & Design, and others.
“The DesignIntelligence ranking marks a significant milestone for the Division of Interior Design,” said Elizabeth Pober, director of the Division of Interior Design.
Pober continued, “This recognition highlights the amazing work of both students and faculty currently in the program, as well as the impactful work of our alumni. I am extremely proud of our students, faculty and alumni and honored to be a part of the OU Interior Design family.”
DesignIntelligence’s prestigious list of “Most Admired Architecture Educators” included deans from Harvard, Yale, and Columbia, as well as Gibbs College of Architecture’s own dean Hans E. Butzer. This is the second time Butzer has been listed, the first time being in 2014.
Butzer is known for civic engagement and advocacy, including specializing in the design of key public sites in Oklahoma City in collaboration with his design partner Torrey Butzer. In Butzer’s OKC Studios at OU, he has challenged students to envision a more dense, varied and sustainably developed urban fabric for the city. Today, he teaches an introductory class to all first-year architecture students that focuses on developing a deliberate design practice.
“Having co-taught with Dean Butzer, it is clear why he has been named among the most admired,” said Angela Person, director of research initiatives and strategic planning for Gibbs College. “Butzer shares with all of his students an incredible empathy and contagious enthusiasm for designing great places for people.”
The Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, whose oldest program was established in 1916, supports a future in which all communities are designed for resiliency and empowered to maximize their social, economic and environmental well-being. Gibbs College educates more than 650 students through undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs across seven academic units in Architecture, Construction Science, Environmental Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Regional and City Planning.
The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Carnegie R1 (Doctoral University: Very High Research Activity) institution known for excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement, serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region, and nation from three campuses: Norman, Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and the Schusterman Center in Tulsa. OU enrolls over 30,000 students and has more than 2700 full-time faculty members in 21 colleges.
In 2014, OU became the first public institution ever to rank #1 nationally in the recruitment of National Merit Scholars, with 311 scholars. The 277-acre Research Campus in Norman was named the No.1 research campus in the nation by the Association of Research Parks in 2013. Norman is a culturally rich and vibrant town located just south of Oklahoma City. With outstanding schools, amenities, and a low cost of living, Norman is a perennial contender on the “Best Places to Live” rankings.
DesignIntelligence aims to support the success of organizations in architecture, engineering, construction and design through the Design Futures Council leadership events and network, public and privately commissioned studies conducted by DI Research, and more. Each year, DesignIntelligence surveys design deans and chairs, hiring professionals and students to evaluate programs on their ability to prepare graduates for professional practice.
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.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Camille Germany, Chief of Staff, has been named the 2026 recipient of the university-wide Jennifer L. Wise Good Stewardship Award.
