Fifth year Architecture students recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to present their project redesigning the Oklahoma City jail to the State Department Diplomacy Lab.
The special topics studio is led by Prof. Marjorie Callahan and Dr. Keith Gaddie. The seventeen students have spent the semester developing a new design for the Oklahoma City jail. This design is based around the idea of rethinking incarceration, focusing less on punishment and more on rehabilitation.
In the American Institute for Architects (AIA) Headquarters, the students presented their ideas to the State Department. Their project was broken up into five main components in order to present their design: Master Plan, Cottage Design, Exterior Spaces, Gathering, and Jail Tech.
The students also spent their time in DC examining the different aspects of architecture found in the city. They visited several important sites such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The students were also able to meet with the DC Sooner Club, an alumni group in the area. This trip not only gave the students the opportunity to share their work; it also gave them the opportunity to learn more about the architecture of DC and network with past graduates.
The presentations to the State Department were just the first step in sharing their designs. The team will also have an exhibition at the MAINSITE Contemporary Art Gallery in Norman. You can view their exhibition in person at MAINSITE December 2nd – 6th from 10am-4pm!
Students will also be creating digital models for the ARCHITECT magazine’s Studio Prize competition.
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.
