In 2018, Urban Design students worked with Tulsa residents and community leaders to create a new vision for Tulsa’s B.S. Roberts Park. Their vision is now becoming a reality.
Greenwood Main Street Executive Director Bill White is joined by city and state officials for the dedication and ribbon cutting for the AARP Fitlot in the park. AARP Associate Director for Oklahoma Joy McGill explained that the organization is sponsoring one Fitlot in each state to promote healthy lifestyles. The Fitlot contains exercise equipment aimed towards adults; there will also be classes hosted at the B.S. Roberts Park Fitlot. It is situated next to the Osage Trail and a new This Machine bike share station.
The Urban Design students enrolled in Urban Design Studio (ARCH 6680) worked with instructor Shawn Schaefer to establish a network of community stakeholders in order to design a vision for the future of B.S. Roberts Park.
Bill White, founder of the Greenwood Experience, the Greenwood Farmers and Artisans Market and president of the neighborhood association for the nearby Dunbar neighborhood, approached the Urban Design Studio for help in transforming the park with two main goals in mind: (1) transform the park’s round basketball court into a world class streetball destination and (2) create an economic engine in the park called “Little Black Wall Street,” an ode to the history of the Greenwood area.
The students met with a stakeholder committee monthly during the project in order to continually receive feedback and ensure they were keeping the community’s interests in mind. Students also set up a booth at the local Farmers Market at the Greenwood Cultural Center on three separate mornings. During these markets, students invited residents to add feedback and ideas to two boards titled, “I wish this space had…” and “I love this space because…”.
From these boards, the stakeholder committee meetings, and a Community Design Workshop held in the lobby of Langston University, the Studio was able to identify the main desires of the community: a new, unique play area, an event space, adult athletic facilities, and a space for calm relaxation.
The student team developed a three-phase plan for the development of the park that aligned with the community’s wants and needs. The addition of the Fitlot is a significant step towards completing these plans for development. There is also currently a team working on the transformation of the park’s basketball courts.
Congratulations to the 2018 Urban Design Studio students, Shawn Schaefer, and Greenwood community leaders as their plans for B.S. Roberts park are realized!
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 Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture congratulates Dr. Tammy McCuen, Robert E. Busch Professor of Construction Science, on beginning her term as president of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC), an international organization dedicated to advancing construction education through teaching, research and service.
Following years of contributions to the College’s research and strategic initiatives, Gibbs College shares that Associate Dean for Research and External Engagement Angela M. Person, PhD, will step down from her position at Gibbs College as she moves to Tucson with her family, effective June 30, 2026.
