We would like to congratulate Ahmad Abu Sharea for his recent patent disclosure! Ahmad is a 2021 Construction Science alumnus whose patent application is currently under review. The design is a new shape of steel section that will be embedded in concrete to form a concrete-steel composite column. The steel section is a lighter weight than the conventional steel I section that is generally used in the United States. According to Ahmad’s theoretical analysis, his proposed steel section has a similar or higher compressive strength compared to the steel I section.
“I’m excited to see where my patent will lead the research community and whether it’ll be sustainable and economical for designers and contractors in the construction industry,” said Ahmad Abu Sharea.
Currently, Ahmad is preparing for his PE exam to become a licensed engineer and is looking for PhD opportunities to continue his research. He hopes to conduct experiments in his PhD studies to find out if his theoretical results align with his experimental results.
Featured Image: Ahmad Abu Sharea (center) with his colleagues.
A project designed by Gibbs College of Architecture faculty member Austin Lightle has been selected for BuildFest 2026, a national art and architecture festival held at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in New York, on the historic grounds of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival.
Two Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture alumni are helping shape recommendations that could influence affordable housing design and construction across Oklahoma.
The University of Oklahoma Libraries recently welcomed Carl Siegel as an Architecture Librarian and Archivist and Assistant Professor. In his role, Siegel supports students, faculty and staff across the Gibbs College of Architecture while also serving as archivist for the American School of Architecture Archives.