The Acoustical Society of America recently invited Daniel Butko, an Associate Professor of Architecture, to author an article in their publication Acoustics Today. The article, titled “Teaching Architectural Acoustics to Students of Various Disciplines,” summarizes Butko’s approach to teaching architectural acoustics by showcasing field trips, student projects, and funded resources. The article appears both in print and online in the summer edition of Acoustics Today.
Butko writes in the article, “Most people tend to anecdotally quantify sound, and its often-undesirable counterpart noise, based on feelings or preferences. That’s one way to begin; listen and be receptive of how vibrations through air and materials make you feel. Observations, coupled with quantifiable data, influence designers toward supportive acoustic design concepts. Architecture is more than meets the eye, especially when it meets the ear.”
The article also features Butko’s research on Acoustically Diffuse and Absorbent Lightweight Aerated Concrete (ADALAC).
Read the entirety of “Teaching Architectural Acoustics to Students of Various Disciplines,” at the Acoustics Today website or explore below.
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.