A multidisciplinary team of OU researchers from the Gibbs College of Architecture and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the Gallogly College of Engineering has been selected by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) to create the Oklahoma State Housing Needs Assessment.
The $925,000 grant will fund the development of a searchable, geodatabase and web portal. This portal will be used by policymakers to allocate funds in the most efficient and equitable way possible to promote affordable housing in the communities with the greatest need. It will also be used by housing developers, lenders, and real estate professionals to identify housing locations and develop market analyses for affordable housing projects.
The research and development team will be led by the following skilled professionals: Shawn Michael Schaefer, a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and Director of the Urban Design Studio; Shane Hampton, a member of the AICP and Director of the Institute for Quality Communities; Dr. Francesco Cianfarani, an Assistant Professor of Architecture; and Dr. Joe Havlicek and Dr. Ron Barnes, Co-Directors of the Center for Intelligent Transportation Systems. The team hopes to launch the web portal in early 2024.
For more information contact Shawn Schaefer at: sschaefer@ou.edu.
A team of Construction Science and Architecture students from the Gibbs College of Architecture made their mark on the national stage this week, earning third place out of 37 universities competing at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Competition, held during the International Builders' Show in Orlando, February 16-18, 2026.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has elevated Gary Armbruster, FAIA, ALEP to its prestigious College of Fellows—AIA’s highest membership honor—for his exceptional work and sustained contributions to architecture and society. Fellowship recognizes architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant impact at a national level. Members elevated to this distinction carry the FAIA designation after their name.
Students from the Spring 2026 Graduate 4 Architecture Design Studio, led by Professor Amy Leveno, exhibited their work at the School of Visual Arts. The exhibition, titled Reimagining the OU School of Visual Arts, featured drawings, models, and animations developed throughout the semester's studio project. The show was hosted in The Spotlight, a creative gallery space located on the first floor of the Fred Jones Art Center, and ran from January 20–30, 2026.
