Associate Professor of Architecture Dr. Lee Fithian was selected to serve as a national Technical Jury Reviewer for the American Institute of Architects COTE Top Ten Awards, the industry’s best-known awards program for sustainable design excellence. This year marked the 27th annual announcement of these awards by the AIA.
In honor of Earth Day, the AIA Committee on the Environment selects ten innovative projects to be recognized for setting the standard in design and sustainability. The winning designs can also receive the COTE Top Ten Plus designation, which highlights a project’s successful actual performance and post-occupancy lessons.
The list of award winners includes a wide variety of projects, from a net zero carbon science and environmental center in California to a living laboratory in Texas. View the full list of award winners and their projects.
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.
