In October, a group of Architecture students represented OU at the 2023 National Organization of Minority Architects Conference in Portland, Oregon. The annual NOMA conference brings together NOMA members, allies and students to engage in thought-provoking seminar sessions, connect with industry experts and celebrate member achievements.
Accompanied by their NOMA faculty advisor Shooka Motamedi, students Trey London, Janvi Patel, Sasha Alexander and Hishaam Ramoy presented their project, JANU, and competed at the Barbara G. Laurie Student Design Competition. For the competition, the students designed a mixed-income residential development in the heart of the historically Black neighborhood Albina.
The Hill Block building in the early 1900's. Photo courtesy of Prosper Portland.
The Albina neighborhood was once a thriving hub of African American culture, politics and social life in Portland. However, a series of gentrification efforts and discriminatory housing policies displaced many of these residents and destroyed their tight-knit community. The lot of the historic Hill Block building, a pillar of this once thriving African American commercial district, still sits vacant almost 50 years after its destruction.
The students were challenged to create a design concept that restored this cultural hub and honored the Black community. Their designs had to include cohesive commercial, retail and community spaces that addressed the housing equity issues in the region and bridged the gap between Albina and the broader city of Portland.
The students began working on their project during summer 2023, alongside Architecture students Roy Nitzan and Hiroki Mishima who could not attend the conference. Their concept was inspired by the iconic Hill Block cupola and the city’s rose symbol, signifying growth, transformation and the strength and heritage of the Black community.
A perspective rendering of JANU.
With JANU, the students hoped to provide a blueprint for Albina’s economic revival, emphasizing community enrichment and empowerment. They tackled the community’s pressing housing challenges by offering a diverse range of housing options, from market-rate units to affordable rentals. The site also fosters entrepreneurship, facilitates access to education and supports workforce training.
According to the students, JANU embodies the principles of restorative justice, not only in its design and function, but also in its commitment to healing and reconciliation. While they did not win the competition, they are incredibly proud of the project they created. The full 2023 Barbara G. Laurie Student Competition Submission Gallery can be viewed at https://submit.noma.net/gallery/pQRXENlM.
Learn more about JANU by watching the video 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.
