Date
Please note, this event is now sold out.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Institute for Quality Communities is proud to announce the visit of Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine Inc., on Thursday, April 11th to share stories and lessons learned from the iconic Atlanta BeltLine project. The event will take place at Gould Hall’s Buskuhl Gallery from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. RSVP is required to attend.
The Atlanta BeltLine is an internationally recognized urban revitalization effort that has demonstrated how greenspace and a historic railway can serve as catalysts for economic development, connectivity, cultural preservation, and transformative design. Higgs will discuss how the project has created opportunities for cultural flourishing, inclusive economic development, strengthened social cohesion, and stronger neighborhoods in Atlanta.
This special event has been inspired by an ongoing collaboration between Environmental Design and Interior Design Studio 4 students at Gibbs College and the community of Taft, one of Oklahoma’s existing Black townships. Under the guidance of College of Architecture faculty Mia Kile, Marco Piscitelli, and Vanessa Morrison, students are working with Taft community leaders on their existing projects to reimagine an abandoned railway and historic school site to support placemaking, cultural tourism, and quality of life goals.
During his visit, Higgs will share insights on the BeltLine’s successes and challenges, and how the project’s lessons can be applied to revitalization efforts in other communities. The event will conclude with a moderated discussion, providing attendees an opportunity to engage with Higgs and ask questions.
Learn more at iqc.ou.edu.
Petya Stefanoff, Chair of the Educational Committee with the American Planning Association, Oklahoma Chapter (APA-OK) and Gibbs College PhD candidate, has developed a new training program for local government officials. The program, focused on land use, zoning principles, and land development, recently certified its first graduates with Certified Citizen Planner status.
Gibbs Construction Science and Architecture students recently traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to compete in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 8 Student Competition. The team partnered with Czech Technical University and secured third place in the Design-Build category.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2026 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
