OU Gibbs College of Architecture associate professor, Dr. Andrés Cavieres received a 2-year $497,750 grant from the Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) for the development of innovative solutions to streamline the deployment of ground mount photovoltaic systems, with a special focus in the area of Agrivoltaics. This is an emerging practice, which seek greater land use efficiency by combining the production of solar energy with agricultural production on the same field.
V-clamps for photovoltaic modules.
Dr. Cavieres is the principal investigator for this grant, partnering with VesprSolar, to pursue research and development of new technologies to lower the Balance of System costs associated with hardware and labor of solar construction. There is significant room for improvement in this area, as many of the solutions currently available in the market are not only expensive, but also susceptible to multiple types of failure. In this context, a key principle for the project is the development of innovations that not only reduce entry barriers for the deployment of solar, but that are also capable of addressing increasingly stringent operational requirements.
This research is part of an ongoing track record of innovations led by Dr. Cavieres in the PV Integration Lab at the Gibbs College of Architecture. It is built on top of the V-Clamp platform, a patented technology that is already transforming the solar industry around the world with a much faster and secure way to attach PV modules.
During the Spring 2026 semester, students in Interior Design Studio IV and Graduate Studio IV gained hands-on experience in educational facility design through a semester-long partnership with MA+ Architecture.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture congratulates Dr. Tammy McCuen, Robert E. Busch Professor of Construction Science, on beginning her term as president of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC), an international organization dedicated to advancing construction education through teaching, research and service.
Following years of contributions to the College’s research and strategic initiatives, Gibbs College shares that Associate Dean for Research and External Engagement Angela M. Person, PhD, will step down from her position at Gibbs College as she moves to Tucson with her family, effective June 30, 2026.
