Dr. Lee Fithian, Associate Professor of Architecture and Director of the OU Online MS in Sustainable Architecture at the University of Oklahoma’s Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, recently contributed to the new book Teaching Carbon Neutral Design in North America: Twenty Award-Winning Architectural Design Studio Methodologies, edited by Robin Puttock and published by Routledge. Fithian’s chapter, titled “Introduction to Conceptual Design Performance Analysis for Carbon Neutrality,” explores strategies for integrating carbon-neutral principles into the early stages of architectural design.
Fithian’s research and teaching efforts focus on the application of biological and ecological models to architectural design. Each of her studios carries a strong focus on the technical development and integration of analytical visualizations to develop “green” architecture.
With over 17 years of commercial and governmental practice experience, Fithian previously served as the Director of Sustainable Design at Benham Companies. She has also played a pivotal role in founding the Oklahoma Sustainability Network and the State Chapter of US Green Building Council. Currently, she serves on the National AIA Building Performance Advisory Committee, further advancing her commitment to sustainable design.
With this achievement, Fithian joins a distinguished group of educators and practitioners who are shaping the future of architectural education and practice. Her chapter serves as a valuable resource for both students and professionals striving to create a built environment that is both innovative and ecologically responsible.
The University of Oklahoma College of Architecture is proud to announce that Model Schools in the Model City, authored by Director of the Institute for Quality Communities, Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., has been named one of ten finalists for the 2026 ASALH Book Prize for Best New Book in African American History and Culture.
This semester, students in the LA 5535 Studio: Ecological Planning and Design, led by Prof. Afsana Sharmin, took on an ambitious hypothetical project to redesign key parts of the OU campus. Their mission: to tackle the critical real-world challenge of stormwater management through innovative green design.
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.
