The OU Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce the Leadership in Built Environment Research (L-BER) seed funding program. This pilot program is designed to equip faculty with mentorship, strategic collaboration opportunities, and resources to secure major external funding and lead interdisciplinary research initiatives. Funding for this project is from the University of Oklahoma Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships.
The inaugural pilot project was selected following a blind peer review process. Led by Dr. Ladan Mozaffarian, an assistant professor of Regional and City Planning in the Gibbs College of Architecture, the project is titled “Data-Driven Approaches for Addressing Rural Transportation Challenges and Enhancing Community Health and Wellbeing.”
Dr. Mozaffarian’s project examines transportation challenges in rural areas, focusing on infrastructure, safety, and climate issues that limit access to essential services. Using Oklahoma as a case study, it combines machine learning analysis and local insights to identify solutions. The goal is to provide recommendations to improve transportation infrastructure, safety, and emergency response, promoting more accessible and sustainable rural mobility.
Congratulations to Dr. Mozaffarian!
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
