Dr. Ladan Mozaffarian, Assistant Professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design at the OU Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, has recently published her research in the prestigious journal Cities: The International Journal of Urban Policy and Planning.
Her article, “Unveiling the dynamics of innovation districts: An empirical study of key features and governance structure in fourteen U.S. cities,” explores the growing phenomenon of innovation districts (IDs)—place-based strategies designed to foster entrepreneurship, collaboration, and economic development in urban areas. Despite their prominence in planning and policy discussions, comprehensive empirical analyses of their structure and governance remain limited. This study addresses that gap through a systematic examination of 14 innovation districts across the United States.
The research adapts and extends an established framework to evaluate the economic, physical, and networking assets that underpin IDs, while introducing governance structure as a critical pillar influencing their development. Findings reveal that, although most districts emphasize industry diversity and proximity to anchor institutions, governance arrangements often determine how assets are integrated and how districts evolve over time. Importantly, many of these districts are situated near central business districts, leveraging urban centrality to enhance access, connectivity, and collaboration.
This work makes significant contributions to both theory and practice. For theory, it refines the conceptual understanding of innovation districts by systematically categorizing sub-assets across economic, physical, and networking domains, while highlighting governance as a central driver of innovation outcomes. For practice, this study also introduces a diagnostic tool and visual framework that urban planners and policymakers can use to assess existing conditions, identify opportunities, and design strategies suited to local contexts.
The paper concludes with planning implications, emphasizing the importance of governance, spatial design, and asset alignment in cultivating dynamic, sustainable, and collaborative innovation ecosystems.
A team of Construction Science and Architecture students from the Gibbs College of Architecture made their mark on the national stage this week, earning third place out of 37 universities competing at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Competition, held during the International Builders' Show in Orlando, February 16-18, 2026.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has elevated Gary Armbruster, FAIA, ALEP to its prestigious College of Fellows—AIA’s highest membership honor—for his exceptional work and sustained contributions to architecture and society. Fellowship recognizes architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant impact at a national level. Members elevated to this distinction carry the FAIA designation after their name.
Students from the Spring 2026 Graduate 4 Architecture Design Studio, led by Professor Amy Leveno, exhibited their work at the School of Visual Arts. The exhibition, titled Reimagining the OU School of Visual Arts, featured drawings, models, and animations developed throughout the semester's studio project. The show was hosted in The Spotlight, a creative gallery space located on the first floor of the Fred Jones Art Center, and ran from January 20–30, 2026.
