NEWS
OKLAHOMA CITY - Hans E. Butzer, dean of the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture and director of Butzer Architects and Urbanism, recently achieved a first for the state of Oklahoma. Dolese Headquarters in Oklahoma City, designed by Butzer’s architecture practice, received WELL Building “Silver” Certification through the International WELL Building Institute. As the first in the state, this project sets a new benchmark for building practices that support health and well-being in Oklahoma.
WELL certification is part of an international evidence-based standard focusing on the health and well-being of building occupants with a people-first approach to buildings, organizations and communities. The certification process is rigorous, as a building must meet a range of predefined standards. The completed building must then undergo performance testing and a final evaluation by a third party to verify compliance with WELL requirements.
Dolese is a leading producer of concrete, aggregate, stone and sand in Oklahoma and Texas. The newly certified Dolese Customer Service Center serves as the company’s first new headquarters in more than 80 years. The building was designed to support the health of employees through its form and function. Inspired by the chemistry of concrete, the design incorporates elements drawn from Dolese’s natural and engineered products. Large windows, glass details, and sculptural light fixtures brighten interior spaces and create welcoming areas for conversation and collaboration.
According to the IWBI website, “The WELL Building Standard is the world’s leading health-focused building rating system. Developed over 10 years and backed by the latest scientific research, WELL sets pathways for accomplishing health-first factors that help everyone by supporting physical and mental health across 10 core concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, materials, sound, thermal comfort, mind and community.”
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
Mike Banad, a researcher with the University of Oklahoma, has been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to pursue the development of advanced materials that could shape the future of energy-efficient electronics and photonics.
A new partnership between the University of Oklahoma School of Music and the Norman-based nonprofit SunHive Collective is giving OU students hands-on experience working with young adults with special needs, an opportunity that music education faculty member Melissa Baughman, Ph.D., calls “pure joy.”
The University of Oklahoma has once again been awarded the Davis Cup in recognition of its enrollment of Davis United World College Scholar freshmen. This marks the 11th time in 13 years OU has received the award. A total of 75 Davis UWC Scholars began their studies at OU this fall.
