Freshman Interior Design students recently visited Rivermont Independent Living in Norman, OK as a part of their studio course. 36 students attended the trip, joined by Professors of Interior Design Dr. Suchismita Bhattacharjee and Dr. Yeji Yi and graduate teaching assistant Naila Hasan.
This field trip is part of a larger project for Interior Design Studio II, which focuses on integrating human-centered design, universal design features and ADA standards in the design process. The students are tasked with designing comfortable and functional senior living units with accessible storage features, easy-to-clean surfaces and materials that will create a sense of openness.
As a part of the pre-design process, students examined various styles of independent living units to gain on-site experience. They also conducted interviews with elderly residents to learn about their needs and preferences. Based on the research data collected during the visit, students will create a two-bedroom residential unit within a proposed assisted living community.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2025 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
On November 21, 2025, the Mainsite Contemporary Art gallery was transformed into a showcase of innovation and craftsmanship for the University of Oklahoma’s furniture design build studio exhibition, “Purpose in Form.”
Associate Professors Lee Fithian, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Pober have published a chapter in the recently released New Perspectives in Indoor Air Quality, published by Elsevier. Their contribution, titled “Chapter 16 – Architecture and the Challenges of Indoor Air Quality,” examines the relationship between architecture and indoor air quality.
