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.
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.
