University of Oklahoma Architecture alumnus Asa Highsmith was recently recognized as an honoree in the Architectural League of New York’s 2023 Emerging Voices competition. The Emerging Voices program is an annual event that recognizes outstanding Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design firms across North America.
This year’s winners were selected by a reputable board of judges who reviewed submissions from over 50 competitors. Highsmith’s firm, Common Works Architects, was awarded along with seven other accomplished firms.
Common Works Architects was founded in 2015 by Highsmith in Oklahoma City. According to Highsmith, the firm is dedicated to “democratizing design and elevating that which is common.” The firm has designed a wide variety of different projects including residences, restaurants, and public spaces.
Village Park by Common Works Architects.
Common Works was previously listed among Architect’s Newspaper Interior’s “Top 50 Architects and Designers of 2022” and highlighted in a Metropolis New Talent Feature.”
Learn more about the Emerging Voices Award and see the full list of recipients.
Past emerging voices from the OU Architecture program include Brian Phillips of ISA and Lyn Rice of Rice+Lipka.
During the Spring 2026 semester, students in Interior Design Studio IV and Graduate Studio IV gained hands-on experience in educational facility design through a semester-long partnership with MA+ Architecture.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture congratulates Dr. Tammy McCuen, Robert E. Busch Professor of Construction Science, on beginning her term as president of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC), an international organization dedicated to advancing construction education through teaching, research and service.
Following years of contributions to the College’s research and strategic initiatives, Gibbs College shares that Associate Dean for Research and External Engagement Angela M. Person, PhD, will step down from her position at Gibbs College as she moves to Tucson with her family, effective June 30, 2026.
