Lahari Peluri, an alumna of OU’s Master of Urban Design program, recently contributed to a project that was honored with the prestigious Vernon Deines Award by the American Planning Association’s Small Town and Rural Planning Division. The Stephenville 2050 Comprehensive Plan, envisions a more resilient, community-driven future for the City of Stephenville, Texas, and stands out as a model for small-town planning nationwide.
Peluri played a key role in the project as part of the team at Lionheart Places, where she focused on graphics and visual storytelling. Her contributions helped transform complex planning data into clear, compelling visuals that brought the plan’s concepts to life for the broader community. These graphics included before-and-after land-use comparisons, illustrations of walkable neighborhoods, and frameworks for complete communities—tools that helped bridge the gap between planning policy and public understanding.
Figure 68: Community Core Neighborhood (Source: Stephenville 2025 Comprehensive Plan)
The Stephenville 2050 plan emphasizes sustainable growth, vibrant public spaces, and strong local partnerships. Its success reflects a growing recognition of how visual communication can support meaningful engagement and drive more inclusive planning outcomes.
“Design has the power to connect people to ideas,” said Peluri. “This project reminded me how thoughtful visuals can help communities truly see and shape their future.”
Peluri’s work exemplifies the values at the heart of urban design: collaboration, inclusivity, and vision. At OU, she honed her interdisciplinary approach to planning—blending design, policy, and community engagement—to create people-centered places. Her experience in Stephenville is a testament to how design can elevate the planning process and inspire a shared vision for tomorrow.
Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Petya Stefanoff, who is pursuing her doctorate in the Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) program, has been appointed the new role of Director of Community Development for the City of Shawnee, Oklahoma. She joined the city in 2024.
Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design and director of the Institute for Quality Communities, has received national recognition for her book Model Schools in the Model City. The book has been named a finalist for the 2026 the PROSE Awards.
Gibbs College of Architecture Regional + City Planning Professor of Practice Vanessa Morrison and Associate Professor of Architecture Deborah Richards’ Open Design Collective received top honors at the inaugural BlackSpace Urbanist Collective Studio KIN Pitch Night Competition, held last month in Brooklyn, New York City.
