OU Gibbs College of Architecture associate professor, Dr. Andrés Cavieres received a 2-year $497,750 grant from the Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) for the development of innovative solutions to streamline the deployment of ground mount photovoltaic systems, with a special focus in the area of Agrivoltaics. This is an emerging practice, which seek greater land use efficiency by combining the production of solar energy with agricultural production on the same field.
V-clamps for photovoltaic modules.
Dr. Cavieres is the principal investigator for this grant, partnering with VesprSolar, to pursue research and development of new technologies to lower the Balance of System costs associated with hardware and labor of solar construction. There is significant room for improvement in this area, as many of the solutions currently available in the market are not only expensive, but also susceptible to multiple types of failure. In this context, a key principle for the project is the development of innovations that not only reduce entry barriers for the deployment of solar, but that are also capable of addressing increasingly stringent operational requirements.
This research is part of an ongoing track record of innovations led by Dr. Cavieres in the PV Integration Lab at the Gibbs College of Architecture. It is built on top of the V-Clamp platform, a patented technology that is already transforming the solar industry around the world with a much faster and secure way to attach PV modules.
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
The OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) 2024 collaboration with the Historic Threatt Filling Station has been recognized in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newly released Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity – a story-driven publication exploring how road trip culture and place-based tourism can fuel economic growth in rural communities.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Camille Germany, Chief of Staff, has been named the 2026 recipient of the university-wide Jennifer L. Wise Good Stewardship Award.
