An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Oklahoma Norman (OU Norman) and OU Health, including Interior Design professors, has published their study in the journal Virtual Reality.
The article, titled “Acceptability and Feasibility of Virtual Reality Multisensory Environments for Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Professional Caregiver Perspectives”, was authored by Dr. Yeji Yi and Dr. Negar Heidari Matin (Assistant Professors of Interior Design), Dr. Anna Nguyen (Associate Professor of Nursing), Dr. Ziho Kang (Associate Professor in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering), Akshaya Balakrishnan (recent graduate of the Master of Science in Interior Design program), and Dr. Steven Couch (neurodevelopmental pediatrician). The study examines the potential of Virtual Reality Multisensory Environments (VR MSEs) to support sensory exploration for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.
The research highlights that VR MSEs may serve as a feasible, scalable, and accessible alternative to traditional multisensory environments. By leveraging virtual technology, VR MSEs can reduce spatial and financial barriers while offering customizable sensory experiences that better address diverse needs.
This work was made possible through the Health, Well-Being, and the Built Environment Seed Grant and the Faculty Investment Program, provided by the OU Norman Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships, the OU Health Vice President for Research, and the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture. The study was also supported by valuable partnerships with Bethany Children’s Health Center and Christian Bretz of VoyagerVR.
Read the full article in the Virtual Reality journal.
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.
