OU Architecture Students Build Greenhouse for Charter School Students

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. – Real-world building experience allows architecture and construction students to give back to their community. On Aug. 28, students from the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture joined school and community leaders to celebrate the opening of an educational greenhouse and outdoor garden space they designed and built for the John Rex Charter School in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt joined in the ribbon-cutting celebration.

The project, named the Urban Learning Greenhouse and C.D. and Leona Whelchel Garden, was designed and coordinated by OU professors Ken Marold and Bryan Bloom as a part of their OU Design+Build experience. The year-long experience gives architecture and construction science students the opportunity to work on real-world, full-scale projects for local communities. The students are immersed in a design-build experience that empowers them to engage in every aspect of architecture and construction, from community engagement, design, and fabrication to on-site construction and project delivery.

“These courses provide a holistic education that integrates theory with practice, preparing students for the complexities of the architecture and construction industries in ways that extend beyond typical classroom-based activities,” said Marold. “Engaging with peers, faculty, and community stakeholders, students gain real-world skills across the design-build industry experiencing firsthand the complexities of managing differing perspectives in a professional setting.”

He describes how these types of projects help students learn important concepts such as hands-on construction and fabrication techniques, creative problem-solving, working in a collaborative environment and vital project management skills.

“Integrating design-build projects into a student’s academic career equips them with a rare set of practical skills, professional mindset and industry connections needed for a successful transition from academia to the workplace,” said Marold.

Working with groups that might not otherwise be able to afford building projects brings significant benefits to both faculty and students. These projects strengthen community bonds and build empathy and social responsibility through the need for budget-conscious, inclusive and accessible solutions. These types of projects can also make a big difference to the organizations that OU’s architecture program works with.

“This greenhouse and garden project represents a significant step forward for our students, offering them invaluable hands-on experience that will focus on technology, nature, and community,” said Patrick Duffy, who serves as superintendent of the John Rex Charter Schools. “Through the collaboration with Ken and Bryan, OU's exceptional architecture faculty and leadership, and above all the Design+Build students, we have changed the trajectory and course of learning for generations of John Rex students. The impact on their learning and growth will be profound.”

The OU Design+Build program relies on the generosity of donors and corporate partners to continue providing valuable hands-on learning experiences for students and impactful projects for the community.