The University of Oklahoma
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture
Oculus Weekly Newsletter
Nov. 5 - 9, 2018

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Oculus is an e-newsletter that is distributed by the OU Gibbs College of Architecture (GCA) during the fall and spring semesters. It features news about student, faculty, staff and alumni accomplishments, as well as events that may be of interest to our community. Note that there is a weekly version of the newsletter for a local audience, and a monthly version for a broader audience. Please share your news and events by noon each Friday to be considered for the following week's issue of Oculus.
Featured Sooner
Video: Dr. Shadravan talks about how her team's work helps people live in safer places.
#DesignSooner Spotlight: Dr. Shideh Shadravan

Recently, we sat down with award-winning architecture professor  Dr. Shideh Shadravan to learn more about her structural engineering research at the University of Oklahoma Fears Lab.

To read the full story, click here.
Featured News
GCA Faculty Awarded Significant Homebuilding Education Leadership Program Grant

A team of Gibbs College of Architecture faculty, led by professor Somik Ghosh of the Haskell and Irene Lemon Construction Science Division, was recently awarded a $95,600 Homebuilding Education Leadership Program (HELP) grant. HELP grants are sponsored by the National Housing Endowment of the National Association of Home Builders.

The OU team, which also includes director of Construction Science and professor Ben Bigelow, professor Suchi Bhattacharjee (Interior Design), and instructor Bryan Bloom (Construction Science), will focus on a number of milestones over the four year period of the HELP grant.  For example, the team will work to create an undergraduate certificate program in entrepreneurship and housing, as well as provide additional education and experience in homebuilding for three faculty members, among other education and outreach initiatives.

Bigelow commented, "This grant is a great opportunity for OU to elevate what it does with housing, and particularly in educating the next small business owners in homebuilding, development, real estate, and design."

To read the full story, click here.
Architecture Team Visits Riverbank Labs for Acoustical Tests

Shortly after returning from research meetings with Aerix Industries (cellular aerated concrete) and RPG (acoustical panel researchers and fabricators) in PA and NJ, Associate Professor Daniel Butko visited Riverbank Acoustical Labs (RAL) in Geneva, IL, for acoustical testing of his own prototypical concrete panels.

Butko and fifth year architecture student Zach Maggia transported panels and arranged them in the lab to provide various hypothetical layouts and mounting configurations. Butko would like to extend his thanks to the RAL team, including Eric, Dean, Mark, Arnold, and Malcolm.

The collaborative sOUnd lab research project initiated in 2017 continues with donations from Coreslab Structures and Reckli US Formliners to develop panels which provide reflection, diffusion, and absorption for multi-use spaces indicative of the acoustical issues found in Gould Hall's Buskuhl Gallery.

To learn more about the sOUnd lab, contact Daniel Butko (butko@ou.edu).
Image:  Excerpted from "The Multifaceted Profession" film.
Two Architecture Student Teams Place in AIA Oklahoma 2018 "Film Challenge"

Two Gibbs College of Architecture teams were recently named among the top finishers in the Oklahoma chapter of the American Institute of Architects' 2018 "Film Challenge." They participated as part of architecture professor Marjorie Callahan's "Professional Practice" course.

The second-place team, comprised of students Amy Hostetter, Emily Homan, Kathy Lau, Jamie Leake, and Aida Mazroi produced a video titled, "The Multi-Faceted Profession." This video shares several behind-the-scenes descriptions of the complex work of an architect, including precedent studies, research, and collaborating with engineers, contractors and interior designers.

The third-place team, comprised of students Kyle Berger, David Cyr, Clay Dobbins, and Matthew Endacott produced a video titled, "The Firm." Their video provides a humorous take on the work of an architect, inspired by the popular TV show, "The Office."

To view their short films, click here.
Image: Classroom. The Early Childhood Education Institute, OU-Tulsa
Interior Design Faculty Awarded Early Childhood Education Institute Grant

Interior Design faculty members Natalie Ellis and Mia Kile, along with colleagues at OU-Tulsa, the OU Health Sciences Center, and Johns Hopkins University, were recently awarded $8,500 to pursue research related to "Infant-toddler teachers' physical and psychological well-being." The project is funded by the Early Childhood Education Institute at OU-Tulsa.

To read the full story, click here.
Above: Sketches from the charrette provided by Jonathan Scharton, Construction Science graduate student.
Students Participate in Oklahoma Brownfields Conference Design Charrette

A group of students from the OU Gibbs College of Architecture recently participated in a design charrette during the statewide Oklahoma Brownfields Conference.

Coordinated by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, this charrette was led by Jim Rojas of Los Angeles, California, as well as area professionals. Students worked with Rojas and others to propose designs for three sites selected by the Sapulpa Main Street Program in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

Special thanks to faculty Tom Woodfin (landscape architecture) and Ron Frantz (architecture and environmental design) who encouraged their students to participate in this engaging activity.

For more information about the Oklahoma Brownfields Conference, click here.
Events + Opportunities
Get Featured on GCA's Social Media Channels!

Send your work to the GCA Communications Team! This is your chance to show the world your work! Fill out the Oculus submission form and mark your submission as an image for social media. Please include images, a description of your work, your social media handles, and a link to your online portfolio if you have one. We can't wait to celebrate all you've been up to.

To submit your work, click here,
Alumni Lecture: "From Norman to the World: An Unconventional Path"

When: 4:00 p.m., Weds., Nov. 7
Where: Gould Hall Buskuhl Gallery

Even during at OU, while earning his BArch (class of '88), Bruce has never taken a conventional path. His career has taken him from the plains of Oklahoma to the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to the hallways of the State Department and Capitol Hill. Bruce currently serves as Vice President and Director of International Projects for Mason & Hanger, one of the oldest architecture and engineering firms in the country. Bruce has traveled to over 56 countries and worked on projects in 34 countries with combined construction values exceeding $12 billion. Come and hear about his unconventional journey.

To request more information or accommodations, contact Angela Person (a@ou.edu).
Above: Students visit the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower in Paris with Prof. Woodfin
2019 Travel Study: "Modern & Historic Gardens of Western Europe"

When: May 13 - June 1, 2019
Where: Amsterdam, Paris, Bonn, Cologne, Haarlem

Study abroad with landscape architecture professor Tom Woodfin: 3 weeks, 3 credits, 3 countries. Be back in time to start your summer internship the first Monday in June 2019. Tuition is covered under the Spring 2019 flat rate!

For more information, click here.
Free lunch! Join us for GCA's next Brown Bag Research Seminar

When:  Weds. , Nov . 14th, at 12:00 pm
Where: Gould Hall Buskuhl Gallery (New location!)
What: Free lunch and engaging Pechakucha-style presentations by ... 
For more information or to request accommodations, contact Angela Person ( a@ou.edu ).
Register today for OU GIS Day 2018!

Geospatial technologies have been evolving rapidly and play an increasing role in our society and daily life. The annual GIS Day Expo at the University of Oklahoma celebrates and showcases a broad spectrum of research, education, and outreach activities related to geospatial science, technology and applications. Join the global community observing International GIS Day, which was first celebrated in 1999 and has been held by more than 10,000 organizations in 80 countries across the world. Click here to register.
For more information or to request accommodations, contact Jeff Widener (jwidener@ou.edu).
Get Ready to Launch at OU's First Entrepreneurship Expo!

OU's first Entrepreneurship Expo is a trade show for OU students, Sooner Innovation Fund winners, local business owners and entrepreneurs to exhibit their goods, services and concepts in an open forum. Receive early stage feedback on your venture concept from successful entrepreneurs, professional investors, and the community. Accept orders for your product or start a conversation for possible investment. Meet collaborators, spark innovative ideas and build connections to turn your dreams into reality. Applications are due October 26th.

For more information or to request accommodations, contact Lezlie Marsh (lmarsh@ou.edu).
Cash Prizes! Enter the GCA's Fifth Annual Napkin Sketch Contest!

The 2019 Napkin Contest is now accepting entrees! This annual contest offers CASH PRIZES and is open to all students in the GCA. To get started, pick up your free napkins from Camille Germany, in Gould Hall, rm. 282. The deadline is Monday, December 3rd, 2018. Winners will be announced in February, during the Charles W. Graham Travel Study Dinner Benefit. Special thanks to the OU Division of Architecture Professional Advisory Board for making this competition possible .

Download the Napkin Contest entry form and learn more about the rules here
Calling all Grad Students! Enter OU's Three Minute Thesis Competition!

Enter OU' Three Minute Thesis Competition! Create a three-minute presentation summarizing your master's or doctoral research for a chance to win cash prizes. Register online by January 19, 2019. Preliminary rounds begin January 28, 2019.

For more information or to request accommodations, click here or contact Suzanne Peters (smpeters@ou.edu).
Apply Now for Scholarships!

Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to apply now via OU's Centralized Academic Scholarship Hub (CASH). The deadline is February 1, 2019. 

To access CASH, visit ou.edu/scholarships.
Landscape Architecture Foundation Scholarships Available for 2019

The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) is pleased to announce our scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year, with over $80,000 in awards available through 11 different scholarships and fellowships. The awards recognize superior student performance, encourage diversity, support original research, and assist students with unmet financial need. Information on the various awards, eligibility, and application requirements can be found at: www.lafoundation.org/scholarships.

LAF Scholarship applications are due on February 1, 2019.
Study Abroad in Italy with "Gardens of Knowledge and Delight" Program

Students who participate in the Summer 2019 "Gardens of Knowledge and Delight" Program are invited to walk the historic botanical gardens of Italy, and learn the foundations of natural history and science with Bruce Hoagland, biogeographer. They will also experience splendid Renaissance villa gardens with Tom Woodfin, landscape architect and garden historian. Together, they will learn the history of beloved places whose beauty, plant collections, and structure continue to inspire scientists and artists

Fast Facts
  • The class is based in Arezzo, Italy, and runs from July 8 - August 2, 2019
  • Students can earn six credit hours in two courses: GEOG 3253, Environmental Conservation, and LA 4743, Garden History
  • Deposits are due Feb. 24, 2019
To learn more, click here and scroll down to the Program Description.
2019 COINS Grand Challenge Accepting Student Entries

The COINS Grand Challenge is a global competition to uncover students who have ideas that can improve the built environment. Enter your idea with an essay or short video for the opportunity to win cash, internships, or business investment, plus the chance to get in front of some of the construction industry's biggest players. The 2019 competition is now open undergraduate for entries! Entries are due on April 12, 2019.

For more information visit: http://coins-grandchallenge.com/.
Gould Hall's Charles W. Graham Cafe Announces Fall 2018 Hours

The Charles W. Graham Cafe is now open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is located in the northwest corner of the Gould Hall basement, near the computer lab.

For more information about the cafe, please contact cafe manager Chris Kaeser (ckaeser@ou.edu).
Share your news and events with us!
Whether you are an OU Gibbs College of Architecture alumnus, student, faculty or staff member, we want to know about your news and events!

To share your news for the next issue of  Oculus, the OU Gibbs College of Architecture newsletter, or to request publicity support for an upcoming event, please complete the form found  here.
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