Job Opening: Institute for Quality Communities Program Manager

The Institute for Quality Communities in the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture and the University of Oklahoma seeks applications for a Program Manager, Job Number 250621. This full-time position is located onsite at the Norman campus.

OU IQC Invites Community Assistance Project Proposals

The Institute of Quality Communities at the University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce the opening of the 2025-2026 Request for Proposals (RFP) process for Community Assistance Projects.

OU Landscape Architecture Students Reimagine UCO Child Study Center Playground

Thirteen graduate students in the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma are helping bring nature-focused design to the Child Study Center at the University of Central Oklahoma.

IQC Placemaking Conference Slated for Spring 2027

The next Placemaking Conference, a cornerstone program of the OU Institute for Quality Communities, is now scheduled for Spring 2027.

Amber Wiley Named Director of the IQC

Following a national search, the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma has named Dr. Amber Wiley as the new director of the Institute for Quality Communities

IQC Director Announces Departure

IQC Director Announces Departure

IQC Executive Director Blair Humphreys has announced that he will be leaving the Institute for Quality Communities. Blair will pursue a new opportunity overseeing the planning and development of the Downtown Airpark site near downtown Oklahoma City with the Humphreys...

Is this a photo of Oklahoma’s first bikeway?

Is this a photo of Oklahoma’s first bikeway?

IQC Associate Director Hope Mander was digging through some old photos of Norman when she came across this view of University Boulevard circa 1895. The boulevard continues to be a main thoroughfare between the original Norman townsite on Main Street and the University...

3 Ways for OKC and Tulsa to Get Off the Bottom of the List

3 Ways for OKC and Tulsa to Get Off the Bottom of the List

Around the United States, you can't find many more car-dependent cities than Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Our posts on how regional and American cities compare on commuting by biking, walking, and transit got a lot of attention. Even though it was just a simple...

Exploring Oklahoma’s Newest Town

Exploring Oklahoma’s Newest Town

Carlton Landing became Oklahoma's newest town last week when Pittsburgh County granted its incorporation. Designed by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company- well known for creating Seaside in Florida and Kentlands in Maryland- it is the first New Urbanist development to...

Biking, Walking, and Transit Use Across the US in 2012

Biking, Walking, and Transit Use Across the US in 2012

Since there was interest in our post on mode share in the region, we decided to do a similar graphic for other large cities around the US. For more excellent information on this data see Bike Pittsburgh and the League of American Bicyclists. To keep track of the IQC...

The Latest Bike, Walk, and Transit Usage Data

The Latest Bike, Walk, and Transit Usage Data

Recent Census data shows that Oklahoma City and Tulsa are at the bottom of American cities when it comes to biking, walking, or taking transit to work. Here's an overview of the new data, which is available from the United States Census Bureau's American Community...

PARK(ing) Day in Oklahoma City

PARK(ing) Day in Oklahoma City

PARK(ing) Day was a big success in Oklahoma City thanks to Better Block OKC, Downtown OKC, Inc., and volunteers from several city neighborhoods and districts. At any given time, there are more than 500 million empty parking spaces in the United States. On PARK(ing)...

IQC Visits the Prince’s Foundation Summer School – Week 3

IQC Visits the Prince’s Foundation Summer School – Week 3

The Institute for Quality Communities, part of the OU College of Architecture, traveled to the United Kingdom to visit the Prince's Foundation for Building Community» to learn from their highly successful summer school program. Here IQC Executive Director Blair...

IQC Visits the Prince’s Foundation Summer School – Week 2

IQC Visits the Prince’s Foundation Summer School – Week 2

The Institute for Quality Communities, part of the OU College of Architecture, traveled to the United Kingdom to visit the Prince's Foundation for Building Community» to learn from their highly successful summer school program. Here IQC Executive Director Blair...

IQC Visits the Prince’s Foundation Summer School – Week 1

IQC Visits the Prince’s Foundation Summer School – Week 1

The Institute for Quality Communities, part of the OU College of Architecture, traveled to the United Kingdom to visit the Prince's Foundation for Building Community» to learn from their highly successful summer school program. Here IQC Executive Director Blair...

Measuring Oklahoma Main Streets

Measuring Oklahoma Main Streets

  Street designs should actively enhance the ability of a main street to fulfill its economic and cultural roles within a community. Catering to fast-moving regional traffic degrades the main street experience for those who spend their time and money...