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Building Through Making

American School Design Build, based in Norman, Oklahoma and part of the Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, is built on experiential learning, collaborative practice, and uncompromising precision in craft. We believe the most powerful education happens when design and construction are inseparable—rooted in the environmental, cultural, and social contexts of each project.

Our work is guided by values that shape both process and outcome: sustainability and stewardship to respect and regenerate natural systems, community and equity to foster inclusion and shared ownership, and adaptability and resilience to ensure relevance over time. We blend craft and innovation to produce lasting, high-quality work, embrace learning through making as our core method, and lead with vision and responsibility to create projects that honor place, uplift communities, and build a better future for people, place, and planet.

Project Partners

Core Philosophy

Every concept finds its clarity when it meets tools, materials, and craft. At ASDB, design is not a separate act from building—it is a conversation between vision and material, between idea and the forces that shape it. Our studio is a laboratory of possibility, where composition, movement, texture, and light become the language through which ideas are crafted into being.

Here, making is the way of thinking. Each project is an act of dialogue; with communities, with landscapes, with shifting conditions. We craft not only to construct, but to connect: to bridge concept and craft, resilience and beauty, people and place. In this way, we prepare a new generation of makers who lead with skill and humility, criticality and care, creating work that stands as both shelter and statement in the world.

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Core Values

We commit to designing and building in ways that respect ecological limits and regenerate natural systems. Through climate-responsive strategies, efficient use of resources, and sustainable material practices, our work aims to leave a lasting positive impact on both people and planet.

We believe architecture should serve and empower. By collaborating with clients, stakeholders, and communities, we create spaces that foster connection, inclusion, wellness, and shared ownership.

We design with an eye toward the future, crafting environments that respond to changing climates, shifting needs, and evolving technologies, ensuring long-term usefulness and relevance.

We honor the tradition of making while embracing new tools and ideas. Our work blends hands-on skill, digital fabrication, and material experimentation to produce spaces and objects of enduring quality.

We see design and construction as a single, continuous act of problem-solving and creativity. Every project is a learning environment where ideas are tested, refined, and brought to life through the collaborative rigor of the design-build process.

We approach every project with a sense of purpose, seeing design as a catalyst for positive change. Our work is guided by the belief that with creativity comes responsibility, to honor place, uplift communities, and contribute to a more equitable and resilient built environment.

Collab Culture

American School Design Build unites students, faculty, industry partners, and community leaders in a collaborative, hands-on approach to architectural education. By taking projects from concept to construction, students gain the technical skill, material knowledge, and collaborative mindset needed to navigate real-world constraints and opportunities. Every project becomes a platform for innovation—balancing design intent with budget, regulations, and community needs—while fostering the resilience, creativity, and responsibility essential to shaping meaningful, enduring work.

Are You a Maker?

Got a passion for making? Ready to engage with a team of like-minded, driven, designers and builders to share your ideas with the world? Join the American School Design Build team!