NEWS, NOTES & EVENTS

Monday, June 8, 2026

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!


June 10-12: AIA Office Closed - AIA National Conference in San Diego

June 11: Sneak Peek Tour of the Oklahoma National Guard Museum

June 18: Small Firm Roundtable
June 23: COTE Summer Solstice Happy Hour

June 25: Lunch & Learn
June 25: AGC, ACEC, AIA Happy Hour

June 27: AIA Kickball Tournament

June 30: Networking 101

July 14: Lunch & Learn with Best Companies

July 16: Architecture after 5 with Olsson

August 20: Architecture after 5 with Gardner

August 25: Lunch & Learn with SESCO Lighting

August 27: Business of Architecture
September 3: AIA Luncheon

September 10: Small Firm Roundtable

September 17: Architecture after 5 with Manhattan Construction

September 23-24: AIA Oklahoma Conference on Architecture

October 1: AIA Sporting Clays Tournament

October 7: Cocktails & Credits with FiberTile

October 13: Lunch & Learn with SESCO Lighting
October 15: Architecture after 5 with Boldt Construction

November 5: AIA Luncheon

November 13: AIA Awards Celebration at the Petroleum Club

December 3: Small Firm Roundtable

Design Build's Newest Museum: A Sneak Peek Tour of the Oklahoma National Guard Museum

Join DBIA OKC, SAME and AIA Central Oklahoma for an exclusive first look at a new, State-of-the-Art museum project done right, produced by Hensel Phelps/Fentress Design Build team. This special behind-the-scenes tour and presentation offers attendees the opportunity to explore the completed facility prior to its public grand opening.

Hear directly from the project team as they share insights into the design-build process, key challenges, and the collaborative approach that brought this vision to life. Walk the space, see the details up close, and gain a deeper understanding of what made this project successful.

Whether you’re an owner, designer, or builder, this is a unique opportunity to learn from a real-world success story, connect with industry peers, and experience the impact of design-build in action. 

Small Firm Roundtable - June 18

In today’s digital landscape, a strong social media presence is no longer optional. It’s an essential tool for growing your practice, telling your story, and connecting with clients. Join us for this Small Firm Roundtable as we explore how architects and firm leaders are using social media to elevate their brand and expand their reach.



Hear real-world insights from Tamara Pratt, Director of Strategic Communications & Engagement and Sydney Watkins, Digital Media Specialist of Guernsey. You will learn what’s working (and what’s not), how to showcase your projects effectively, and ways to turn online engagement into real opportunities. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide actionable ideas and honest perspectives to help you make social media a valuable extension of your business.

AIA COTE Summer Solstice Social

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with AIA Central Oklahoma’s Committee on the Environment!

Join us for a casual evening at Native Plants Nursery on Monday, June 23 from 5:00–6:30 PM. Enjoy drinks, light bites, and good conversation with fellow members and friends while surrounded by some of Oklahoma’s best native plants.

Come connect, unwind, and kick off summer with us. We’d love to see you there!

Lunch & Learn on June 25

Built to Last: The Value of American Manufacturing

This program explores the lasting impact of domestic manufacturing on the quality, performance, and reliability of the built environment. Presented by Jim Fisher of H.E. Williams, Inc., this program examines how American-made products contribute to stronger project outcomes through consistent quality control, safer material composition, and dependable supply chains. Attendees will gain insight into how domestic sourcing supports responsible specification practices while helping reduce delays and delivery risks during construction.

The session will also explore how specifying U.S.-manufactured products aligns with broader design goals related to resilience, lifecycle value, and environmental responsibility. Through real-world examples and industry perspectives, participants will better understand the role American manufacturing plays in creating durable, high-performing spaces that stand the test of time.

Deadline to Register June 17th!

Registration is now open for the 2026 AIA Kickball Tournament! We are limited to 16 teams so sign up early. If you're a Chapter Sponsor (Corinthian, Ionic, Doric or Firm Gold) email Melissa for a code to register.

CURRENT TEAMS:

Moo Tang Gang (Guernsey) – White

Kickin’ Chickens (KFC Engineering) – Yellow

Willowbrook – Green

FSB + Nabholz – Gray

REES-pect the Kick (Rees) – Red

Grass Stains and Sprained Ankles (ADG Blatt & Boldt) – Heather Military Green

Haskell Hustlers (Benham Group) – Gray

Emerging Architects host Networking 101

Networking is one of the most valuable skills young professionals can develop, but building meaningful connections can feel intimidating when you’re just starting out. Join the AIA Central Oklahoma Emerging Architects Committee for Networking 101, an engaging and practical session led by Josh Dougherty of CEC.

This program will help emerging architects gain confidence in professional networking by exploring strategies for starting conversations, building authentic relationships, and creating connections that can support long-term career growth. Josh will share practical insights, personal experiences, and real-world techniques for navigating networking events, strengthening professional presence, and making lasting impressions within the AEC industry. Whether you’re new to the profession or looking to sharpen your networking skills, this session will provide valuable tools to help you connect with confidence.

Save the Date! AIA Oklahoma Conference on Architecture in September!

Save the date for the 2026 AIA Oklahoma Conference on Architecture on Wednesday, September 23 - Thursday, September 24 in Enid, Oklahoma. Registration opens in mid June!

Our booths are sold out but we still have a lot of great sponsorships available!

Update from Our AIA Oklahoma Strategic Councilor

Please find the latest update from Shane Aaron, AIA, our AIA Oklahoma Strategic Councilor HERE.

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Shane directly at saaron@narrate.design

Central States Design Awards hosted by Kansas

Central States Region Design Awards Hosted by AIA Kansas

Submission Portal is open until August 3, 2026. Here is the link.

Central States Design Chair: Colleen Healey, AIA - Colleen Healey Arch.

Categories:

• Architecture
• Preservation/Adaptive Reuse
• Interior Design
• Small Project

Guidelines:

The Central States Excellence in Design Awards celebrates outstanding work in the Central States region of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.

• Entries must be designed by licensed architects located within the Central States region, or must be projects located within the Central States region designed by licensed architects located anywhere.
• Highest quality design, informed by The AIA Framework for Design Excellence, progresses the profession toward a zero-carbon, healthy, just, resilient, and equitable built environment.

OKC Foundation for Architecture Tour

Oklahoma Military Department Events & 
Upcoming Project

In advance of their upcoming Progressive Design-Build (PDB) project, the Oklahoma Military Department (OMD) is hosting two events to introduce the OMD's Complex Revitalization project: a virtual industry outreach session on June 1^st and an in-person training and project briefing session on June 10^th.  Information for both can be found below.

The virtual industry outreach session will cover a brief overview of how OMD intends to use the Design Build Institute of America’s (DBIA) Best Practices for this project with time for group discussion. The in-person training and project briefing session will provide an example of the quality of office space desired, training on how the project will utilize the DBIA Best Practices, general scope information, and a site orientation tour.

The OMD Complex Revitalization project will include full renovations to three buildings (Building 3503, Building 3515, and Building 3535) and the construction of a new SCIF facility on OMD’s headquarters campus in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with a cost ceiling limitation ranging from $35 to $45 million. Further project details will be covered during the sessions below and in the forthcoming Request for Qualifications (RFQ). 

June 10, 2026 - In-Person Training & Project Briefing Session:

8-9.00am CT

Tour - OKNG Wellness Center

6500 N. Kelley Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73111

9.00a-11p CT

OMD PDB Training & 

OMD Complex Revitalization Project Briefing

6500 N. Kelley Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73111

11-1p CT

Lunch on your own

1-2p CT

OMD Complex Revitalization Site Orientation

3501 NE Military Circle, Oklahoma City, OK 73111

*Letters of Interest:

Interested Design-Build Teams are invited to email a statement of interest to OMDComplexPDB@jones-design-studio.com to receive a digital invitation to the aforementioned events and the subsequent RFQ expected to be issued early July 2026.

In order to submit a response to the RFQ, Design-Build teams must be registered with the State of Oklahoma. Registration is managed by the State of Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services Division of Capital Assets Management Construction and Properties. Forms can be found online. 

Design-Builders should understand that any subcontractors not identified in the Statement of Qualifications must be competitively bid in accordance with State law. 

Subcontractors, whether considered design-build or not, are encouraged to solicit Design-Builders to be a part of the Design-Build team submitting proposals.  This notice shall serve as an opportunity to become a trade partner with a Design-Build team.  

QUESTIONS? Please email Bethany at bethany@jones-design-studio.com

Upcoming ULI Luncheon