Oklahoma Students Won Design-Build Award

University of Oklahoma students earned an architecture prize for a new wildlife rehabilitation structure.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Wildlife

Bold vector editorial illustration of a wooden wildlife shelter on a stone base, evoking academic collaboration and conservation design. — University of Oklahoma architecture students received an inaugural design award for creating a specialized rehabilitation structure for native bat and swift populations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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University of Oklahoma students earned the inaugural Architecture-Design Award at the Kirkpatrick ANIMAL Conference. Their project provides a specialized rehabilitation structure for local bats and chimney swifts.

Why it matters

The project addresses a critical need for wildlife rehabilitation, as bats require specific flight space and chimney swifts need suitable roosting areas during recovery. It represents a successful collaboration between academic design and local conservation efforts.

The project titled The Conservation of Oklahoma's Mammals and Migratory Avians features a design with an outer ring for bat flight and an inner space for birds. The effort involved students from architecture and construction science programs.

The players

University of Oklahoma

This public research university in Norman maintains an American School Design-Build program that facilitates hands-on student construction projects.

WildCare

This organization works on wildlife conservation and requested the design challenge for rehabilitating local species.

Kirkpatrick ANIMAL Conference

This professional gathering serves as a venue for recognizing advancements and innovations in animal care and conservation design.

The details

Architecture and construction science students at the University of Oklahoma collaborated to handle framing, concrete work, roofing, and siding for the facility. The structure was commissioned after WildCare challenged the university’s design-build program to create a space that meets the specific rehabilitation needs of bats and swifts.

The University of Oklahoma launched its design-build program in 2017.
The project received the Architecture-Design Award in October 2026.

Roadmap

This project highlights a shift toward integrating specialized ecological requirements into student-led architectural training. By applying these skills to animal rehabilitation, the university positions its program to influence future standards for non-human habitat design.

Residents in the Norman area may see improved outcomes for local wildlife rehabilitation efforts managed by groups like WildCare. The design methodology demonstrates how local academic projects can provide tangible infrastructure improvements for regional conservation.

The takeaway

Collaborative design-build programs can effectively bridge the gap between academic theory and the practical requirements of wildlife conservation. These cross-disciplinary efforts demonstrate that students can address complex real-world needs while gaining specialized technical experience.