DIMENSION Magazine • Fall 2023 • UH Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN / FALL 2023 / ARCH.UH.EDU

THE G N I H S PU S OF E I R A D B OUN

N G I S E D COVER STORY David Edquilang's ('22) Lunet Wins Red Dot Luminary Award

TO THE FUTURE Envisioning a New Astrodome + Students Entering the Ivy League

STUDENT SUCCESS A New Wave of Entrepreneurs + Student Council Makes a Difference

INNOVATION Faculty Exhibitions + Alumni Making Strides in the Industry

FACULTY FOCUS HOME-OFFICE founders, Hines College assistant professor Daniel Jacobs and Rice assistant professor Brittany Utting, put on the MESO-COSM exhibition earlier this fall as a part of the ADAPTATION Lecture and Exhibition series and Hines Design as Scholar/Scholar as Design program. Read more on page 30.

Photo by Sean Fleming (MAAS '20)

CONTENTS FEATURES

28 Reaching for the Moon Recent graduate developed 3D printable prostheses to restore amputees’ finger mobility and was honored with prestigious, international design awards

34 Envisioning a New Astrodome

40 Ivy League Bound: Hines

Hines College-led team wins national competition in building performance through an integrated approach

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GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

Students Take the Next Step Alumni share experiences influencing their pursuit of graduate studies

44 Celebrating 20 Years of Industrial Design Hines College program’s anniversary spotlights its rapid growth and global reputation

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FACULTY FOCUS

ALUMNI BULLETIN

26 Building Heights in Education

50 Architecture + Design Alumni

and Industry

Awards 2023 Winners

27 UH Architecture and

50 UH Architecture + Design

Engineering Team’s Thermodynamic House to Compete in Housing Event

28 A Toast to Shafik Rifaat

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Alumni Annual Meeting

51 New Members Inducted into UH Chapter of Tau Sigma Delta This Fall

28 Dalia Munenzon in Future

51 Alum Named AIA Associate

Cities—City Futures

Member of the Year

28 The Hair Salon at the Catch

51 Melvalean McLemore Day

Associate Dean Dietmar Froehlich, Ph.D., RA Associate Dean Trang Phan, Ph.D.

These Compliments Festival

29 Hines Researchers Partner with City of Houston to Address Resiliency

52 Preparing Students for Career Fair

53 Women Alumni Honored by Houston Business Journal

29 Bruce Race Interviewed by Evolve Houston

Dean Patricia Belton Oliver, FAIA

53 Where Architecture and

Dimension is published by the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Office of Marketing and Communications.

Fashion Meet

30 MESO-COSM Exhibition

53 UltraBarrio featured in Architect Magazine in Next Progressives Spotlight

IN EVERY ISSUE 4

Dean's Letter

6

Upcoming Events

8

College News

54 Alumni Spotlights

Director of Alumni Relations Dianca Chase Director of Digital Media Nicholas Nguyen

68 Studio Spotlight

Graduate Assistants Symone Daniels Lyric Iglehart

STUDENT STORIES 10 Welcoming in the Collegiate Experience

14 Scholarship Award Recognizes Power of Personal Identity

16 FWIA Midterm Drawing Competition Winners

17 IASA Receives Gift from Faculty 17 Students Present Final Projects at the Houston Climate Justice Museum

18 Student Organizations You

Executive Director of Marketing, Communications, and External Relations Stephen Schad

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Student Assistants Insherah Alhajrasi Joshua Peterson On the cover: The award-winning Lunet prostheses designed by David Edquilang ('22).

Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture & Design 4200 Elgin St. Houston, TX 77204 713-743-2400 arch.uh.edu

Should Know

21 Graziegiving 2023

/UHCoAD

21 CoAD STUCO Brings Healthier

@UHCoAD

Food Options to the College

/school/UHCoAD

22 Design Students Who Mean Business DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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DEAN'S LETTER Dear Friends, As an institution of higher education, research and innovation are core to our mission of preparing students to challenge the status quo and advance design in support of all communities across the globe. This fall 2023 issue of DIMENSION emphasizes how our Hines College community is pushing the boundaries of design.

Our cover story highlights Lunet, a 3D-printed, open-source, finger prosthesis developed by recent graduate David Edquilang ('22) and his mentor, associate professor of industrial design Jeff Feng. Lunet received this year's coveted international Red Dot Luminary Award, a distinction previously bestowed upon seasoned professionals and major corporations, including Hyundai and Yamaha. In November, the Hines College’s industrial design program "Research and celebrated its 20th anniversary, innovation are core showcasing its growth and immeasurable talent that solidifies it to our mission of as an international powerhouse.

preparing students to challenge the status quo and advance design in support of all communities across the globe."

Assistant professor Mili Kyropoulou and her team of industry colleagues, including Hines College alumni Alfonso Hernandez (M.Arch. '08), Rosa Martell ('20), and Felipe Villareal (M.Arch. '23), recently garnered national attention for their award-winning redesign of Houston's historic Astrodome. The team approached their unique repurposing of the iconic structure by utilizing building performance data to inform their innovative design strategy.

After a short time working in industry, alumni Patrick Margain ('22) and Ana Sevilla ('22) decided they wanted to take the next step in their academic careers. Stepping out of their comfort zones, they share their experience and journeys to pursue graduate studies and find their place at Harvard Graduate School of Design and Princeton University.

I hope the accomplishments of our faculty, students, and alumni, will inspire each of you as you explore pushing the boundaries of design in everything you do.

Warm regards,

Patricia Belton Oliver, FAIA, Dean ACSA Distinguished Professor Director, designLAB

FEATURED STORY Hines College industrial design co-director Jeff Feng with David Edquilang ('22) in Singapore at the Red Dot Awards ceremony where Lunet earned Edquilang the Luminary Award. Read more on page 28.

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DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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UPCOMING EVENTS

ADAPTATION LECTURE SERIES UH Architecture Building Theater Adaptation implies a response to change. To adapt means to adjust, modify, and alter one's response to changes in its various forms: slow, radical, planetary, and local. Adaptation suggests acknowledging new ways, ideas, technologies, and mindsets reacting and responding to possible futures, messy pasts, and complex contexts. Adaptation also refers to switching genres and media to serve better communication or to reach new audiences. The processes of adaptation are often not as transparent as we would like them to be. They invite analyses, careful investigations, and debates on usefulness, functionality, reuse, ruin, and waste. Adaptation may sometimes mean finding ways to survive conditions that are not ideal and out of control, whereas adapting may mean recalibrating one's expectations to fit into new paradigms. As we confront inequities emerging from discrimination, gentrification, and climate change, among other global shifts, adaptation is everywhere. Our lecture series cuts across geographies and disciplines to look at crises and inflection points, changing extraction and expert cultures, mutating legal, regulatory, and mapping systems, preservation and surgical interventions, and innovative and interdisciplinary construction practices.

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January 29 Aleksandra Jaeschke The University of Texas at Austin | Assistant Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Design February 5 David Patton Vari | Vice President of Product Design February 12 Mariana Ordóñez Grajales + Jesica Amescua Carrera Communal | Founders February 19 Michael Hsu Michael Hsu Office of Architecture | Principal February 26 Jason Long OMA | Partner

GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

CAREER FAIR February 22 + 23, 2024 UH Architecture Building The Hines College’s annual spring Career Fair is a collaboration with the Architecture + Design Alumni Association and University Career Services. The event is open to all the College’s students and recent alumni. Each day, the morning is dedicated to meet-and-greet opportunities, and the afternoon is devoted to pre-scheduled interviews. If you are an employer interested in participating in the Career Fair, contact Dianca Chase at dlchase@central.uh.edu.

END-OF-YEAR SHOW Beginning April 26, 2024 UH Architecture Building The end-of-year show is an extension of the work presented during Jury Week, allowing more time for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the College to view this semester’s work outside of the busyness of Jury Week.

Stop by the Hines College and explore student work of all levels and disciplines pinned up throughout the architecture building. The show will run through graduation on May 9.

EXHIBITION OPENING: ANNUAL ID EXHIBITION May 3, 2024 UH Architecture Building The College’s industrial design program hosts its annual ID Exhibition and Senior + Graduate Showcase, full of cuttingedge and innovative student work from the 2023-2024 academic year.

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY + CELEBRATION May 9, 2024 Cullen Performance Hall + UH Architecture Building The College’s annual spring commencement ceremony makes the move to Cullen Performance Hall this year, bringing the College’s graduation festivities to a more accessible but intimate venue. Following the ceremony, graduates and their guests are invited to the architecture building for a celebration reception with the opportunity for photos, visits with alumni and friends, and even confetti.

All dates are subject to change. Visit uh.edu/architecture for current details.

DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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COLLEGE NEWS

Strategic Planning Update

BELOW: The Strategic Plan Open House #3 on September 13 offered the Hines College community a chance to review the action plans

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OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE HINES COLLEGE’S STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND ALUMNI CAME together as a community committed to charting the College’s path forward. The strategic planning process included three open house events, seven faculty gatherings, three working group meetings (including additional extensive topic subcommittee work), and twelve College leadership team meetings. Facilitated by Gensler’s Jim Oswald and Maria Edmundson and integrating the feedback of our entire community, the process resulted in an inclusive strategic plan framework set to guide our College’s future.

GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

On September 13, the Hines College hosted the final open house event of the strategic planning process. With impressive attendance, our community provided feedback on each program’s action plans. —Stephen Schad

SEE THE SUMMARY Scan the QR code to view the strategic planning project summary and learn more about the process and the resulting strategic plan.

BASE Lab

Day of Service

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR MILI KYROPOULOU HAS INITIATED A NEW VENTURE FOR research at the Hines College. The Building Analytics and Sustainable Environments (BASE) Laboratory is a conglomeration of research initiatives promoting performancebased, human-centric thinking for sustainable environmental design at the building and urban scale. The Lab aims to challenge traditional design processes by prioritizing sustainability and human well-being while addressing resilience in the era of climate change. Use of computational analytics, specialized sensing equipment, and qualitative methods to approach research questions, assists studio and thesis projects, encourages interdisciplinary collaborations, and promotes innovation in highperformance architecture. BASE Lab is a space of exploration where we learn how environments inform the design process and how design affects the environment. —S.S.

A NEW ACADEMIC YEAR MARKED THE START OF A NEW TRADITION. ON SEPTEMBER 9, MEMBERS OF THE Hines College community dedicated their time to volunteer at the Houston Food Bank during a Day of Service, collaborating with fellow UH partners, including the Bauer College of Business and the Young Alumni Association. Following a morning service, volunteers came to campus for a welcome-back celebration on the front lawn and atrium of the architecture building, featuring games and delicious food. —S.S. TOP TO BOTTOM: Volunteering at the Houston Food Bank; Enjoying an afternoon with food and games at the College

Online Presence THIS YEAR, THE HINES COLLEGE REDESIGNED THREE OF ITS PROGRAMS’ WEBSITES – GRADUATE STUDIES, industrial design, and environmental design – to engage prospective students better. The new microsites enhance user experience and include more information, including each program’s best student work. —S.S.

GRADUATE STUDIES

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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STUDENT STORIES

Welcoming in the Collegiate Experience

ABOVE: New students and student organizations pose in front of the Architecture Building OPPOSITE PAGE: Student leaders led tours around the College

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FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS, THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE of Architecture and Design student organizations welcomed new incoming students for an entirely inperson day of welcome on Sunday, August 20. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Welcome Day has taken on many different forms, but this year's event brought back long-awaited vibes of the past.

"This was the first Welcome Day in years where all students were able to be together as one large group and have inperson introductions from faculty," shared student leader Emmelia Ward. "Dean Patricia Oliver, associate dean Trang

GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

Phan, academic advisors, and program directors attended to share useful information with our incoming students."

Welcome Day is wholly run by the Hines College's student organizations and supported by donations solicited from the Houston community. Although organized by student organizations each year, new fresh faces represent these organizations and participate in planning, bringing new ideas but keeping true to Welcome Day's roots..

The three-decades-long tradition provides new students a less formal orientation and a more personal inside look into their Hines College experience. Throughout the day-

PHOTOS BY ROBERTO BONILLA, MARCOS CORONEL AND EMMELIA WARD

Hines College student organizations welcome new incoming students

"Although the University and College have changed across the years, Welcome Day is a constant and endures as a hallmark for thousands of new architecture and design majors." —Associate Dean Trang Phan, Ph.D. DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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STUDENT STORIES CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: New students had a chance to meet student organizations that they could join; Tours around the building helped new students find their way; Students learned about the Keeland Lab facilities

long event, students have an opportunity to visit one-onone with current students, faculty, and staff, learn more about what to expect during their academic career, and discover how they can be involved in College.

"Although the University and College have changed across the years, Welcome Day is a constant and endures as a hallmark for thousands of new architecture and design majors," said associate dean Trang Phan, Ph.D. "For incoming students, the new school year does not truly start until Welcome Day kicks it off!"

New to this year's Welcome Day was the opportunity for students to connect with their program of interest.

"Directors of industrial design, interior architecture, and architecture were all invited to provide more insight on the differences between our college's programs," said Ward.

"We wanted students to be able to align themselves more with the program suiting them."

There is something undoubtably special about the Hines College's Welcome Day each year. As a college with such a distinct culture built around the studio experience, new students must have the chance to hear from current students and establish bonds that will carry them through as they begin this new journey.

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GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

"While the University hosts many onboarding events for new students each fall, the Hines College's Welcome Day is one of a kind," shared Phan. "Our students and student organizations work hard throughout the summer to host Welcome Day because they know from first-hand experience that a sense of belonging and community can lead to student success and personal agency. Welcome Day is not just a student-led event but a prominent part of the College's history and our students' collegiate experience." —Stephen Schad

Fall 2023 Welcome Back Messages In addition to Welcome Day, students shared words of wisdom with the incoming class

ESTHER OLUKOSI (‘26)

TAYLOR LANGMEAD (‘25)

DANIELA ALVARADO (‘25)

TAMYRIA LEVY (‘26)

Architecture

Architecture

Interior Architecture

Architecture

“Be open to asking for critiques from professors and peers. Try your best to find a balance between your social life and classes.”

“Make friends! The course load can easily be overwhelming, but with the help of your peers it can make your life a lot easier (and more fun).”

“Never be afraid to reach out for help.

We have all been in your spot and know it can be overwhelming at first, but we are more than happy to help.”

“Embrace studio culture! You’ll spend a significant amount of your time in studio, so make it fun! Talk to people, make it a community.”

VARSHINI CHOUTHRI (‘25)

ISABELLA NGUYEN (‘25)

COLLIN TREVINO (‘27)

MELISSA AMARO (‘24)

Industrial Design

Interior Architecture

Architecture

Interior Architecture

“You are not alone. You will make amazing friendships that will last a lifetime, and you will always have constant support around you.”

“When you feel stuck, pause for ten minutes, go grab your favorite drink or sweet, or even just go outside.

Take a good breath of fresh air.”

“Advice I’d have for incoming students would be to properly schedule appointments for the Keeland Lab due to limited availability.”

“Socialize with your classmates and with upperclassmen. Join student organizations and stay active. Have fun and enjoy the work you do.”

ESTHER UMOH (‘26)

SANJANA BHERI (‘26)

THOMAS FEUILLET (‘24)

ADRIANE MONROY (‘26)

Architecture

Architecture

Industrial Design

Architecture

“Know the difference between multitasking and being productive.

Time management is essential to being productive.”

“Don’t hesitate to talk to upperclassmen about school and more.

We’ve all been where you are and want to help out in any way possible.”

“Show up ready, eat well, take notes during critique, and sleep well. Effort is your new best friend.”

“Don’t stress out over not knowing what to do as a designer and having ‘bad ideas.’ We learn from mistakes.

Be patient with yourself.”

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STUDENT STORIES

Scholarship Award Recognizes Power of Personal Identity Alumna receives 2023 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship THE ARCHITECTS FOUNDATION RECENTLY AWARDED UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GERALD D. HINES College of Architecture and Design alumna Michelle Ovanessians (' 23) the 2023 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship. The $10,000 scholarship supporting women studying architecture in a NAAB-accredited bachelor's or master's degree program honors the legacy of Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, an American Institute of Architects (AIA) leader and long-term principal at Payette, passionate for the firm's work in healthcare architecture.

The Scholarship seeks to support architects focused on improving the human condition and quality of life. Ovanessians' application reflected her unique

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background of having been born into a "nomadic-like" lifestyle due to living as an Armenian-American in multiple countries, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the United States. Her fascination with vast atmospheres created by the built environment became apparent during her upbringing in very different societies.

"Along my journey, I encountered fleeting narratives that gradually imbued me with a unique wisdom and an authentic approach to life," said Ovanessians.

Outside of the significant financial support, each Scholarship recipient is assigned a senior mentor to help establish contacts within the profession for a year.

Ovanessians also discovered great value in the network of Sho-Ping Chin scholars. This year, the prestigious

Ovanessians' success sets a path for designers seeking to bring personal experience into their design work.

Her projects serve as an extension of her identity, an expression reflected in her unique style, inspiring others to express themselves more fully.

PHOTOS BY HUSSEIN ALHAMADANI AND ARIYAN FOULADVAND

2023 AIA Women in Leadership Summit Conference in Boston featured a new cohort of scholars. The annual summit unites women across architecture and design, empowering women in their journey to leadership and operating around barriers to their progress in the field.

"I am grateful for the chance to be part of these meaningful gatherings," shared Ovanessians. "I look forward to the continued growth and collaboration within our academic and professional communities."

Throughout her undergraduate academic career, Ovanessians curated projects garnering recognition in the architecture community. Most recently, the 2023 Architizer Vision Awards celebrated Ovanessians as a Special Mention honoree for her project Nuke Town and, again, as a Special Mention honoree for her project A Bosnian Folktale with classmate Bruno Belo Xavier. She has also seen recognition from the 2023 and 2022 AIA Houston Design Awards, the 2023 AIA Dallas Design Awards, the 2022 DCA Drawing Exhibition, and the 2021 AIA Fort Worth Excellence in Architecture Student Design Awards.

Ovanessians' success sets a path for designers seeking to bring personal experience into their design work.

Her projects serve as an extension of her identity, an expression reflected in her unique style, inspiring others to express themselves more fully. She hopes that others like her will embrace innovation and non-conformity and employ architecture in a mission to use expression to represent underrepresented voices.

"In architecture, a flexible and non-linear approach to design is key," explained Ovanessians. "Embrace sketching and allow ideas to evolve organically. Design is anything but linear." —Lyric Iglehart PREVIOUS PAGE: The Sho-Ping Ching Exhibit at the AIA Women's Leadership Summit featuring Ovanessian's work ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Ovanessians hopes others will embrace innovation and non-conformity in architecture; An image from A Bosnian Folktale that garnered recognition from Architizer; A panel from Nuke Town that has won multuple awards this year DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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STUDENT STORIES

FWIA Midterm Drawing Competition Winners Future Women in Architecture hosts a midterm drawing competition each semester with cash prizes for students across three levels of studio categories.

FIRST COLUMN: A render and model from Avery Ford's Library of Plants SECOND COLUMN: Renders from Angela Altamirano's and Deigo Contreras's The Frustum Homestead OPPOSITE PAGE, FIRST COLUMN: Renders and drawings from Benjamin Gonzales's and Esmer Leija's Capilla Purisima Concepción

1500+2500 CATEGORY: Library of Plants by Avery Ford from adjunct professor Katie LaRose's 2500 studio Avery describes the project: "Combining ideas from libraries and greenhouses, my program for 110 Milam Street is not just focusing on water in the area, but a food pantry full of natural foods such as fruits and vegetables for those experiencing food insecurity in Houston."

3500+4510 CATEGORY: The Frustum Homestead by Angela Altamirano and Diego Contreras from adjunct professor Jesse Hager's 4510 studio Angela and Deigo explained, "This project began with an analysis of the Startup Lions Campus and aimed to gain a deeper understanding of African architecture.

It focused on the evolution of traditional vernacular architecture in Eswatini, reflecting the region's climate and various clan groups."

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GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

"The importance of community and communal gatherings was a central theme. The concept of the homestead, with a central building as the anchor for other structures, played a pivotal role in the project."

The Frustum, a pyramid-like structure representing the theme, introduced curved cuts to subdivide its spaces.

Benefits to this shape included creating courtyard spaces and natural ventilation. The team added, "Overall, the project reimagined African architecture by incorporating traditional elements to foster community engagement and respond to environmental concerns with sustainable materials. It aimed to create spaces that harmonized culture, climate, and community for the benefit of its users."

5500+GRAD CATEGORY: Capilla Purisima Concepción

by Benjamin Gonzales and Esmer Leija from professor Rafael Longoria's 5500 studio

IASA Receives Gift From Faculty AT THE START OF THE SEMESTER, HINES COLLEGE INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE PROFESSOR JAMES THOMAS GIFTED THE UH INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION WITH A $1,000 donation to support the organization's goals. Here, IASA president Kate Rodriguez poses on the left with professor Thomas along with fellow officers Vivian Nguyen and Maritsa Cabrera at an interior architecture program meeting kicking off the semester.

"This gift means a great deal to us!" said Kate. "As a small non-profit organization, the donation will help us further the goals we intend to fulfill this year as seniors. We hope to create a space in honor of Professor Thomas to exercise our interior architecture skills as well as a place where students can sit and relax somewhere other than our studios."

She added, "This year, we plan to have fun and informative events that intrigue and invite new and returning students at the college to learn about interior architecture and our organization.

With this donation, IASA can continue to grow our community and pave the way for many more generations." —N.N.

The Capilla Purisima Concepcion exemplifies the envisioned fusion of a chapel and pavilion concept tailored for the Hercules community in Queretaro. The project envisions the fusion of a chapel and pavilion concept specifically for the Hercules community in Querétaro, Mexico. "With a resolute commitment to establishing a multifunctional venue, including hosting events like La Carrera de Las Cruces, the community endeavors to bring forth a chapel that is both architecturally refined and economically feasible," they explained. The proposal includes construction proceeding in phases to adhere to budgetary constraints while maintaining aesthetic integrity.

Benjamin and Esmer continued, "Central to our design philosophy is the reverence for Hercules' unique context, manifesting in the deliberate integration of awe-inspiring vistas. Our vision seeks to orchestrate a sacred passage, providing a transcendent experience for visitors."

Students Present Final Projects at the Houston Climate Justice Museum STUDENTS IN THE "MEDIATED NATURES" ELECTIVE, LED BY HINES COLLEGE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR DANIEL JACOBS, PRESENTED THEIR FINAL PROJECTS AT THE Houston Climate Justice Museum (HCJM) on December 4. Throughout the semester, students discussed how architecture, art, and media construct our understanding of the concept of nature, sustainability, and the environment. The course explored how architectural design thinking can help project future modes of environmental co-existence and care. Earlier in the semester, the students had the opportunity to visit the Menil Drawing Institute to look at a series of works related to representation of the environment from the collection, as well as the Climate Migrations exhibition at the HCJM, and the Beautiful City—Empty City show at the Architecture Center Houston.

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STUDENT STORIES

Student Organizations You Should Know:

The Architecture Lobby at UH Advocating for students and preparing them for the profession while championing equity and fairness AFTER TAKING A BREAK FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR, THE ARCHITECTURE LOBBY AT UH (TAL@UH) IS BACK AT FULL THROTTLE. THE student organization reformed in time for Welcome Day to introduce themselves to the incoming class and have planned events every month to advance their goals and set new ones as a chapter.

While TAL@UH offers social events throughout the fall semester, its primary focus is helping students prepare for careers through interview workshops, learning about firm culture, and how to apply for internships. In addition to these events, the Lobby has also hosted several sessions with faculty, former faculty, and industry professionals allowing students an opportunity to candidly discuss the profession and education. One principle TAL@UH values is transparency, reducing barriers students and graduates face as they navigate their careers.

centered initiatives to reform the academic and professional culture of architecture for a new generation of students. We aim to fill gaps in our curriculum and foster critical reflection within our community, both as an educational institution and a discipline.

What initiatives or projects has The Architecture Lobby been involved in to promote equitable environments and labor practices within the architectural profession?

LG: TAL is an organization advocating for equitable and ethical labor practices within the architectural profession. They are committed to addressing issues such as fair wages, diversity, sustainability, and social responsibility within the field of architecture through working groups like:

In Houston, TAL@UH strives to highlight the broad potential influence and responsibility of

1. Green New Deal Working Group: The Architecture Lobby has been involved in discussions and

The group aims to follow the initiatives of The Architecture Lobby national chapter while forging its own path addressing issues students and professionals in Houston face. Here, we spoke with the officers of TAL@UH to understand their goals. Meet the team behind TAL@UH and learn how to join or support the organization.

ABOVE: The student leaders of The Architecture Lobby at UH

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Can you explain the primary goals and mission of The Architecture Lobby at UH and how it advocates for just labor practices in the field of architecture?

Litzy Garcia, President: The Architecture Lobby at UH is an organization dedicated to addressing issues of labor and their sociopolitical intersections at all scales. Within the Hines College, TAL@UH promotes labor-

architecture. We also act as a bridge between students of architecture at UH and labor-related issues in the city at large. On a global scale, we will connect with TAL chapters in other cities and contribute to TAL’s national and international campaigns. As members transition to alumni, we actively work towards establishing a Houston TAL chapter.

This chapter enhances the impact of our global-scale efforts, making them more robust and impactful over time.

GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

actions related to the Green New Deal, aiming to address climate change, social and economic inequality, and other related issues. Their focus is on the role of architecture in supporting these goals.

2. Housing Working Group: This group focuses on issues related to affordable housing, gentrification, and the social responsibility of architects in addressing housing inequality. They seek to promote equitable housing solutions.

3. #NotOurWall Campaign: This campaign aimed to raise awareness about the ethical implications of architects and designers participating in the design and construction of structures such as the U.S.Mexico border wall. It encouraged

architects to consider the social and political impact of their work.

4. Cooperative Network Campaign: This campaign emphasizes the value of cooperatives and alternative business models within the architecture profession.

It seeks to promote collaboration and more equitable working conditions for architects.

5. Unionization Campaign: The Architecture Lobby has been involved in efforts to support the unionization of architectural professionals. They believe that unions can help protect the rights and interests of workers in the field.

6. Academia Working Group: This group focuses on issues within architectural education, including the working conditions of

educators, the cost of education, and the need for more inclusive and equitable curricula.

How does The Architecture Lobby work to address issues such as fair wages, diversity, and inclusion in architecture firms and educational institutions?

LG: TAL is a grassroots organization advocating for labor rights and social justice within the field of architecture. It seeks to address issues such as fair wages, diversity, and inclusion in both architecture firms and educational institutions through a variety of strategies, though it is important to note that specific initiatives may vary over time. TAL focuses on advocacy and awareness, educational initiatives, promoting paid labor and fair internships, advancing diversity and inclusion efforts,

BELOW, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Lobby welcomed new students at Welcome Day this fall; TAL@UH President Litzy Garcia hosts a meeting; The Lobby invited assistant professor Daniel Jacobs to speak about the profession's labor practices; A social event for painting pumpkins in the Allen Media Room

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STUDENT STORIES developing research surrounding data on labor practices and issues in the architecture profession, and providing opportunities for networking and collaboration.

It is crucial to recognize that The Architecture Lobby is not a single, centralized entity, and its initiatives may vary depending on local chapters or the current leadership's focus. However, the common thread is the advocacy for more equitable and just practices within the architecture profession, and its efforts extend to both educational institutions and architecture firms.

What resources or tools does The Architecture Lobby provide to support architects in advocating for their labor rights and creating more equitable work environments?

LG: They offer various resources and tools to support architects in their advocacy efforts, including the ABC School (an online platform providing free educational resources and discussions for architects), publications and statements, advocacy and networking, workshops and events, and advocacy toolkit, information sharing related to labor rights and equitable work environments, and advocacy for unionization.

Can you share examples of successful advocacy efforts or campaigns led

by TAL@UH to pursue just labor practices in architecture?

Amal Khalil, Secretary: Although TAL@UH just re-formed in the fall of 2023 and has not had the opportunity to lead advocacy campaigns, TAL on a national scale has many examples of successful efforts, including: • "Not My Intern" Campaign: The campaign is an initiative aimed at ending unpaid internships in the architectural profession.

• "50-50 by 2020" Pledge: TAL encouraged architectural firms and organizations to take the "5050 by 2020" pledge, committing firms to achieving gender equity and diversity in leadership positions by the year 2020.

• Educational Initiatives: Educational initiatives, including

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workshops, conferences, and lectures, raise awareness about labor issues and promote a greater understanding of social justice within the architectural community, ultimately providing a platform for dialogue and learning.

• Advocacy for Improved Workplace Conditions: TAL is actively involved in advocating for improved workplace conditions for architectural professionals, including fair wages, reasonable working hours, and adherence to labor laws.

• Ethical Design and Environmental Responsibility: The organization advocates for ethical design practices and environmental responsibility within the field of architecture.

How does The Architecture Lobby engage with architectural firms, academic institutions, and government bodies to drive change and promote equitable environments?

GJ Hartsfield, Research Coordinator: TAL continues opening dialogues with students, faculty, and firms, making it clear its advocacy extends beyond architectural labor to encompass all forms of labor.

TAL@UH collaborates closely with other student organizations at the University of Houston to join forces in supporting the success of emerging professionals. To this end, we regularly advocate for and petition the introduction of more resources for students, better quality spaces, the importance of mental health, solidarity with all forms of human labor, practical education of students (internships, labor practices, etc.), and radical ideas for a better future.

What role does TAL@UH see itself playing in shaping the future of the architectural profession in terms of labor practices and equity?

Angela Altamarino, Vice President: TAL@UH sees itself as a tool and platform for others to learn, express, and advocate. We look forward to being part of architecture students' journeys through their majors, serving not only as a tool but also as a community for individuals to

GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

grow personally and professionally by consistently projecting ourselves with honesty and transparency about labor practices.

Are there specific challenges or obstacles that TAL@UH has encountered in its advocacy work, and how does it address them?

Evelyn Huerta, Publicist: One of the biggest challenges we have faced is the realization that many students aspiring to enter the field of architecture are often unaware of what to expect. The architecture field itself lacks transparency concerning wages and working conditions. As an organization, we have made it our goal to educate and openly discuss the realities of working in the field without filters. Though some may perceive our efforts as deterring emerging architects from engaging in the field, our true intention is to ensure everyone possesses a more informed perspective when searching for and applying for jobs.

In what ways can individual architects and students get involved with The Architecture Lobby to support its mission and initiatives?

Diego Contreras, Social Coordinator: Getting involved in TAL@UH is as easy as becoming a member. TAL@UH members enjoy a number of benefits: • Access to our discussion platforms and to the national TAL platform (mobilize.io), which members can use to connect with hundreds of other members, past and present, and keep up-to-date with events • A vote on resolutions and bylaw amendments • A direct stake in the actions, projects, and direction of the organization Individual architects can also support our efforts and get involved by being part of our multiple professional lectures and events throughout the semester at the Hines College. —Lyric Iglehart & Nicholas Nguyen Follow The Architecture Lobby at UH on Instagram: @archlobbyuh

Graziegiving 2023 Annual tradition highlighted giving back to the community and student body IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING, THE COAD STUDENT COUNCIL HOSTED A CAN DONATION DRIVE IN NOVEMBER AND CELEBRATED THE EFFORTS OF Hines College students with Graziegiving! The annual tradition also included college staff and faculty giving time to help serve students dinner. This year, Dean Patricia Belton Oliver was joined by Associate Deans Dietmar Froehlich and Trang Phan along with ID co-director Jeff Feng. Students enjoyed tasty food and festivities in Room 143 and dined al fresco outside the loading dock. CoAD STUCO leaders also gave students updates on the organization’s agenda and announced the winners of the food donation drive. —N.N.

CoAD STUCO Brings Healthier Food Options to the College Student Council worked with UH departments to install a Farmer's Fridge in the building THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF THE COAD STUDENT COUNCIL, A NEW FARMER'S FRIDGE VENDING MACHINE HAS arrived at the Hines College. Last year, the initiative began with the council sending surveys to the College community to bring healthier and fresh food options to students. They collected signatures for a petition and presented to UH Auxiliary Services, which led to working with the UH Food Advisory Committee.

Former STUCO chair Kadmiel Konan ('23) said, "This is the culmination of a long commitment we made, and it shows the power of the students and their representatives. The CoAD students deserve the best food UH can offer." He thanked the current officers for continuing the work and making the students' requests a reality.

Current vice-chair Arely Canales volunteered to attend meetings with the UH Food Advisory Committee alongside Associate Dean Trang Phan to advocate for students' needs. She added, "I am personally thrilled to finally see the change that the CoAD STUCO has been working on. We are beyond proud of all the efforts of STUCO past and of present STUCO to ensure that the voices of the student body are heard and that actions are being taken to better the experience for everyone."

The machine has been operational since the end of October, and is seeing daily use from the Hines College community. We're grateful to our student leaders and organizations who lead the charge in making a positive impact on the College! —N.N.

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STUDENT STORIES

Design Students Who Mean Business Hines College entrepreneurial side shines through students’ personal ventures and real-world opportunities

A NEW WAVE OF ENTREPRENEURS IS EMERGING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON — UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF Architecture and Design students are leveraging their talents to navigate the intersection of creativity and commerce. Using their design education and foundations, students have started small businesses, helped family members run their own, and enrolled in a studio course, culminating in an opportunity to sell their wares at local boutiques.

GETTING CRAFTY AT THE UH HOLIDAY MARKET In November, the second annual UH Holiday Market organized by RED Labs at the C.T. Bauer College of Business's Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship attracted more than 70 student-run businesses.

Seven Hines College architecture, interior architecture, and industrial design students participated in the event, showcasing their products and crafts or serving as business partners using their creative talents to manage branding, marketing, and photography.

Learn more about some of these students' work and how they use their design skills in business.

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INSHERAH ALHAJRASI (’26) Major: Architecture Business Name: Fofo Crochet Role: Partner What type of products does your business sell?

Crochet amigurumis, keychains, car hangers, clothes, and more!

What inspired you to get involved in this business?

My foremost source of inspiration is my mother, Wafa Quttainah. Her journey in crocheting began in 2016, initially making things for family and friends. Over the years, I encouraged her to continue her passion, and to my delight, she restarted and astounded me with remarkable advancement in her craft. I started

GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

marketing for her and taking photos of her products, encouraging her.

What did you learn from participating in the Holiday Market?

I learned how UH embodies incredible power and excellence.

Within this diverse community, numerous amazing businesses and original ideas were found, showcasing everyone's creativity and potential.

How do your design skills and creativity help with your business?

My photography background and entrepreneurship certificate through the Wolff Center bring a unique blend of visual skills, storytelling abilities, and client-focused thinking to my study of architecture. It enhances my eye for design, attention to detail, and innovative approach to creating compelling and functional spaces.

JONATHAN VASQUEZ (’25) Major: Industrial Design Business Name: Gambit Rugs Role: Owner

What type of products does your business sell?

I sell 100% handmade rugs.

What inspired you to create this business?

I was inspired to start making rugs after seeing videos on Instagram and TikTok. I bought my own rug gun in March of this year and decided to give it a shot.

What did you learn from participating in the Holiday Market?

I learned that even if you do not make a sale, talking to people, sharing ideas, and meeting other people with other businesses can be rewarding.

How do your design skills and creativity help with your business?

As an industrial design student, professors always stress the importance of refining the small details. Those details are what separate good products or designs from great products or designs.

MELISSA AMARO ('24) Major: Interior Architecture Business Name: Diana's Crochet Role: Partner What type of products does your business sell?

We produce handmade crochet plushies, cup holders, shirts, bags, and jewelry.

What inspired you to get involved in this business?

Diana's Crochet is a business by my little sister Diana, my mom, and me.

Diana started crocheting in 2021 and learned to make plushies. After creating an Instagram to document her progress and creations, she sold some items to neighbors and friends. As demand grew, I partnered with my sister to help her financially with the cost of yarn.

Since then, she has made more crochet plushies while I handled her financials since she is still a high school student. I also have helped her create business collateral and

find market opportunities at my old high school.

What did you learn from participating in the Holiday Market?

We learned how much small business can impact and make customers and students happy. As the generations change, so do their interests — we learned what students and people were most interested in purchasing.

People are interested in seeing more markets from us and more variety, so having socials where they can follow and keep up with new additions is important. We also met a wonderful community of student-owned small businesses with so much talent.

How do your design skills and creativity help with your business?

My experience in interior architecture has helped me aid my sister's crochet small business by designing with her. Since I am a designer, I have learned to help her with her business cards, posters, and Instagram graphic posts. Design is

OPPOSITE PAGE: Insherah Alhajrasi, right, poses with her mother Wafa behind their vendor table at the UH Holiday Market BELOW, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Jonathan Vasquez creates handmade rugs; Melissa Amaro, right, helps her sister Diana with her crochet business; Alexia Orozco, right, got her brother Brandon started in crocheting

"I learned that even if you do not make a sale, talking to people, sharing ideas, and meeting other people with other businesses can be rewarding."

—Jonathan Vasquez

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ALEXIA OROZCO (' 26) Major: Architecture Business Name: Hook'd Handcrafts Role: Partner

"The value in this semester was the real-world learning outcomes that will hopefully prepare our students for the next phases of their design careers." —Meg Jackson

What type of products does your business sell?

Crochet items, from ornaments to bags.

What inspired you to get involved in this business?

My brother Brandon and I have worked on this business since July 2023. I started crocheting during the summer, and my brother also picked up on it when I started school in the fall.

What did you learn from participating in the Holiday Market?

We met many amazing people at the market and became inspired to work on more projects.

How do your design skills and creativity help with your business?

Having design skills has helped us a lot since we can design the look of our business, from materials to the product. It has also helped us to stay organized and on schedule.

EXPERIENCE WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS This fall, the Hines College's industrial design (ID) program offered a course entitled "Contemporary Objects" led by associate professor Meg Jackson. The seminar class consisted of seven ID students and

one senior architecture student looking to learn about product design, production, and working with retailers. "Collaboration with external industry partners has always been an important part of project-based learning in industrial design studio education," Jackson shared.

Students worked with Space Montrose owners Leila and Carlos Peraza several times throughout the semester to review their concepts and product ideas created specifically for the store. The boutique specializes in selling handcrafted goods by local designers and artists. Students were challenged with developing a clever idea while sticking to a timeline; their products had to be both economical and efficient to manufacture. Senior industrial design student Pascal J. Bakari ('24) created Natura Formatus, a line of plantable cards and notebooks where the paper contains wildflower seeds. "I hope to leverage the skills learned in this class on marketing and pitching a product to help me improve my own practice as an evolving designer," he shared.

Another senior student, Nicholas Meyer ('24), designed a collection of dinosaur-shaped objects called "Business Billy" and "Banker Bessie."

The former holds cards and the latter acts as a piggy bank. For him, practice was key. "Engaging in mass production, even as an individual, gets smoother and faster the more you make of a given product," Meyer said. "I got a good sense of how ambitious I can be in producing and

THIS PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Natura Formatus by Pascal J. Bakari; Nicholas Meyer's dinosaur-shaped products OPPOSITE PAGE: The "Contemporary Objects" class at Space Montrose; Shoppers peruse the students' designs on product launch night

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selling my own product, which I don't have much prior experience with."

Jackson added, "While there is an inherent risk to this process in that the students have to design and manufacture a run of products reviewed by the buyers for the store, participating in this type of learning benefits all the students."

With risks came rewards. As they considered logistical issues and worked to design practical solutions, students ultimately learned how to take a product from concept to market. "I learned a lot from this experience because of Professor Jackson's approach to the course. It was structured in a way that allowed each student to freely explore products and materials they're interested in, and she kept us on track with developing our ideas into marketable products for the clients," Bakari said.

Students also learned to reflect on their personal design identity to craft narratives behind their goods.

"The value in this semester was the real-world learning outcomes that will hopefully prepare our students for the next phases of their design careers," said Jackson.

The store interviewed each student on social media leading up to the products' launch. The studio concluded with a celebration at Space Montrose on December 7 to showcase and sell the students' limited run of products. —N.N.

PHOTOS BY PASCAL J. BAKARI

anything and everything, even in a small business.

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FACULTY FOCUS

Building Heights in Education and Industry AIA Houston celebrates Joseph Colaco as the 2023 Educator of the Year

Lyric Iglehart: What solidified your love for structural engineering growing up and throughout your career?

Joseph Colaco: I was good in mathematics and enjoyed being in construction. I found inspiration in meeting creative people and interacting with construction personnel. My first boss, Dr. Faz Khan, was a leading structural designer of tall buildings. He quickly became my mentor and impacted my work throughout my professional career.

LI: What was it like working with Gerald D. Hines?

JC: Working in the United States was very different than in India.

There is more of a spirit of collaboration in the States, and Hines was no exception. Hines had the best people working at his company and was conscientious about who he selected to work on his projects. As a result, he did some of the most innovative projects in the world. Working with Hines on trailblazing projects led us to wind tunnel testing for static and dynamic forces, window-wall testing, building instrumentation for performance, high-strength concrete, structural lightweight concrete, and many other items – all of which significantly impacted the industry.

INSPIRING GENERATIONS THROUGH HIS PASSION FOR structural engineering, the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) Houston Chapter honored Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design professor Joseph Colaco, Ph.D., as its 2023 Educator of the Year during their Annual Meeting this October. Growing up admiring the complexities of building design, for the last 53 years Colaco prepared students to pursue careers in architecture and engineering, hoping to pass along technical knowledge and skills to budding architects. Staff writer Lyric Iglehart sat down with Colcao about his experience in higher education and working with the College’s namesake, Gerald D. Hines.

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LI: What Hines projects in Houston were the most influential for you?

JC: The J.P. Morgan Chase tower was the tallest composite building in the United States for many years. One Shell Plaza was quite an anomaly in its construction, being the highest lightweight concrete building in the entire world. The geometric shape of Pennzoil Place, being a steel building with composite shear walls, was also quite extraordinary.

LI: What about structural engineering is most important for architecture students to understand?

JC: The basic principles of gravity, wind and seismic forces are highly essential. Students need knowledge of materials, primarily steel and concrete, and an understanding of structural systems for office

GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

"Instilling creativity in students while teaching them the foundations is crucial.

I always start with a blank slate and then go step-by-step through the decision-making process, making students justify each step in their process." buildings, apartments, hotels, industrial projects, etc. This awareness also influences their understanding of primary economic and construction considerations driving decision-making.

LI: After teaching for so long, are you still surprised by the ideas and suggestions students make?

JC: Instilling creativity in students while teaching them the foundations is crucial. I always start with a blank slate and then go step-by-step through the decision-making process, making students justify each step in their process. Students may bring new ideas to the table, including those related to sustainability and carbon capture. Still, most of the time, their ideas and suggestions align with the knowledge and skills I hope to foster in them.

LI: What should students take away from your classes and years of experience?

JC: The enthusiasm for students to learn in the classroom and on field trips is invaluable. I hope they remember that anything is possible if you employ your ingenuity and hard work. —Lyric Iglehart AT LEFT: Colaco also shared on social media, "This award gives me the continued motivation to transmit engineering knowledge to my architecture students to help their building design."

UH Architecture and Engineering Team’s Thermodynamic House to Compete in Housing Event Climate responsive house will be an adaptive smart home in hot temperatures A UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TEAM OF ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS AND designers will put their creative minds to the test as part of a new competition to design innovative, unique and fully operational homes to lead the housing transformation and showcase their talents. The inaugural Gateway Decathlon will bring together twelve teams from universities around the world to compete in ten different contests to address pressing questions regarding the future of housing. In October 2025, the university teams will transport their housing units to St. Louis to compete side-by-side while showcasing their houses at the three-week event.

Associate Professor Jason Logan will lead the UH team, comprised of faculty members Mili Kyropoulou, Andrew Kudless, Matt Johnson and instructional lab manager Joaquin Tobar Martinez of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, along with Professor Driss Benhaddou of the Cullen College of Engineering’s Technology Division. The UH team proposes to design and build a thermodynamic house that will be a climate-responsive and adaptive smart home. The team’s house is meant to be adaptable to increasing temperatures due to climate change.

“We have all experienced, as a result of overcooling, needing a sweater in a building when it is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside,” said Logan. “Buildings are inherently thermodynamic, yet most structures are homogenously air conditioned based on a singular notion of comfort. Our proposal offers an alternative through both passive and active conditioning systems that leverage different temperatures within a building to improve environmental performance.”

An active conditioning system uses mechanical means, such as air

conditioning or heating, to cool or heat the interior of a space.

Passive conditioning is a nonmechanical, natural way of conditioning a space, such as an open window providing coolness.

The team’s thermodynamic house will also incorporate an extensive exterior shading system to reduce the sun’s impact on the façade. It will use photovoltaic and rainwater collection systems to provide power and non-potable water for the home.

Following completion of the competition, the UH group will disassemble the home in St. Louis and rebuild it as a public exhibition on the UH campus. The edifice will remain as a testing lab for the University for continued environmental and performance analysis.

Participating teams will each receive $100,000 as seed funding from the Gateway South Innovation District, which is where the culminating event will be held in downtown St. Louis.

The UH group will also work with industry partners throughout the two-year process to cultivate in-kind donations and expertise contributing to the team’s overall design.

Gateway Decathlon aims to create a new marketplace for sustainable, off-site housing solutions in a time when the construction industry faces labor shortages, rising material costs and increasing demand for more sustainable housing.

Other teams in the competition include California Polytechnic State University; University of California at Riverside; a joint team from the University of Colorado Denver and Rice University; Kansas State University; University of Minnesota; joint teams from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, a joint team from New Jersey Institute of Technology and

Dalian University of Technology; Virginia Tech; a joint team from Washington University in St. Louis and Tongji University; a joint team from Xi'an Jiaotong University and Hebei University of Architecture; and Zhejiang Normal University.

—Rebeca Hawley TOP TO BOTTOM: A diagram of the team's thermodynamic house; A rendering by Henning Larsen that depics the site of the Gateway Decathlon competition DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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FACULTY FOCUS

Dalia Munenzon in Future Cities—City Futures HINES COLLEGE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR DALIA MUNENZON CONTRIBUTED THE CHAPTER "THE Urban Commons as a Remedy to Climate Change Vulnerabilities" in the book Future Cities—City Futures: Emerging Urban Perspectives.

The chapter delves into urban planning and sustainability complexities. Drawing from a Boston case study, the work discusses the challenges and opportunities of transforming shared urban spaces to enhance resilience against climate adversities. The text underscores the importance of community engagement, emphasizing that localized knowledge and collective practices can accelerate climate adaptation initiatives.

The book is available for free download. To get a copy, scan the QR code at right. —Nicholas Nguyen

A Toast to Shafik Rifaat THE ANNUAL HINES COLLEGE ALUMNI, FACULTY, AND STAFF Holiday Party included a special toast and moment to honor retiring professor Shafik Rifaat who began the master's program at the College and has been teaching for 50 years.

Speeches from Dean Patricia Belton Oliver, colleagues Joseph Colaco and Tom Diehl, and former student Julian Arango ('14) commemorated his time at the college. Cheers to this incredible achievement!

TOP TO BOTTOM: Shafik Rifaat with Dean Oliver; Professor Tom Diehl gives a speech in his honor

The Hair Salon at the Catch These Compliments Festival EARLIER IN DECEMBER, HINES COLLEGE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE SHERYL Tucker de Vazquez brought a new edition of The Hair Salon to the Catch These Compliments micro festival hosted by Houston NOMA. The Hair Salon was first exhibited at the Hines College in February, funded by a grant from the Graham Foundation.

"The Hair Salon 2.0–Zina Garrison Academy (ZGA) edition melds issues of identity and sustainability with natural Black hair styles informing the design of four shading/ ventilation chimneys for passive cooling of the tunnels and lightwells connecting ZGA’s proposed four enclosed tennis courts," she writes.

Informed by hair artist Shani Crowe’s Shakere Braids, the large-scale woven model is an abstraction of the ventilation chimney sheltering a suspended reading chamber. "The proposed ZGA campus is conceived as a holistic resilience-building, urban, and ecological system with sustainable, recreational, cultural, and agricultural components that operate synergistically to promote the mission of ZGA to help children develop into healthy, productive citizens through the discipline of the tennis game," Tucker de Vazquez adds. The project was done in collaboration with alumna Maisie Munoz ('22). —N.N. TOP TO BOTTOM: Woven Model of Shading/Ventilation Chimney inspired by Shani Crowe’s Shakere Braids; Render of Reading Room Reflected Ceiling; Render of Children’s Play Space

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GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

Hines Researchers Partner with City of Houston to Address Resiliency EPA grant prepares resilience plans for Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens communities HINES COLLEGE PROFESSOR BRUCE RACE, PH.D., HAS TEAMED with the City of Houston Health Department to work with the community in developing an overall climate resilience strategy for the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens.

The City’s Vulnerable to Vibrant: Strategies to Achieve Climate Resiliency in an Environmental Justice Community proposal received $1 million from the EPA. The government-to-government grant program supports a multi-pronged approach to address climate resiliency, environmental vulnerability, and economic disadvantages experienced by the community.

Race, joined by assistant professors Mili Kyropoulou and Dalia Munenzon, will assist the City of Houston in engaging the community and preparing a neighborhood resilience plan focusing on stormwater and heat island mitigation. The

community-based process takes place over a 12 to 18-month period and will inform pilot projects and action planning for larger, embedded infrastructure investments.

The challenge? Houston’s Fifth Ward and Kashmere Garden neighborhoods suffer extreme temperatures and flooding.

Houston’s urban heat island (UHI) temperatures are twice the national average, resulting in twice the energy bills. The median income household in Houston sees energy bills twice the percentage of household income as the national average. Race has mapped energy poverty in Harris County, and the map shows that the City’s wards have a high energy cost burden. These communities have lower household incomes and proportionally higher energy costs, with many living in older, poorly insulated homes without central

air conditioning. In addition, these neighborhoods are in UHIs, adding to household energy bills and impacting health.

Census Tract 212400 is in Kashmere Gardens and demonstrates how the lack of investment in the public realm can make things hotter. This tract lacks vegetative cover (trees and landscaping). The community has 56.4% of the cover of Houston, and as a result, its surface temperatures average 109°F during the summer, ranging 12ºF hotter than rural areas surrounding the city.

Hemmed in by Buffalo Bayou, I-69, I-610, and the UPRR tracks, the community flooded during Hurricane Harvey. There are 1,367 structures in the existing 100-year flood zone in the Fifth Ward and 565 in Kashmere Gardens. The two neighborhoods have 27.7 miles of streets at risk of inundation during 100-year flood events.

Houston Public Works prepared a mitigation action plan after Hurricane Harvey. They budgeted $209 million for gray infrastructure projects to reduce the number of structures in 100-year flood-risk areas by 73% and roads at risk of flooding by 77%.

Bruce Race Interviewed

by Evolve Houston

For National Drive Electric Week, Evolve Houston launched a series of conversations with industry experts. Hines College professor Bruce Race, Ph.D., shares his insight on the electric vehicle landscape while emphasizing the importance of equity in his interview with Rebekah Williams from the City of Houston Mayor's Office. Watch the interview by scanning the QR code below. —N.N.

This new EPA grant funds the Hines College team’s work with the community to identify areas where green infrastructure stormwater solutions can complement traditional public works projects, beautify neighborhoods, and reduce UHI. DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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MESO-COSM Exhibition Multimedia exhibition examines relationship between architecture and large-scale ecosystem experiements in the Gulf Coast region THE MESO-COSM EXHIBITION BY HOME-OFFICE OPENED IN SEPTEMBER ACCOMPANIED BY A GALLERY TALK WITH FOUNDERS DANIEL JACOBS, assistant professor at the Hines College, and Brittany Utting, assistant professor at Rice. The exhibition presented 9 mesocosm case studies, 4 architectural experiments, and 1 full-scale prototype.

The research and study focused on the Greens Bayou Mitigation Bank and Addicks and Barkers Reservoirs in the Houston area, examining how ecological systems and human settlements conflict. "Through this lens, we were interested in ways in which the built environment could register environmental transformation, test open systems of construction, and interact with changing climates and unpredictable atmospheres," the team wrote in a piece published in The Architect's Newspaper. —N.N. MESO-COSM was sponsored by the Hines Scholar as Design/Design as Scholar (HdSd) Program of the Undergraduate Architecture Program at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston. The exhibition is also funded by the Diluvial Houston Initiative, an Andrew W. Mellon Foundationsupported project, and Rice Architecture.

TOP ROW: The exhibition opening night in the Mashburn Gallery; A closer look at the full-scale prototype (photo by Sean Fleming) BOTTOM ROW: Jacobs and Utting present on their research in the Architecture Building Theater; Visitors looking at the models and interacting with the spaces in the Mashburn Gallery

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DIMENSION MAGAZINE / SPRING 2023

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N O O

R E A

Recent graduate developed 3D printable prostheses to restore amputees’ finger mobility and was honored with prestigious, international design awards

by Rebeca Hawley

ABOVE: Renderings showing Lunet's capabilities OPPOSITE PAGE: Industrial design co-director Jeff Feng with David Edquilang ('22) in Singapore accepting the Red Dot Luminary Award

A

GROUNDBREAKING, EASYTO-USE 3D PRINTABLE finger prosthesis created by a recent University of Houston graduate could offer amputees a low-cost solution to restore finger functionality. David Edquilang first designed Lunet, which doesn’t need metal fasteners, adhesives or special tools to assemble, as an undergraduate student at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design. While standard prostheses can cost thousands of dollars, Edquilang aims to make his design open access on the internet, instead of selling it.

“Not every good idea needs to be turned into a business. Sometimes, the best ideas just need to be put out there ,” said Edquilang, who graduated with a Bachelor of

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Science in Industrial Design last year.

“Medical insurance will often not cover the cost of a finger prosthesis, since it is not considered vital enough compared to an arm or leg.

Making Lunet available online for free will allow it to help the greatest number of people."

Edquilang’s mentor at UH was Associate Professor Jeff Feng, codirector of UH’s Industrial Design program. Through a partnership with Harris Health System, Feng learned of a patient who had her fingers amputated due to frostbite.

Inspired by working on an upper limb prosthesis Edquilang previously developed with student Niell Gorman, working closely with Professor Feng, Edquilang created prosthetic fingers that returned mobility to the patient, allowing her to pick up objects again.

GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

“It feels great knowing you have the capability to positively impact people’s lives and give them help they otherwise wouldn’t be able to get,” said Edquilang.

Months later, Edquilang was laser focused to make an even better product. Over the course of two weeks, under Feng’s advisory, he designed and tested 60 prototypes before reaching a final design that was more durable, easier to configure and assemble, and had improved functionality.

His “breakthrough” came from a literal break in his design. He intentionally broke one of his prototypes to see where its structural weak point was. It buckled at the distal knuckle, the joint that connects the bones at the fingertips,

“It feels great knowing you have the capability to positively impact people’s lives and give them help they otherwise wouldn’t be able to get."

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so he added a linkage that replaced the previously rigid distal knuckle, and an award-winning version of Lunet was born.

LUNET WINS RED DOT LUMINARY AWARD The prosthetic design garnered Edquilang a 2023 Red Dot: Luminary award, the highest level of recognition accorded at the Red Dot Award: Design Concept. He and Feng took home the coveted accolade at Red Dot's ceremony last month in Singapore. The winning design was chosen from a list of Best of the Best winners in various categories by Red Dot. Last year, Hyundai Motor Company won the Luminary award.

“Good results come from dedication.

Extraordinary results come from experimentation. Incredible results come from a combination of both,” he said upon winning the award.

Lunet also won a 2023 Red Dot: Best of the Best award; two 2023 DNA Paris Design Awards in the Medical and Scientifics category and the Design for People category;

won Gold for the 2023 Spark Design Award; was named a 2023 IDEA finalist; is currently a U.S. National Runner Up for the 2023 James Dyson Award and is continuing to compete in the international round of the Dyson award competition.

“David’s recent success in winning the most prestigious design awards across the world is the best manifestation of the unparalleled education and training students experience in our Industrial Design program,” Feng said. “Built upon a belief that every student is a creative individual, the program pedagogy focuses on methods of cultivating innovative minds, which is enforced with rigorous professional training.”

LUNET’S GEOMETRY INSPIRED ITS NAME Lunet is made up of two common types of 3D printed plastics: polylactic acid and thermoplastic polyurethane. Each finger is made up of four parts held together by plastic pins. Edquilang describes arcs and circular orbits as the foundation for the motion of the finger mechanism.

The geometric basis of the design evoked the idea that the prosthesis orbits around the user’s joints like a moon, or lunet, hence the name.

Another element of Lunet’s uniqueness is that it is nearly impossible to break; other finger prosthetics can be complicated and require many parts.

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: Prototypes and iterations of Lunet's components and mechanisms; a rendering showing the prosthetic's different configurations ABOVE: A finished prototype fitted to a patient to test Lunet's funtionality

“The problem with higher mechanical complexity is that these designs are less durable,” Edquilang said. “The more parts you have, the more points of failure. You need to make prosthetic fingers robust and as strong as possible, so it doesn’t break under normal use, yet you want the design to be simple. This was one of the greatest challenges in making Lunet.”

He encourages other design students not to be afraid to experiment and fail because that is often how one can learn to improve the most.

“Where the world has an abundance of problems, designers have an abundance of talent, and we should not be selfish with it,” Edquilang said. ❑ DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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ENVISIONING A N

NEW ASTRODOME

Hines College-led team wins national competition in building performance through an integrated approach

by Lyric Iglehart

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HE ASTRODOME IS A SORE SUBJECT FOR MANY HOUSTONIANS. WHILE SOME BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO PART WAYS, OTHERS HAVE developed innovative ways of revisioning the structure since its closing in 2008. University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design assistant professor Mili Kyropoulou and her team recently achieved first place in the Lowdown Showdown Competition for their original design, repurposing Houston’s infamous Astrodome using building performance data to inform their strategy.

Organized by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and AirConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) as part of the Building Performance Analysis Conference held in Austin, Texas, this year’s competition challenged teams to repurpose the Astrodome into “something” more aligned to our times and also as a NetZero carbon concept. In addition to Kyropoulou, the winning team included Alfonso Hernandez (M.Arch. ’08), Rosa Martell (’20) of Gensler, Felipe Villarreal (M.Arch. '23), and colleagues from Atelier 10, WSP, and Interface Engineering. Their diverse experience and specializations, incorporating engineers and architects of unique backgrounds, were pivotal to how the project came together.

PREVIOUS SPREAD: A rendering of the proposed exterior to the new Astrodome AT RIGHT: An interior rendering of the team's astrodome concept

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The team’s approach to the Astrodome considered many factors for an optimal user experience, including system operations, carbon, indoor air quality, comfort, and durability, leading to a more performative and efficient design.

Their resulting concept transformed the Astrodome into an indoor public street with a botanical garden, including 77,000 square feet for retail space, a 500-room hotel, a 68,000 square feet museum and immersive experience area dedicated to the Astrodome’s history, and a promenade connecting it to the light rail. Within the project, building massing (orientation of the opening to manage energy sources), indoor/ outdoor comfort, mechanical systems, and control strategies are supported with onsite electricity generation through photovoltaic canopies over the surface parking lots, generating about eight times the energy consumed by the building.

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“We analyzed many outdoor conditions in terms of comfort and designed the space for a person to gradually transition from inside to a semi-outdoor to an indoor environment,” explained Kyropoulou.

“Going from an enclosed thermally controlled space to a buffer space creates adaptive opportunities and wider sense of comfort.”

While the team already had a plan for tackling this project, the initial project instructions did not identify programmatic requirements.

Repurposing the Astrodome was left to what the competition participants sought to design, requiring the team to employ modeling tools

for improving critical metrics. The team studied various factors to create the ultimate experience.

Climate projecting was done to better understand how the external structure should be designed, and daylight was studied to structure the paneling of the Astrodome. Outdoor comfort metrics were studied when creating the transition from inside and outside the building. Even air quality was considered and run through several metrics.

expertise,” shared Kyropoulou. “This made it possible to better integrate environmental variables with design and understand the human experience within the building.”

The final project reflected the power of collaboration between performative engineering and architecture to create a comfortable experience. While conceptual, Kyropoulou is excited about the project’s possible uses in the future.

“Every single decision made went through performance metrics influenced by our team’s specialization and unique understanding of each area of

“Someone could put together new ideas in the future, and our design would give a good perspective of integrating a design concept with the environment,” shared Kyropoulou. ❑

ABOVE: The team's approach to the new Astrodome concept OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM ROW: The team received local and national media coverage for their winning design and was interviewed by KHOU 11 at the Hines College; team members Felipe Villarreal (M.Arch. '23), Alfonso Hernandez (M.Arch. ’08), and assistant professor Mili Kyropoulou at the Fox26 studios for a morning segment

DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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E U G A E L Y V I

: D N U O B Alumni share experiences influencing their pursuit of graduate studies

by Symone Daniels

E H T E K A T S T N E D U T S S E HIN

P E T S T X NE

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HIS FALL, TWO HINES COLLEGE ALUMNI commenced the next step in their academic careers, beginning graduate studies at two Ivy League universities – Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) and Princeton University School of Architecture.

Their experiences can inspire other students to consider attending graduate school to further their exploration of architecture and design and pave their future careers.

PATRICK MARGAIN ('22) Attending graduate school was always on Patrick Margain's radar. However, during his third year as an undergraduate student at the Hines College, he fully committed to furthering his education. Margain wanted to apply to graduate school because he believed continuing his education would open new opportunities and avenues for his future career. He was passionate about research and believed pursuing a master's degree would better equip him with the necessary tools to pursue a research-related position.

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Patrick Margain ('22) and Ana Sevilla ('22) interviewed in the Allen Media Room at the Hines College ABOVE: Margain at the Harvard Graduate School of Design OPPOSITE PAGE: Sevilla on the Princeton campus in September

When Margain arrived at the University of Houston as a freshman in 2017, all he knew about architecture was that it involved "building stuff." As he progressed through his studies, he found himself fully immersed in the world of architecture, making graduate school an obvious next step.

While graduate school was part of Margain's ultimate plan, he decided to work in industry for a while after graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture.

"In architecture school, there is an amazing energy partially fueled by a kind of naivete notoriously absent in the profession," explained Margain. "Part of me was afraid of becoming jaded and losing that energy before I applied for graduate studies, so I wanted to do it sooner rather than later."

Another factor playing a significant role in his decision was his immigration status. As an international student from Mexico, a STEM-designated graduate program extended his ability to work in the United States for several years. It also allowed him to work in the field longer without applying for a different visa.

Margain took advantage of opportunities at UH to further develop his portfolio in preparation for graduate school.

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He believes his thesis project also equipped him for graduate studies because it focused on nature, culture, and the role of architecture and its conceptual quality.

The experience helped him understand the themes he wanted to pursue and research.

When he first started applying to different graduate programs, proximity was a huge factor; however, after sharing his goals with his mentors, his mentors encouraged Margain to apply to other programs nationwide. Although it was a little challenging to know what each architecture program specialized in, he conducted extensive research, including speaking directly with the schools and learning more about their programs and graduates. He even watched YouTube videos showcasing school lectures.

Margain applied to five highly regarded schools, including the Southern California Institute of Architecture, the University of Texas, Columbia University, Harvard University, and the University of Houston.

Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) was his final choice, and he began his studies this fall 2023.

Margain intends to expand his general understanding of what is possible in architecture. He wants to pursue his long-term interests and attempt to answer questions he has carried with him over the years.

"During my undergraduate career, I participated in transdisciplinary energy research and developed the skills to articulate my ideas and arguments through drawing to push the boundaries of what I thought architecture could be," said Margain.

Margain wants students applying to graduate school to understand that creating work aligning with graduate school makes the application process more manageable.

Organize your thoughts and tell your story.

ANA SEVILLA ('22) Ana Sevilla explored continuing her education because she sees architecture as a tool for activism. She wants to find a solution on how to redirect oppression.

"I took a cross-pollinated approach to my curriculum between ecology, gender studies, and ethics, culminating in a thesis/exhibition," shared Sevilla. "My commitment to mapping the complex loops around material subjects as active agents in our environment, seeking alternative aesthetics to systems of subjectivity, and calling for resistance in the form of care puts my inquiries about our practices and norms into new forms of existence."

Sevilla believes graduate school will allow her to disseminate and nurture her view of the world. After graduating in May 2022, she immediately started working in industry. Sevilla planned to work for a few years, but her personal and professional worlds kept colliding, so she decided it was "time for a new project."

To prepare for graduate school, Sevilla did a lot of self-reflection. She treated the application process like a full-time job. Every day, she took steps to ensure her portfolio was updated and researched prospective schools to continue her education.

As an undergraduate student, Sevilla met different professors who helped shape and mold what she could do in architecture. Sevilla applied to five esteemed universities, including Columbia University, Harvard University, Yale University, Cornell University, and Princeton University. Ultimately, she decided on the Princeton School of Architecture, where she began her studies this fall 2023.

While applying to different graduate schools, she focused on the type of work being produced by the students.

"Reach out to professors and your mentors, especially in architecture you admire. See how their work relates to how you want to live.

Reach out and get them to review your portfolio. Connect with your classmates, people you respect, and friends outside school."

She also deemed it equally necessary to look at the professors teaching in each university's program and closely examine their work and research interests.

Sevilla wants students thinking about graduate school to know that although it is an intense process, they are not alone.

Want to see what Patrick and Ana shared with undergraduate students about applying for graduate school? Watch the interview on our Instagram.

"Reach out to professors and your mentors, especially in architecture you admire," Sevilla explained. "See how their work relates to how you want to live. Reach out and get them to review your portfolio. Connect with your classmates, people you respect, and friends outside school."

Sevilla urges students to understand that graduate school is attainable; however, you must do the work and surround yourself with like-minded individuals. ❑

DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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CELEBRATING

YEARS OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Anniversary spotlights program's rapid growth and global reputation

by Stephen Schad

PREVIOUS PAGE: Founding program director EunSook Kwon addresses attendees at the 20th anniversary celebration ABOVE: ID faculty and directors past and present share a toast with Dean Patricia Belton Oliver OPPOSITE PAGE: The day included workshops and panels for students with alumni and industry partners

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HE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN celebrated its industrial design (ID) program's 20th anniversary on November 17 with a day of learning, networking, and celebratory events bringing together students, alumni, faculty, industry partners, and friends to campus. Established in 2003 as the only ID program in Texas and the surrounding four-state region, the program has risen to the top quickly, garnering international acclaim from the design community.

In 2003, former dean Joe Mashburn ('78) recruited EunSook Kwon to the College with the desire to build an ID program at the University of Houston. As the program's inaugural director, Mashburn tasked Kwon with developing a bachelor of science degree program from the ground up. Her emphasis on human-centered design helped rapidly grow the program, and, as a result, the ID community began taking notice of the star program emerging at UH. The College launched a new master of science in industrial design degree plan in 2012.

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BELOW, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The evening included live music by musicians on guitars designed by past ID students; Founding director EunSook Kwon; Co-directors Mark Kimbrough and Jeff Feng; A silent auction was held to raise money for student scholarships

"Our pioneering curriculum and research methodologies earned recognition," shared Kwon. "Our growth was not just about numbers or awards; it was about nurturing a culture of collaboration, mutual support, and relentless pursuit of excellence."

Kwon's leadership eventually propelled the Hines College to be one of the top ID programs in the United States and worldwide. Before discontinuing its annual rankings, Red Dot ranked the ID program No. 6 nationally and No. 14 globally in 2015. The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) continually awards UH students and faculty year after year for their exceptional design work.

Students have gathered international attention for the past five years, placing at the top of the Bienenstock Furniture Library Furniture Competition. Significant awards have also been received from the International Housewares Association, Toyota Logistic Design

"Our growth was not just about numbers or awards; it was about nurturing a culture of collaboration, mutual support, and relentless pursuit of excellence."

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Competition, China Hardware Products International Industrial Design Competition, DNA Paris, Dubai Global Grad Show, and Makeup NYC. Jeff Feng and Mark Kimbrough now lead the College's ID program as its co-directors. Both Feng and Kimbrough have extensive industry experience and have taught in the College's program for over ten years.

"We are passionate about nurturing innovation in our students," said Kimbrough. "Through interdisciplinary collaborations, cutting-edge technology, and a focus on self-discovery-oriented learning, we prepare our students to become forward-thinking leaders in the industrial design world."

Situated in Houston, with the largest medical center in the world, the ID program has made it its mission

"More critical than the fact that our ID program amasses awards is the nature of the products they earn those awards for, our students design products that can make a difference in people's lives." —Dean Oliver

to intentionally pursue healthcare product design and establish itself as a leader in the field. The program has partnered with Texas Children's Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Harris Health System, joining the top professionals in the Texas Medical Center. In 2022, Elham Morshedzadeh joined the Hines College as a Presidential Frontier Faculty member dedicated to healthcare design, further advancing the College's healthcare thrust.

In 2022, David Edquilang ('22) and Niell Gorman ('21), along with ID co-director and associate professor Jeff Feng, won a bronze award from the IDSA International Design Excellence Awards for Knack, an upper limb prosthesis developed to provide disadvantaged amputees with an improved ergonomic and functional prosthesis experience. This year, Red Dot selected David Edquilang ('22) as the winner of its most prestigious Luminary Award for Lunet, a groundbreaking, easy-touse 3D printable finger prosthesis offering amputees a low-cost solution to restore finger functionality.

"More critical than the fact that our ID program amasses awards is the nature of the products they earn those

awards for," shared Dean Patricia Belton Oliver, FAIA. "Our students design products that can make a difference in people's lives."

Over the past 20 years, community and industry partners have supported and contributed to the success of the ID program, including Blaffer Art Museum, IGLOO, Uchi, Modern Luxury Media, Pacific Design, CoA WorkSpace, Lawndale Art Center, Hope Clinic Community, 3D Camp Houston, Ligne Roset, Houston Furniture Bank, Dickson Furniture, Wilsonart International, XtraLight, Grand Time, Collings Guitars, Metro Houston, Elaine Turner, Theatro, IBM Design Center, HP, Dell, Model Solution, PENSOLE Footwear Academy, Samsung, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, The William Stamps Farish Fund, SICSA, ULI, UH Red Labs, Tramontina USA, Point Innovation, Mixer, NASA, NUO-Tech, and Houston Arts Alliance.

ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: An exhibition of recent student work in the Mashburn Gallery; Students, faculty, and alumni donated items they designed for the silent auction

ONE FOR THE BOOKS Read the Industrial Design 20th Anniversary book to learn more about the program.

"The program has successfully collaborated with industries to produce innovative solutions and IPs," said Feng. "We are dedicated to continue expanding our capacity and impact through collaboration initiatives and forging more partnerships.". ❑ DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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Architecture + Design Alumni Awards 2023 Winners The University of Houston Architecture and Design Alumni Association and the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design are pleased to celebrate another exceptional group of accomplished alumni award winners. The jury, consisting of Mardis Bagley ('06), Fernando L. Brave (M.Arch. '88), and Margaret Wallace Brown ('83), accepted the challenge of selecting the 2023 award winners for five categories: Distinguished Alumni Award, Leadership Alumni Award, Successful Entrepreneur Award, Innovator Alumni Award, and Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Congratulations to our 2023 Alumni Award Winners!

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD: MEGAN MCCOY, AIA, NCARB (M.ARCH. '08)

LEADERSHIP ALUMNI AWARD: DAVID S. DALTON, AIA, NCARB ('04)

SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR AWARD: JASON TRAMONTE, AIA, IIDA, NCARB, LEED AP ('00)

INNOVATOR ALUMNI AWARD: ANDRES PACHECO, AIA, LEED AP (M.ARCH. '03)

OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD: DAVID EDQUILANG ('22)

READ MORE ABOUT THE WINNERS AND SEE THEIR WORK.

UH Architecture + Design Alumni Annual Meeting On September 14, the UH Architecture + Design Alumni Association Annual Meeting celebrated the 2023 Alumni Awards winners and welcomed alumni back for an evening to reconnect with one another and the College.

Alumni received news from Dean Patricia Belton Oliver and heard from association president Eric Hudson (‘08) about goals and events for the upcoming year.

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New Members Inducted into UH Chapter of Tau Sigma Delta This Fall Students and alumni join prestigious national honor society Alum Named AIA Associate Member of the Year

The Hines College is proud to induct new members into the Beta Delta University of Houston Chapter of Tau Sigma Delta! The class of 2023 consists of current students and recently graduated alumni who were honored and celebrated on November 10 for their academic achievements, diligence, and perserverance.

Tau Sigma Delta — the national honor society for students in architecture

and the allied arts — recognizes our top-performing students’ accomplishments. The organization encourages and promotes continued excellence in architecture and the allied arts and upholds the ideals of scholarship and service.

In remarks to the new members, Dean Patricia Belton Oliver emphasized the importance and benefits of maintaining relationships

with fellow members. "The bonds you make now — maybe the person sitting next to you, or across the table — these are the connections that map out the rest of your life ... It is a step in your journey, a journey that will connect you to the people that will create with you the memorable moments of your life in design." —Nicholas Nguyen

Cheers to Javier E. Guerrero ('22) on being named Associate Member of the Year at the AIA Houston Honors Awards!

"Receiving this award validates for me that no matter how far we are in our professional or personal journeys, we can all contribute, advocate, and excel. This award shows that my contributions have added value to my profession and community," he shared.

Melvalean McLemore Day Alumna honored with City of Houston proclamation for achievements and advocacy work in architecture Congratulations to Melvalean McLemore ('09) on receiving a proclamation from the City of Houston proclaiming November 28, 2023 as Melvalean McLemore Day! Council Member David Robinson, FAIA, learned that McLemore would be the first Black woman president to lead AIA Houston. He recommended to Mayor Sylvester Turner that the occasion, in addition to her accomplishments and advocacy work, be commemorated.

McLemore acknowledges that her journey has been a "collective effort, enriched by collaboration and those who have supported and inspired" her over the years. "I have enjoyed working alongside my peers at AIA Houston, and I am thankful to the various leaders, and our chapter EVP Rusty Bienvenue, for welcoming me onto the board five years ago. As I prepare to take on the role of President next year as the first Black woman to serve in this capacity for our chapter, I am honored that this historic moment has unexpectedly resulted in having my own day in Houston!" she shared.

The AIA Houston president-elect thanks the Mayor and all the council members who decided to elevate this proclamation into an official day. She adds, "I believe it is a testament to the power of collaboration and the limitless possibilities that arise when diverse voices are valued and present at the table!" —N.N. DIMENSION MAGA ZINE / FALL 2023

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Preparing Students for Career Fair Alumni help students sharpen interview skills and learn about the industry through series of events and workshops This semester, UH Architecture + Design Alumni Association members Jennifer Higgins ('07) and Tarek Moubayed (M.Arch '23) returned to the College to lead workshops and panels on giving elevator pitches and performing under pressure during interviews.

Students also had the opportunity to network with other alumni at these events to learn more about job opportunities after graduation.

In addition to the association's efforts, Dianca Chase, director of alumni relations, planned a series of Meet the Firm events to invite businesses to send alumni representatives to visit the Hines College. This gave students an opportunity to learn about the firms and receive information about job and internship opportunities while getting advice from alumni on portfolios and post-graduation prospects. Thank you to AECOM, Corgan Inc., Goree, House & Robertson Architects, Kendall/ Heaton Associates, McLemore Luong, Method Architecture Moody Nolan, and Page Southerland Page for meeting our students this fall! —N.N.

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Where Architecture and Fashion Meet Triciajane Asuncion ('23) partnered with artist Josh Allen for a new exhibition entitled CONCORD. The works are a fusion of both artists' passions in architecture and fashion.

Triciajane shared, "'CONCORD' is the culmination of my interdisciplinary interest in architecture, and how the practice can intersect with other mediums, ultimately creating a better understanding of ourselves, our community, and our environments.

"I am grateful for my mentors and colleagues from the UH Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design for inspiring me to constantly question the conventional. My hope for this exhibition is that we find ourselves in the chaos, towards concordance."

Women Alumni Honored by Houston Business Journal

CONCORD is on view through December 22 at Sanman Studios, 1109 Providence St., Houston, TX 77002.

Four alumni named among 90 honorees as leaders in their fields The Houston Business Journal recognized women in leadership roles who have demonstrated excellence in their careers and community in the 2023 Women Who Mean Business Awards. They honor women across nine industry categories, and the criteria for selection included career achievement, contribution to company and city success, community involvement and leadership.

Margaret Wallace Brown ('83) won an Outstanding Business Leader in Government award in her role as the City of Houston's director of planning and development.

Lauri Goodman Lampson ('88) CEO and president of

PDR, won an award for Outstanding Business Leader in Professional Services. Also honored with an Outstanding Business Leader in Professional Services, Micki Washington (M. Arch. '04) was recognized for her work at HOK as a regional leader of WorkPlace. Shannon Bedinger (M. Arch. '05) won an Outstanding Business Leader in Real Estate award in her role as Parkway's chief marketing officer. Congratulations to all! —N.N. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Margaret Wallace Brown and Lauri Goodman Lampson pose together at the awards ceremony; Micki Washington; Shannon Bedinger

UltraBarrio featured in Architect Magazine in Next Progressives Spotlight Hines College alumni Anma Ansari ('03) and Marcus Martinez ('04) of UltraBarrio were recently featured in the magazine discussing their firm and recent works.

In the interview, they share, "We’ve long been motivated to disentangle design decisions that are genuinely knotted-up with cultural dialogue. For us, design is fundamentally a combination of trajectory seeking, risk, and testing across contexts. We identified an urgency to build a practice around those characteristics and it was crucial that we leverage our ability to pivot with the flow of connected ideas as they surface."

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Alumni Spotlight: Lauri Goodman Lampson ('88)

Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Lauri Goodman Lampson Hometown: Houston, Texas Major: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design Graduation Year: 1988 Employer: PDR Title: President + CEO

"My proudest career accomplishments are those where I have helped others – our people and our clients – realize their dreams."

ABOVE: A meeting space on the ExxonMobil Campus OPPOSITE PAGE: The atrium of the ExxonMobil Campus

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Why did you choose the University of Houston, and what drew you to design?

I graduated with a degree in interior design from the UH School of Fine Arts before the College of Architecture and Design started an interior architecture program. I knew I would be a designer working in the architecture industry by age 11. Interiors and an inside out design philosophy is my passion because it immensely impacts where people spend most of their lives – inside. I am fascinated with the power of great design to positively impact the human experience.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?

I have many great memories of spending countless hours in the studio with fellow students, some of whom became lifelong friends. Angi Patton, my design professor for four years, was very instrumental in teaching me to hone my design thinking and problem-solving skills. She ensured my design solutions had a purpose and achieved the intended outcome. Her influence shaped my ability to be successful in my future career as a workplace designer and strategist.

What does a typical day look like in your job? Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?

There are no typical days in the life of a design firm CEO! Every day is an exhilarating mix of problem-solving for both our client's business and our business. In the area of design, my philosophy is to create experiences that solve the unique issues people encounter every day. In the business arena, my philosophy is to create a healthy work

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environment where people are inspired to be their best, do their best every day, and have fun doing what they love.

Both of these philosophy seeds were planted during my time at UH. What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?

My proudest career accomplishments are those where I have helped others – our people and our clients – realize their dreams. I am incredibly proud of my work in developing a workplace strategy and collaborative campus for our ExxonMobil client. Their 10,000 talented engineers tackle the world's biggest energy challenges. Our strategy and design solutions were developed to inspire greatness, dissolve business silos, and offer enduring value as their business evolves. This work is currently enabling ExxonMobil to accelerate the energy transition.

What is one valuable lesson you learned during your time at UH? Truly, I learned the importance of strategic thinking.

Learning to think about how to solve design problems is as critical as having creative talent. It takes both to be a successful designer. The UH interior design program was first focused on conceptual thinking and problem-solving before applying design solutions. This philosophy is the foundation of our firm, PDR. We call it PDR Thinking.

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?

Be curious and seek diverse perspectives. Ask why of your professors and yourself (like an incessant three-year-old). Work in as many firms as you can while in school to gain an understanding of different career paths. Doing these three things will enable you to create your own design philosophy and go out and change the world!

DIMENSION MAGAZINE / SPRING 2023

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Alumni Spotlight: Jennifer Higgins ('07)

"I encourage current architecture and design students to embrace a mindset of continuous learning and curiosity.

Never stop learning because architecture and design are everevolving fields."

Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Jennifer Higgins Hometown: Houston, Texas Major: Bachelor of Architecture Graduation year: 2007 Employer: THR3E Design Title: Principal

ABOVE: The offices at Ehrlich & Associates Medical Clinic OPPOSITE PAGE: The Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) Collider Space for collaboration

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Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, and what drew you to design?

I chose the Hines College for several reasons. The summer before my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to attend the summer discovery program at the College operated by WonderWorks. There, I learned more about the College's excellent reputation, rigorous academic programs, and distinguished faculty. The opportunity to learn from industry professionals and talented architects was a significant factor in my decision. The Houston architectural community and College's strong network and alumni connections also influenced my decision. It presented exciting opportunities for collaborations and future career prospects. Design allows me to merge my passion for creativity and problem-solving. The opportunity

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to blend artistry and technicality, and contribute to the built environment, motivated me to pursue a career in design and ultimately led me to architecture.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?

One of my favorite memories from my time on campus was collaborating with fellow students on our design projects.

Exchanging ideas and supporting each other throughout the semesters while creating long-lasting friendships are memories I will always cherish; we really had so much fun! I had the privilege of learning from many exceptional professors who influenced my education. With their vast experience and passion for design, each instructor inspired me to think critically, push boundaries, and approach architecture holistically.

What does a typical day look like in your job? Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?

A typical day in my role as a young architect is a dynamic blend of design, project management, and business

operations, from setting time to respond to emails and phone calls, to engaging with clients, to sketching ideas with our team members, to collaborating and coordinating with consultants and contractors, fostering open communication.

As one of the principals of THR3E Design, I also devote time to business operations, including reviewing financial reports, strategizing for growth, networking activities, and exploring new business opportunities. I believe in a user-centric approach, where design enhances the human experience and fosters well-being. From a business perspective, I believe in nurturing strong client relationships, delivering exceptional quality, and maintaining open and transparent communication.

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?

I am proud to watch our small firm grow exponentially from our original three team members in just a few years.

I have seen our team grow in their careers by taking on new skills and responsibilities and taking on challenges in every project.

What is one valuable lesson you learned at the Hines College?

Throughout my studies, I realized that any initial design concepts developed are a starting point. Critiques, feedback from professors and peers, and self-reflection were essential in pushing the design further and uncovering new possibilities. I learned to embrace feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than taking criticism personally or becoming discouraged. Each iteration allowed me to refine and enhance the design, addressing any weaknesses or gaps identified in the previous versions.

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?

I encourage current architecture and design students to embrace a mindset of continuous learning and curiosity.

Never stop learning because architecture and design are ever-evolving fields. A commitment to lifelong learning helps you adapt to changes, expand your skill set, and contribute to advancing the field. In design, you will have challenges and failures, always learn from these. At the end of the day, enjoy the journey!

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Alumni Spotlight: Jason Logan ('00)

Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Jason Logan Hometown: Houston, Texas Major: Bachelor of Architecture Graduation Year: 2000 Employer: University of Houston / Logan and Johnson Architecture (LOJO) Title: Associate Professor and Director of the Burdette Keeland, Jr. Design Exploration Laboratory / Design Partner Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, and what drew you to design?

I have always appreciated the diversity of our student body in all aspects - cultural, social, and economic – and the variety of different creative experiences each student brings to the program. I was drawn to architecture through my art background from high school, which more closely aligned with the design studio than I initially expected. I immediately felt at home in the design studio and enjoyed spending all my time there (and sometimes getting my work done!).

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?

It is difficult to pick one favorite memory, but they all come from the late nights at the Hines College, with the lifelong friends I made as a student. It is equally difficult to isolate one of my professors. So many of them impacted my development in different ways, and I cannot thank them enough for their positive influence on my life – Duke Fleshman, Robert Griffin, Dietmar Froehlich, Ronnie Self, Bruce Webb, Nora Laos, John Zemanek, David Thaddeus, and many others.

What does a typical day look like in your job? Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?

My days are shared between teaching design at the Hines College and my practice LOJO with Matthew Johnson. I enjoy having a foot in both worlds of academia and practice. They work reciprocally, each helping to invigorate

the other. As a designer, I am personally interested in hybridity, but that is a very "architect" answer. In general, I believe we should leave (or return) the site of our work better than we found it, and I believe in design's ability to improve our lives. Of course, it can do the opposite, so we must be conscious of our work's impact on the immediate context and broader environment at many scales - from the site to the community and our contribution to a sustainable and ecological practice.

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel that Hines College prepared you for this?

I would say that, professionally, our recently completed project, the XO House, which just received a 2023 Texas Society of Architects (TxA) Design Award, is a significant accomplishment. Academically, I just accepted a new role as associate professor and director of the Keeland Lab, which is a tremendous honor. I am excited to take on this new challenge. The Hines College helped me to develop my design process through making. In my mind, design and making are reciprocal. It is why I have always felt the need to teach and practice, think and make, design and build. They are all inseparable, and this reality was fostered here at the Hines College.

"It is difficult to pick one favorite memory, but they all come from the late nights at the Hines College, with the lifelong friends I made as a student. It is equally difficult to isolate one of my professors."

What is one valuable lesson you learned at the Hines College?

I learned that an iterative design practice is open to testing many ideas and concepts with the flexibility to adapt as we learn from the process. As an early designer, I was more singular and stubborn, and my work was often filled with preconceived ideas. The design studio helped me to develop process-based design methods and an appreciation for the work emerging from practice.

OPPOSITE PAGE: The "Inside Out" installation in the Architecture Building atrium

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?

Embrace and develop a love for the process of design because it will enrich the outcome of your work.

ABOVE: Images of the award-winning "XO House" designed with colleague Matthew Johnson (photographs by Leonid Furmansky)

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Alumni Spotlight: Ami Shah (M.Arch. '03)

"Attending architecture school at UH was a transformative experience. It provided a solid foundation, allowing me to expand my horizons and explore different design ideas and theoretical approaches in a way I had not before."

BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Memorial University at Newfoundland Core Science Facility, St. John's, Canada; Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Buffalo OPPOSITE PAGE: University of Chicago William Eckhardt Research Center

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Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design? What drew you to design?

As a high schooler, I was drawn to architecture because it offered the perfect blend of art, creativity, formmaking, and the ability to positively impact people's lives. As an international student, the diversity of the student body was also a crucial factor for me, alongside a strong focus on design. These values embodied in the Hines College made it the clear choice for me.

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege to work on a diverse range of projects, including a research and development center at NASA, the Doha airport, semiconductor fabrication clean rooms near Seoul, and a core science and engineering facility prominently featuring a blue whale skeleton in Newfoundland, Canada.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?

I have very fond memories of my time at University.

As a graduate student from India, adapting to a new culture and pursuing my studies while working as a teaching assistant for two courses was challenging.

However, my friends and professors were incredibly supportive and made the transition much smoother.

Bruce Webb encouraged my creative side, while Ronnie Self taught me how to exercise restraint.

While my work has been incredibly rewarding, I am most proud of my contribution to initiating the Diversity x Design scholarship worth $10,000 for BIPOC/minority architecture students at the HOK Atlanta office. Seeing this initiative's positive impact on the lives of aspiring architects has been a true highlight of my career.

My first contact with the United States was Tom Colbert, who helped me understand the system. As a teaching assistant for Professor Zemanek, I learned the importance of critical thinking by borrowing books from him. Professor Rifaat's approach to blending art, food, and music into architecture was irresistible. Professor Bachman's passion for his subject was unforgettable.

All of this melded together to make me who I am today.

Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?

A typical day in my job is a dynamic mix of rich client interactions, problem-solving, brainstorming, strategizing, and friendly banter with colleagues. What I love about my work is that no two days are alike. I could be traveling to a client site for meetings, strategizing proposals and RFQ/RFPs, or working through presentations. I thrive on the challenges each day brings and the high level of collaboration and interaction characteristic of my workday.

GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

What is one valuable lesson you learned at the Hines College?

Attending architecture school at UH was a transformative experience. It provided a solid foundation, allowing me to expand my horizons and explore different design ideas and theoretical approaches in a way I had not before. One of the most significant lessons I learned was to give free rein to my imagination and creativity.

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?

I advise current architecture and design students to stay curious and be a sponge! Every interaction with peers, teachers, clients, consultants, and contractors presents an opportunity to learn and make a difference. Embrace your journey and soak in every experience, whether big or small. Learn from your successes and failures, and never stop seeking new knowledge and inspiration.

Remember that you have the power to outshine any artificial boundary that others may impose. Be bold, take risks, and trust your instincts.

Above all, stay true to your vision and passion, and never lose sight of your work's positive impact on people's lives.

Go out and shine! The world is waiting for your brilliance.

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Alumni Spotlight: Alyse Makarewicz ('97) Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Alyse Makarewicz Hometown: Newburgh, New York Major: Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Science Environmental Design Graduation Year: 1997 Employer: AMB Architects Title: President

"Given architecture is still a predominately male profession, being recognized for the work my firm is doing to lift female architects and keep them in the profession is incredibly humbling and fulfilling."

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Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design? What drew you to design?

I started at the University of Houston as a business major interested in art. After two years, I was bored. I thought architecture would be a great major to apply my analytical and creative strengths. I interviewed with associate dean Lannis Kirkland and was accepted into the accelerated studio program. What drew me to the Hines College was that I was already on campus and architecture sounded like a fun way to use my creativity, math, and analytical skills.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?

Designing and building a bridge in David Thaddeus' structures class. Putting the lessons learned in class

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into practice and understanding why they work was fun.

Leonard Bachman's systems class was known as one of the most challenging classes. If you figured out what he was looking for, you could succeed. I developed a strategy for the class and asked Leonard many questions to ensure I understood the material. I received an "A" in his class. This influenced my education and approach to clients – seek first to understand, formulate a plan, and request feedback along the way. change the world!

Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?

I started my own firm, AMB Architects, 18 years ago, focusing on keeping women in architecture. To create a firm culture and coach team members with that focus, every day, I learn, have conversations with my team, support them with project challenges, and move obstacles out of their way. I create or improve our processes and training. I develop new client relationships and nurture existing ones. I learn from other small firms and businesses about the current business environment and future trends to help my firm stay ahead of the curve. My philosophy is, "How can we find a solution instead of focusing on all the ways something can't be accomplished?"

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?

I have managed a successful firm for 18 years and we were selected as the AIA Houston's Firm of the Year 2023. Given architecture is still a predominately male profession, being recognized for the work my firm is doing to lift female architects and keep them in the profession is incredibly humbling and fulfilling.

Several things at UH shaped me to be an effective firm leader. I sought and accepted many leadership opportunities at the College, from AIAS to representing our award-winning Greenway project at The Making Cities Livable Conference in California. At graduation, I was awarded the Alpha Rho Chi Medal for Leadership.

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?

If you work 24/7, you are dead. Try not to live/learn unhealthy work habits in college. Learn and practice healthy time management. Create a list of the life activities you need to be healthy, along with the class

requirements. Then, create a basic schedule with blocks of time. It is okay to have short periods where you are out of balance to get a deadline completed, then return to your healthy balance. This practice continues into your profession. Look for firms that do not always require you to be out of balance. Our profession is much more enjoyable when you are rested, healthy, and creative.

OPPOSITE PAGE: The Pediatrix Brookhollow waiting area ABOVE: The Lyric Market food hall in downtown Houston

What is one valuable lesson you learned during your time at the Hines College?

Juries – the key lesson I learned and came to peace with was everybody has an opinion. Their opinion was based on their experience, and my project was based on my project process and research. Their ideas were no more valid than my own. I no longer got upset when critical comments were made about my project. I would listen to their different ideas. This helped me in personal practice to not micromanage because I accepted that not everybody works as I do, not everybody thinks as I do, and there is more than one way to be creative and solve a problem. This is what I learned through the studio design process and the critiques.

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Alumni Spotlight: Sean Flemming (MAAS '20) Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Sean Fleming Hometown: Houston, Texas Major: Master of Arts in Architectural Studies Graduation Year: 2020 Employer: Sean Fleming Photography Title: Architectural Photographer Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design? What drew you to design?

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas A&M University in 2017 and decided to pursue a career in architectural photography soon after. After a couple of years working as an architectural photographer, I realized I wanted to understand better the built environment and how to best represent it through my photography.

I chose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design because of the unique Master of Arts in Architectural Studies program the school offered for someone like me. Many architectural photographers I look up to were once architects themselves or formally studied design, and I believe their education shows in

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GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

"Many architectural photographers I look up to were once architects themselves or formally studied design, and I believe their education shows in their work." their work. I wanted to immerse myself in the design world and emerge with a more profound comprehension of the motivations and methodologies employed by architects and designers.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?

It is hard to choose a specific one, but I especially liked exploring the Jenkins Architecture, Design, and Art Library. Pouring over the well-known and not-so-wellknown books and manuscripts shaping architectural design and art ideas throughout our modern history

was one of my favorite things to do in between classes.

Like so many other students, Gail Borden was a huge help and influence during my time at the school. I also enjoyed Stephen Fox’s Houston architecture class. I find history fascinating; one of my favorite things to do when not on an assignment is photographing local historical architecture. So, it was no shock Stephen Fox would become one of my favorite professors.

What is one valuable lesson you learned during your time at the Hines College?

Hines College taught me a lot about how collaboration works within the art and architecture field. Working cooperatively with others on creative processes can only lead to more successful outcomes. I believe this collaborative process to be one of the most important lessons I learned in school.

Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?

One philosophy I have found instrumental in my business is remembering that personal creativity and passion projects are just as, if not more important, than your professional work. I have found a lot of value in engaging in independent pursuits. After graduation, I think it can be easy to lose track of why you chose a career in architecture and design, especially if you are not exercising your creativity in the same ways you did while in school. Working on personal projects is a great way to keep you creative and can often lead to fruitful business endeavors.

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?

Don’t stop exercising your creativity on personal projects and/or creative endeavors outside of work.

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?

In a more general sense, I consider my career thus far an accomplishment in itself. Being able to make a living as a photographer and collaborating with some of the most creative architects and designers throughout Texas and the country has been a major accomplishment. I find my work incredibly rewarding, and I am excited about the direction I am heading. The Hines College prepared me for this by immersing me in the collaborative process from day one.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Chapel of St. Basil

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Alumni Spotlight: Cindy Villarreal ('07) Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Cindy Villarreal, AIA, MBA, WELL AP Hometown: Houston, Texas Major: Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design Graduation Year: 2007 Employer: O’Connell Robertson Title: Houston Office Director

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architecture during my first year. I recall loving the Jenkins Architecture, Design, and Art Library; it felt like a privilege to have a dedicated space where I would walk down the aisles and find dozens of books about design.

The professor I think about most often is Donna Kacmar because she was very supportive. A group of us entered a national competition on airport design in my third year, and Donna reached out to her industry contacts.

We were able to speak directly with someone from the Houston Airport System, who guided us through the project. This was in addition to our regular schoolwork, and I admire how she also put in extra effort and personal time to support our team.

Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design? What drew you to design?

I am a Houston native and wanted to stay in Houston for college, and I was fortunate my hometown offered such an amazing, accredited program. Although I did not have any design professionals as context growing up, I was attracted to creating from a young age and looked for ways to express my creativity. As a first-generation student navigating through my educational journey, I was driven by the unearthing of knowledge. I anticipated majoring in international business during high school to complement my foreign language focus. Still, I remember looking at the courses on the day of orientation when I decided to change my major to Architecture. I loved my first year in studio and have never looked back.

Architecture is the perfect profession combining the art and technical aspects of creating.

Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?

I wear many hats and enjoy the fact that my job is not typical. I serve as the director of the Houston office, a mentor, a project manager and architect, and chair for our internal wellness committee. My day may include client or user meetings, site visits, coaching others, networking, presenting, working on proposals, and generally meeting needs as they arise. The diversity in my day-to-day work is what I truly love.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?

I felt compelled to learn as much as possible about

A philosophy that applies to design and business goes deeper than listening and focuses on a sincere effort to understand the client and the project’s users. When an end-user makes specific requests regarding the space, I

GERALD D. HINES COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

explore the why to understand their perspective. This helps me approach design with empathy and insight. I then strive to optimize the function of the space for their particular needs while still creating flexibility to adapt to other requests and future possibilities.

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?

The breadth of projects I have worked on has been very rewarding, particularly the technical aspects of academic health and innovation projects for higher education clients. I have contributed to schools of nursing, allied health, and dentistry, as well as life science facilities with teaching and research laboratories for future biologists and neuroscientists. Helping create the spaces where these remarkable future professionals practice their expertise and hone the skills they will take into their reallife profession gives me a sense of pride.

The Hines College trained me to rely on data and to be informed as much as possible. I still practice gathering large amounts of information to consider many perspectives, variants, and constraints before diving into a solution or decision. Additionally, I am proud to be an example and a reference point for others, specifically minority women currently experiencing a similar path in the design and construction industry. There were many voices (and statistics) along the way that all said my becoming a registered architect was highly unlikely,

but the voice inside me that believed I would be was the loudest. I hope to be that positive voice for someone.

OPPOSITE PAGE: The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston

What is one valuable lesson you learned during your time at the Hines College?

So much of architecture is an expression of ideation through the creation of form and space. In completing my senior thesis, I quickly learned how challenging it is to write about design. I am thankful my major required a thesis to graduate with honors. This experience demonstrated to me the importance of written communication and competent explanation of technical aspects. Strong written and verbal communication skills are necessary for my career and are essential for the success of any architect.

BELOW: The labs for the University of Kansas Integrated Sciences Building

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?

Embrace the design and problem-solving challenges of the coursework. Focus on the essence of assignments to discover optimal solutions and train yourself in processes resulting in best practices. Learn to think critically, collaborate, flex your creative strength, and enjoy your educational journey.

"There were many voices (and statistics) along the way that all said my becoming a registered architect was highly unlikely, but the voice inside me that believed I would be was the loudest. I hope to be that positive voice for someone."

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STUDIO HIGHLIGHT

Study Abroad Exhibition Exhibition brings global culture and design ideas to the College IN OCTOBER, THE STUDY ABROAD EXHIBITION ENCAPSULATED student work from summer 2023 architecture and industrial design programs exploring design directions and outcomes in France, Ireland, and Japan.

Industrial design students incorporated their learning from visiting studios in Ireland to inform their product designs led by ID co-director Jeff Feng. Architecture students visiting France led by adjunct professor Ross Wienert studied many sites and took inspiration from light to craft their models. Students who traveled to Japan with associate professor Tom Diehl considered Japanese construction methods in their designs of pavilions and temples.

The three classes came together to organize the exhibition in the Mashburn Gallery, displaying student work and models as well as photographs and posters about each country. —Nicholas Nguyen

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