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Photo courtesy Rey de la Reza Architects
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Rey de la Reza Architects b y A s h l e y S t . C l air
THE Houston-based firm first made its mark on the architectural community upon its establishment more than twenty years ago, when its three earliest commissions earned AIA Houston Design Awards. Founded as a sole proprietorship in 1982 by Rey de la Reza, FAIA, Rey de la Reza Architects was incorporated in 1986 and is now led by three principals – de la Reza, Lorie Westrick, and Howard Merrill. With an impressive average of one design award per year since its inception (awarded by AIA and other professional organizations), RdlR continues to produce award-winning projects that define the work in terms of its urban context, establish clear parameters, and provide viable design solutions. Adhering to the philosophy that a project’s distinctive essence should guide the architectural statement and that exceptional design is not contingent upon a high budget, RdlR consistently produces innovative, highly contextual work through a process sensitive to the client’s financial restraints. “There is an underlying thread in all of the work that we do,” says RdlR Principal Lorie Westrick, “and RdlR excels in the deliberate integration of architecture with urban design strategies, balancing the needs of the client with the existing environment and civic goals of the project. This lends a recognized sense of place and community value to their work, spanning a broad spectrum of projects types including com-
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Photo by Vince Yauger
that is to pursue the best work possible with the project limitations at hand.”