Creating Connections: Honors Society Shapes UH Design Students’ Futures
The Hines College inducted a remarkable 38 top students into the University’s Beta Delta chapter of the national Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society in Architecture and the Allied Arts. The Society is the sole national honor society for architecture and design majors holding accreditation from the Association of College Honor Societies.
Alumni Spotlight: Kadmiel Konan (B.S. '23)
Growing up on the Ivory Coast, Kadmiel Konan (B.S. '23) always had an interest in technology and design. His interests in design has helped him hone a variety of skills that go beyond the role of a traditional industrial designer, having worked on projects for clients like Snap-on, Tabasco, NOV, and KOCH.
Call and Response Provides Authentic Collaboration Among the Arts
Hines College architecture students are collaborating with visiting artists from the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts. The project is sponsored by the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, exploring the interrelationship between architecture and music.
Alumni Spotlight: Jessica Valdez (B.Arch. '14)
Jessica Valdez's (B.Arch. '14) design journey went from being a fan of home makeover shows while growing up to finding her passion and career as a healthcare planner at Page. One important lesson she learned at the Hines College is that "every design decision should have a purpose."
Hines College Professors Launch Shaping the Gulf Coast of Tomorrow Studio Tackling Regional Climate Challenges
Professors Dalia Munenzon and Matthew Johnson are launching the Shaping the Gulf Coast of Tomorrow studio, an ambitious new program dedicated to addressing the complex environmental and urban challenges facing the Gulf Coast. It was developed in partnership and funded with a $748,848 research grant from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Planting a Seed of Community and Sustainability
Brenda Castillo's (B.Arch. '24) project Village of the Levy: Switchgrass blends the power of design and storytelling. Her efforts have garnered local and national honors, including a Hines College Undergraduate Architecture Design Award and a 2024 Student Design Award from AIA Dallas.
Illuminating Safety
Motorcyclists face heightened risks, especially at night, due to their reduced visibility to other drivers. Project Legacy, an innovation in motorcycle safety developed by Hines College industrial design alum Khanh Vu (B.S. '24), addresses this issue with advanced lighting and smart detection systems designed to make riders more visible and reduce accident risks.
Drafting Dreams: Laying a Foundation for Career Success
In architecture, learning never stops. The leap from theory to practice is essential for every architecture student, and internships are the key to making that transition. Eight Hines College students took these opportunities over the summer to immerse themselves in the industry, tackle real projects, form a professional network, and build up their skillset.
Unboxing Gentrification
Hines College alum Paul Molina (B.S. ’19) received a Fulbright award to explore displacement in Mexico City caused by gentrification, using the Chicano aesthetic of rasquachismo. His project involves creating scenic installations to represent the cultural memories of displaced families.
“Six”-cessful Designs with Impact
Hines College alumni, faculty, and students secured six honors at the AIA Houston Design Awards, with projects ranging from built projects to conceptual work. These recognitions include innovative solutions, design for community, attention to sustainability, and contributions to the architectural landscape.
Alumni Spotlight: Mariel Piña (B.S. '11)
Mariel Pîna (B.S. '11) always wanted to pursue a career that merged her passions for creativity and helping people. Of her time at the Hines College, she said, "I learned from lectures, experimentation, and, sometimes, failure. Working in a creative environment with high standards prepared me for the professional world of design."
Transformative Travels Abroad
This past summer, Hines College architecture students took journeys that advanced their pursuit of academic excellence and deepened their knowledge in new ways. As they navigated new environments in Italy and Japan, they forged relationships across borders, adapted to diverse perspectives, and expanded their horizons.
Alumni Spotlight: Nicholas Orchard (B.S. '18)
Industrial design alum Nicholas Orchard (B.S. '18) shared advice to students: "No matter what anyone else is doing, think for yourself, interpret things however you see fit, and do what you think is right. Trust yourself. Even failures are achievements if you use them as learning opportunities."
Meet Our Alumni Award Winners!
The University of Houston Architecture and Design Alumni Association and the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design congratulates another exceptional group of accomplished alumni award winners.
Imagining a Plan to Power Up Houston’s Near Northside Community
Over the summer, Hines College architecture students Yen Co, Yulisa Tran, Lucia Poggioli, Jailyn Benavides, Leslie Alamirra, and Lauren Smith won the inaugural “Power the Community” International College Design Competition, earning a $7,000 prize for “Distinguished Design – Urban Planning.”
New On Board: New Leadership Council Members Advance Key Goals
The Leadership Council recently welcomed several new members with extensive experience supporting the Council’s current goals to strengthen industry connections with students and complete fundraising for the Construction Robotics and Fabrication Technology (C.R.A.F.T.) Lab.
The Hines College Annual Report is Now Available!
The Hines College's Year in Review: Catch up on an incredible year of student, alumni, faculty, and staff stories and achievements! Our Annual Report 2023–2024 is available now online. Learn about how our college community has made a lasting impact as they advanced research and design in the world around them.
New Faculty Shaping College Curriculum
The Hines College welcomes two new faculty members and elevates three members to new positions this year. All five members bring decades of architecture and design experience in professional and academic fields. Read on to learn about these faculty members' diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Hines College Professor Receives Texas Society of Architects Educator Award
The Texas Society of Architects’ 2024 Honor Awards has named Hines College Professor Rafael Longoria as the recipient of the Award for Outstanding Educational Contributions in Honor of Edward J. Romieniec, FAIA. Congratulations to Professor Longoria, who has taught at UH for 36 years, for this incredible achievement!
Alumni Spotlight: Tarek Moubayed (M.Arch. '23)
Recent graduate Tarek Moubayed (M.Arch. '23) now works as an architect at AECOM. He said he pursued his studies at the Hines College because: "Design, in and of itself, is a process of bringing people together to solve problems... This is the kind of environment I felt I was exposed to at the College, and it is one I am grateful for."
Alumni Spotlight: Andres A. Pacheco (M.Arch. '03)
Andres A. Pacheco (M.Arch. '03) recently won three AIA Awards for his work as a senior associate at VMDO Architects. "Being able to work on any project at hand is what truly motivates me the most every day. I am so thankful for that opportunity," he shared.
SITting at the Top
The SIT Furniture Design Awards recognized four University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design industrial design (ID) students for their talent and creativity. The international competition honors professional and emerging designers.
Mind Matters
The University of Houston and Hines College have expanded their efforts to better support their community and provide the resources needed to improve mental health and well-being. Read about how our community creates meaningful spaces and programs to advance mental health at the College.
Linking Up for Community Health
Since partnering with the Harris Health System in 2018, the Hines College’s industrial design program students have worked with occupational therapy professionals from Harris Health to help and empower underserved communities in Houston.
