Form, Function, and Four Wins in a Row
At the beginning of March, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Fort Worth Design Awards celebration honored Hines College students for their outstanding projects in the 2024 AIAFW Student Design Awards. This year’s class of winners not only continued a tradition of winning high praise from the AIAFW Student Design Awards for the fourth year in a row, but they also took home three out of the four top prizes.
11th Annual Cougar 100 Honors Hines College Alumni
The 11th Cougar 100 Awards spotlights the fastest-growing companies founded or led by UH graduates, strengthening the network of Cougar entrepreneurs and emphasizing the importance of alumni collaboration in the business world. This year, alumni from the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design once again secured well-deserved places on the list.
Award-Winning Design Within Environmental Contexts
Hines College Assistant Instructional Professor Sam Clovis and his co-founder at clovisbaronian, Georgina Baronian, assistant professor at the Rice School of Architecture has earned high honors in two international competitions recently for their proposals that emphasizes design in the context of their environments.
Alumni Spotlight: Justin Taplet (B.Arch. and B.S. '08)
Justin Taplet grew up with a mother who served in the military and moved around often as a kid, experiencing new cities and their architecture. The experience inspired him to study architecture in a large city, making the Hines College a natural fit. To students, he shared: "Your story is your own. Embrace who you are and where you have been. Your career is not a race."
Alumni Spotlight: Vishwesh Panchal (M.Arch. '16)
Vishwesh Panchal grew up in a household that appreciated art and construction, leading him to a career in architecture. He shared, "Pursuing a Master of Architecture degree at the Hines College opened doors to new perspectives and opportunities."
Forging a Future: The Birth of BUILD+
Inspired by the work of the Graduate Design/Build Studio, the Hines College has established a non-profit, BUILD+. "BUILD+ will contribute significantly to the growth of more students from all disciplines of the Hines College while creating lasting improvements to Houston and the region," said professor Patrick Peters.
Retail Ready: Design Students Take Their Skills to Market
Hines College industrial design and architecture students show off their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit through a collaboration with local retailer, Space Montrose. Plus, students participate with their small businesses in the annual UH Holiday Market.
OpenHOUse on the Move: From Houston to an Innovative Future in Housing
The Hines College team for has begun their journey to design and build a thermodynamic house for The Gateway Decathlon, fueled by multidisciplinary and industry collaboration. Learn about how faculty and students are working together and what's on the horizon for the project.
DIMENSION Magazine: Fall 2024 Issue Out Now!
Our experiences with design are profoundly shaped by the journeys that lead us to them. At the Hines College, our students, faculty, and alumni pioneer cutting-edge research, engage in transformative learning outcomes, and forge dynamic professional careers – all influenced by the unique paths they have traveled. Explore how our community is redefining boundaries and crafting innovative experiences, advancing the field of design with every step of the journey.
Alumni Spotlight: Jes Deaver, AIA (M.Arch. '16)
A principal and partner at Nick Deaver Jes Deaver Architecture, Deaver also contributes stories and articles to a number of publications like Texas Architect magazine and The Architect's Newspaper. She also shared, "The confidence and passion for sharing my ideas is something I began to build as a student at the Hines College."
Hines College Student Organizations You Should Know: American Institute of Architecture Students
With innovations and challenges shaping our world, student organizations like the University of Houston American Institute of Architecture Students (UH AIAS) play a vital role in preparing aspiring architects for their future careers.
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.
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!
