ABOUT LiA: 2010

AIA Dallas Latinos in Architecture Committee - Holiday Party at HKS

12:44:00 PM

Tuesday, December 7th, we celebrated the AIA Dallas Latinos in Architecture Committee Holiday Party at the offices of HKS. The event was a huge success!

We would like to thank HKS, our sponsor that made this event possible, and the people there that worked so hard at organizing this gathering:
Lorenzo Castillo, Dulce Torres, Enrique Greenwell and Sandra Ballesteros. They did a great job!

The intention of these twice a year networking/informational happy hours is to cover that part of LiA's mission that aims to strengthen relationships and networks between professionals in the field of Architecture. These social events will be at major architecture firms, and our next one will be next spring at the offices of Corgan Associates!

We had so many reasons to celebrate Tuesday night. If you have been a member of LiA from the beginning you know it has not been easy, but it has been very rewarding. If you are new to the committee, we encourage you to more learn about it, about our mission and its community, educational and professional components.

This year, 2010:
- LiA became an AIA Dallas Chapter Committee! We started as a small group in April, but became an official committee of the AIA Dallas Chapter in July.
- We have hosted two Networking Happy Hours, one at Perkins+Will, one at HKS.
- We run a successful Architecture book drive called: "From an Architect's Bookshelf" , where we collected more than 1100 books to be donated to 3 local high schools. Our original goal was 200 books!
- We celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month by featuring the work of many local talented Hispanic Architects
- We have been collaborating with the Dallas CityDesign Studio - at their West Dallas Design Charrettes; and with the ongoing Neighborhood Stabilization Overlay (NSO) of La Bajada neighborhood project
- We worked with the Dallas Architecture Forum and the Mexican Consulate in Dallas for the Alberto Kalach Lecture at the Magnolia Theater
- We worked with the Associates Committee during the "2 Be an Architect" program
- We participated at Skyline Architecture cluster, students-parents orientation, and have also met with students at other schools to talk to them about Architecture as a career path.
- An just in November, we took the Local Hispanic Architects & Designers Exhibit to The UTA School of Architecture.

So this has been a very busy year for LiA!
Thank you so much to all of you who help out, who sponsored an event, who donated your time and efforts! We hope 2011 will be just as rewarding.

And as you know, LiA seeks to serve and support our local communities by establishing a forum for celebrating Latinos in the design related professions.

If you missed Tuesday night's event, we had a guest celebrating with us: Mr. Emmanuel Ramirez Ruiz. Mr. Ramirez is a visiting professor at UTA this semester and he was so kind to join us to talk to us about his work, and his experience this semester at the school.
It was a great presentation, make sure you check out his website: http://www.mmx.com.mx/

About Emmanuel Ramirez Ruiz:
Co founder of “MMX Studio”, Architect and Urban Designer, holds a degree in architecture by the National University of Mexico (UNAM) and a master degree in Urban Design by the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. Awarded by the "FONCA" with the "Mexican Young Creators Award 2003" he has been an invited critic and lecturer at the AA and The Bartlett School of architecture in London, UTA as well as a variety of universities in Mexico.
Prior to co-founding MMX Studio He worked in various renowned international practices such as Alberto Kalach studio in Mexico City, SOM -Skidmore Owings and Merril- in London and Chicago as well as David Chipperfield Architects in London where he consolidated his design skills in different scales raging from architecture and urban design to regional and national plans.
His Practice MMX Studio, is a collective firm dedicated to research, development, and the execution ideas. The studio has a strong focus on the design process and seeks to understand the implications that architecture and urbanism have upon our societies. The studio aims to balance theory and practice, design and construction as well as architecture and urbanism.

Happy Holidays!

LiA participates in “CityVille Class Intro to Architects”

10:02:00 AM

"From an Architect's Bookshelf” 2010- Final Report

2:22:00 PM

"From an Architect's Bookshelf” 2010- Final Report
Williams Preparatory
Skyline High School
Hampton Preparatory

LiA's book donation program, "From an Architect's Bookshelf", was hugely successful in distributing books to several Dallas beneficiary schools!
Celi A. Sims, Jimmy Castellanos, Juan Navarro, Lorenzo Castillo, Isaac Robinson, Gina Sierra, Terry Salinas, Fred Peña, Ashley Peña, Jose Martinez, Paola Contreras, Claudia Barron, and David Muñoz, all members of AIA Dallas Latinos in Architecture Committee, volunteered with the sorting , organization and distribution of books at the schools.
The beneficiary schools selected this year were Skyline High School (Architecture Cluster), Williams Preparatory, and Hampton Preparatory.
We had the opportunity to talk with the students and gave an informal presentation that focused on our mission, the details of the book drive program and the committee, and the benefits of staying in school. We also talked to students about Architecture as a career path, sharing personal experiences that led to our professional careers.

"After I met these young people that will make up the next generation of design professionals, I was inspired by their drive and aspiration to better the world and themselves; just as my generation had aspired to do. When we handed out the books, I was fortunate enough to speak to some of the young men and women in small groups. It was then that I realized even though we are two different generations, they are facing the same struggles & obstacles in their future that I faced years ago. Now, after years of life’s experiences have taught me so many lessons, it is an opportunity that I welcome and a memory that I cherish—to help them with encouragement & support and ensuring them that their dreams are achievable." - Celi A. Sims (REES)

"Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for making the LiA book donation at Skyline such a success!!!
It is incredible what you accomplished in such a short amount of time.
The number and quality of donated books is overwhelming.
Hearing your personal stories was very powerful. We appreciated the emphasis everyone placed on getting an education. The donation of the books also helped to underscore the importance of doing well in school.
We look forward to teaming with LiA in the future. Your participation with the parent orientation and now with the book donation adds a unique dimension to student's exploration of the professional world.
Thank you once again for all you have done. " -Tom Cox, Instructor

At the Architecture Cluster of Skyline High school we met with students that have already been exposed to "the Architecture world". This didn't make it less exciting, as they were so appreciative of the gifts and so curious about the profession.

At Williams Preparatory, more than 98% of the student body is Hispanic. We had the opportunity to talk to more than 50 younger students that were so curios and surprised us with very clever and candid questions about our profession.

At Hampton Preparatory, a school with more than 95% African American student population, we met with very bright and talented seniors. We chose this school because LiA’s mission is to be an open resource group, not only helping the Hispanic community but the community at large.
Our original goal was to collect 200 books. Thanks to generous donations, we far exceeded the goal and delivered over 900 books and more than 350 architectural magazines!

-Yesenia Blandon

Hispanic Heritage Exhibition at UTA School of Architecture

1:24:00 PM

AIA Dallas Latinos in Architecture Holiday Celebration Happy Hour at HKS!

8:32:00 AM

2B An Architect

6:38:00 AM

Alberto KALACH- Lecture

6:21:00 AM

The Dallas Architecture Forum will present architect Alberto KALACH, who designed Vasconcelos Library in Mexico City. Kalach will speak Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at Magnolia Theatre, 3699 McKinney Ave. in the West Village of Dallas. This lecture, by one of Mexico’s outstanding young architects, also will celebrate ...the Bicentennial of Mexico’s independence, and will be presented in cooperation with the Latinos in Architecture Committee of the Dallas AIA, the University of Texas at Arlington School of Architecture, and the Dallas Office of the Consul General of Mexico.

LiA members:
1/2 price ($10) admission- Cash only.
RSVP required to Yesenia.Blandon@perkinswill.com

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

A leader of the new and gifted generation of Mexican architects fully engaged in the global issues of the 21st century. Educated in Mexico and at Cornell, Kalach and his collaborators have won important international competitions, including the highly original Vasconcelos Library recently completed. Clearly devoted to the public realm, Kalach's work is extensively published, including a monograph in Rockport's Contemporary World Architects series. He is a visiting critic at UT-Arlington.

Kalach studied at the Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, and later at Cornell University in Ithaca. From 1981 to 2002, he worked together with Daniel Álvarez in their company Taller de Arquitectura X (TAX). Then he put his point of interest on urban planning problems of his hometown, and founded the community "México: future city" (Spanish: México: ciudad futura). He realized several joint projects, some of them together with notable colleagues like Teodoro González de León, Gustavo Lipkau and Jose Castillo. His prestigious lake concepts are significant to existing water supply problems in Mexico City. He has published several articles in national and international magazines of architecture and participates in the project "Recovering the City of Lakes" (Spanish: Vuelta a la ciudad lacustre).

Latinos in Architecture - Exhibition

2:25:00 PM

LiA Book drive update

7:29:00 AM

Skyline Architecture Cluster Orientation

11:16:00 AM

By Martha Beary and Fred Peña

On Sept. 2, several LiA members attended the orientation for the Architecture Cluster at Skyline High School. Martha Beary, Jose Martinez, Selina Hinojosa and Fred Peña had the opportunity to share their experiences of the process of becoming an architect.

The program for the evening consisted of informing the students and their parents about the activities that the cluster is involved in. Within that presentation Martha and Fred spoke briefly about the Architecture field. After the formal presentations, the four LiA members were able to speak with several students and their parents one-on-one to answer questions and give advice for those interested in pursuing architecture.

This is what Martha had to say about the evening:

“This was an unforgettable experience for me. Skyline is not a traditional High School and is the first public school in the country to offer courses in architecture, a model for another 9 which have since sprung across the nation. I am very impressed with the school’s curriculum and involvement with the Architecture community such as the AIA, ACE, El Centro, SEED, UT Arlington, Texas A&M, UT Austin, and Harvard.

The level of work and opportunities the students are exposed to are an enabler to embrace their dreams of becoming the great architects of the future. Having the opportunity to share my experience and challenges as a working mother of two children and how the passion I have for my career helped me overcome all the obstacles. I shared with them that attaining my goal gave a sense of accomplishment because I was representing not only the Latino community but the female Latino architect.

I was able to answer many questions from parents and students who are interested in following this amazing dream of getting to college in the Architecture field, assuring them that with dedication and perseverance all goals are possible. If I only had the opportunity Skyline High School offers to their students, decisions supporting my career path would have been much easier”.-Martha C.Beary

West Dallas Charrette- Dallas CityDesign Studio

8:38:00 AM

By Lorena Toffer (Corgan Associates)

On Wednesday August 25th, Yesenia Blandon, Jose Martinez, Alfredo Pena, Georgina Sierra, David Trevino and Lorena Toffer, all members of Latinos in Architecture AIA Committee volunteered to attend the West Dallas Charrette and serve as facilitators. Led by Dallas CityDesign Studio director Brent Brown, AIA, this was an intimate and powerful experience with designers, public officials and the community of La Bajada.

The overall intent of the charrette was to keep the community involved and promote them to be an active voice as the Trinity River Project, the Calatrava Bridge and several developments in the area may affect La Bajada residential area, specifically, the western gateway to the Continental Bridge. Amongst the Principles taken by the City Design Studio are: to protect and enhance La Bajada neighborhood, to create north-south connections between Singleton and Commerce streets, and to motivate incremental businesses and organic development throughout the area. This was a great experience that shows how the inhabitants of La Bajada are strongly attached to this community, and want to see it grow and prosper, but keeping with their culturally rich environment.

"The West Dallas Charrette was an intimate experience with the CityDesign Studio designers and the community. Volunteering to serve as mediators and translators of the design and the information being presented, we became very familiar with the design intent and problems or obstacles that are yet to be addressed. It was a great experience to be able to be a part of such a huge project that will be here for many years to come, the "West Dallas Dream". The intent is to tie in the new Calatrava bridge, downtown and La Bajada making it an inviting transition through architecture, engineering and community. The revitalization of La Bajada will attract business and lure people to venture about this culturally rich community. Also to reduce industrial traffic and create new outlets and routes that will benefit this area of Dallas." - Jose Martinez

"A session full of passion, commitment and involvement that shows how a community can be empowered and be an active voice in the design process. The feedback gained from inhabitants of La Bajada also showed how knowledgeable they are of the changes that are coming, their understanding of the impact in their neighborhood, and how strongly they feel about speaking up to protect and enhance the places they live in. As a Spanish native speaker, the opportunity to talk to members of this community in our language, without any barriers and transmit their message to the CityDesign Studio, made the session much more rewarding". - Lorena Toffer

"We wanted to say thank you for letting us participate so actively on the West Dallas Charrette; it was a great experience, one that we felt our committee lives for. We had the opportunity to talk to the community, mostly Hispanic, in our first language, to hear their concerns, and be one of them for a couple of hours, a truly wonderful experience indeed." - Yesenia Blandon

"LiA - Words cannot begin to express how grateful we are to YOU for your support at the West Dallas charrette on Wednesday evening. We were amazed at the support from LiA members, although asked at the last minute, you came out in full force to give of your time and talent. We received numerous comments from the residents praising your efforts. The West Dallas leaders & City Design Studio team thought the evening was a huge success! And, it would not have been possible without your participation. We sincerely thank each of you. Your assistance was greatly appreciated! It's because of wonderful individuals like you, that our city is a wonderful city. Thank you." - Dallas City Design Studio Team

Link to Dallas CityDesign website:
http://www.dallascityhall.com/citydesign_studio/index.html