UTSA architecture students won a Texas Society of Architects award for their
building design for
"Fair Park Dallas," a proposed venue for the
2012 Olympic Games. The structure would be an
education and marketing center
aimed at youth with the exterior featuring giant plasma screens to
showcase
athletic events around the world. The interior would include a hands-on learning
center.
School of Architecture completes year of accomplishments and honors
(Dec. 10, 2001)--The year 2001 was phenomenal for the UTSA School of Architecture, including a collaborative agreement with the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), accreditation of its master of architecture program and a number of awards and honors for faculty and students.
In July, the Facultad de Arquitectura of UNAM and the School of Architecture signed an agreement to conduct an exchange program for students and faculty, exhibits, publications and joint research projects. The agreement will facilitate close collaborative relationships and will expand international opportunities for UTSA students and faculty.
"Considering the focus of the School of Architecture graduate program in historic preservation and international practice, and its match with the UNAM programs, this endeavor should yield many positive results," said Julius M. Gribou, A.I.A., director.
In October, the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) granted a three-year initial term of accreditation for the school's master of architecture (M.Arch.) program, a two-year sequence of courses preceded by a preprofessional, four-year degree.
The M.Arch. gives students a thorough background in the principles and techniques of architectural design and theory and offers specialization in international practice or historic preservation. Both specializations emphasize the architecture of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley on both sides of the river.
The school received a number of recognitions and awards Nov. 3 at the Texas Society of Architects (TSA) 62nd Annual Convention, joined in Dallas by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Texas/Oklahoma Chapter. A team of UTSA architecture students won the TSA/Herman Miller Design Charrette at the convention. The team included Rolando Garcia, junior, and seniors Braden Haley, Joseph Stahlman and Shawn Willis.
"Charrette" is a French term denoting an intensive design session completed in a short time. The competitors involved in the TSA charrette represented Texas' schools of architecture and had eight hours to resolve a design problem. The work from each team was displayed until the end of the conference when the winner was announced. It was the third win for UTSA with previous awards in 2000 and 1996.
The UTSA team designed a building that would be part of "Fair Park Dallas," a proposed site for the 2012 Olympic Games. The proposed project incorporated a hands-on learning center aimed at youth with a marketing center to showcase athletic events throughout the world.
Located within a potential site for an Olympic Village, the building was placed adjacent to a stadium and plaza to promote congregation and interaction of those attending the games. With the Dallas skyline in view, one end of the building would reach over a lagoon to symbolize outward expansion. The site would incorporate existing structures housing museums and an aquarium.
Eugene George Jr., UTSA endowed professor of historic preservation, was also an award winner in Dallas. He received the Edward J. Romieniec, FAIA Award for Outstanding Contributions in Education. George, whose career spans more than 50 years, has mentored and counseled hundreds of students.
His career began during World War II after Germans shot down his plane. While a prisoner of war, he taught an introductory architectural course for his fellow POWs. Outside the classroom, George has maintained a private architectural practice and is known as one of the state's leading architects for historic preservation.
Robert Cadwallader, a member of UTSA's advisory council and architecture committee, received an honorary TSA membership at the TSA convention. Cadwallader recently established an endowed scholarship for architecture and interior design students and is credited with innovative designs and setting new standards in architecture.
Additionally, Julius M. Gribou, AIA, was elected TSA 2002 vice president. Diane Hays, UTSA assistant professor of architecture, was elected to the board of directors of IIDA Texas/Oklahoma.
Finally, a group of architecture students led by assistant professors Vincent Canizaro and James R. Lewis won the Jurors' Choice Award Nov. 17 at the American Institute of Architects San Antonio Chapter Design Awards held at the Empire Theatre. The group was recognized for its design and construction effort involving a warehouse studio space in the Friedrich Building, 1617 E. Commerce St.
The group of 17 students from graduate and senior studios designed and constructed a meeting space re-using many materials already on site. "This was a unique selection by the jury members who were extremely impressed by the students' effort," noted Gribou.
A group of six UTSA students participated in a mock jury at the AIA San Antonio event. The mock jury, conducted each fall at the event, allows students to review professional project submittals by area firms. The students establish criteria for judging the work, formulate their comments, then observe and, if invited, participate with the professional architectural jury. The winning entries from both juries are presented at the annual awards program.
"The mock jury has become a crowd favorite at the AIA awards reception," Hays said. "It is a unique program that gives students the opportunity to evaluate professional work in a formalized setting. They had a chance to spend some real quality time with nationally and internationally recognized architects. It's a great opportunity to further develop their critical thinking skills."
School of Architecture activities for the spring include the Beaux Arts Ball and the Design Lecture Series. A major AIA San Antonio fund-raiser, the annual black tie ball will be at the Friedrich Building this year. UTSA architecture and interior design students benefit from this event frequently. In years past, proceeds from the event have funded scholarships for UTSA architecture students, library resources, and the Design Lecture Series, a collaborative venture with AIA San Antonio.
For more information contact Julius
M. Gribou, AIA, director, at (210) 458-4299 or visit the School
of Architecture Web site.
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2001