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| February 21, 2008 |
CHUD, partner agencies providing If Pete Lara goes to the La Presa colonia in Webb County, Texas at night, he’ll see that some of its homes are now lit with safe, reliable electricity. With his help, the rest of the colonia’s homes are on track to get electricity too. Lara is the associate director for the central Rio Grande region of the Texas A&M College of Architecture’s Center for Housing and Urban Development, and he’s helped make CHUD instrumental in getting electricity into La Presa. With the assistance of CHUD and a variety of project partners, residents in 12 homes in La Presa, a colonia five miles from Laredo’s city limits, are hooked up to a microgrid that provides electricity to their homes — the first phase of a pilot project that will eventually supply power to the entire La Presa community. Colonias, such as La Presa, are housing developments on the United States side of the U.S.-Mexico border that often lack basic necessities such as electricity, water or sewer systems. Pictured above: Cigarroa High School students in Laredo raise an electricity-generating wind turbine they built in a project the College of Architecture’s Center for Housing Development helped facilitate.
Stark Galleries to exhibit photos An exhibition featuring photographs of the restoration efforts at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece will run Feb. 28 – April 13 at the J. Wayne Stark Galleries at Texas A&M University. The exhibit, sponsored in part by the Texas A&M Department of Architecture and Center for Historic Conservation, includes more than 50 photographs taken by Socratis Mavrommatis, the official photographer of the Acropolis restoration project. Renovations on several of the buildings on the Acropolis are depicted. To introduce the exhibit, 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, Nancy Klein and Kevin Glowacki, both architectural history professors at Texas A&M, will talk about the photographs and the importance of the Acropolis.
Final two dean candidates visit the Wayne Drummond, dean of the College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, emphasized seeing the college in a world context, that the world’s rising population creates a need for the efficient creation, design and management of the built environment. Andrew Vernooy, dean of Texas Tech University’s College of Architecture, noted that students are different today than in the past. “We have to teach people who construe knowledge differently than we do,” he said, also detailing problem-solving experiences while at Tech.
TV judges gush about Aggie 'American Idol'
When Castro, a landscape architecture major at Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture, finished singing Tuesday night as one of 12 male finalists on “American Idol,” Cowell and his fellow judges couldn’t stop gushing. “Jason, I thought that was in the top two performances of the night,” said Cowell. “Because you ... have just got it," he said.
Architecture for Health lectures Experts in the field of healthcare architecture will be making regular stops to the Texas A&M University College of Architecture this spring to talk about the latest developments in their field. The speakers are part of the Spring 2008 Architecture for Health Lecture Series, which is mostly held Wednesdays at noon in Langford A205 (conference room next to the Dean’s Office). The series is sponsored by the college’s Center for Health Systems & Design and the Student Health Environments Association.
Linbeck's 'Disturbance' at '08 Rowlett Lecture Leaders and clients of Linbeck, an internationally renowned construction company, challenged the status quo while highlighting company innovations from past and present at “Get Ready for the Disturbance,” the 29th Annual John Miles Rowlett Lecture, a half-day event that took place Feb. 8 at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas.
Workshop participants discuss A crowd of more than 100 attendees consisting of professional planners, educators, government officials and others interested in Latino community development discussed Latino issues in urban planning Feb. 15 at Latino Dialogo in Texas.
Viz, architecture students earn top spots Graduate students in Texas A&M’s College of Architecture won the top two awards a fall 2007 Immersive Visualization Competition held at Texas A&M’s Immersive Visualization Center in the Halbouty Geosciences Building. The competition was sponsored by nVidia, a world-leading visual computing technology company.
Vizzers discuss making of MTV video Lauren Simpson and Mike Losure, Texas A&M visualization graduate students, will talk about their experience with making a music video for the band, Motion City Soundtrack, at a Brown Bag Lecture slated 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29. in Langford C400 (Studio A). (Please note: the time and place are new, as the event had to be rescheduled to this new time). Simpson earned the opportunity to make the video by winning the mtvU "Best Film on Campus" competition. She tapped fellow Vizzers Losure and Igor Kraguljac to assist her in the project, which included live-action video and stop-motion animation.
Schiffhauer's portraits of slain civil rights leader on Paintings and drawings of Martin Luther King Jr. by College of Architecture associate professor Robert Schiffhauer will be on display at the Brazos Valley African American Museum until the end of February. “Martin Luther King Jr. has special significance to me because his message about hope is so strong and felt so deeply by so many who yearn for social justice and racial equality,” said Schiffhauer.
Joeris General Contractors endow A generous donation from Joeris General Contractors, Ltd. of San Antonio, Texas endowed two new scholarships in the Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M University. The Leo S. Joeris Endowed Scholarship and the Joeris General Contractors Endowed Scholarship were created through the company’s gift of $40,000. The endowments will be used to provide one or more scholarships to full-time students in good standing that are pursuing a construction science degree.
Eastwood's support of Aggie solar decathletes Ann Eastwood was involved from start to finish in the Texas A&M College of Architecture’s Solar Decathlon entry, and she was recognized for that hard work and her work in the Office of Student Services during the college’s spring 2008 faculty-staff meeting. She received the Linda J. Todd Outstanding Support Staff Achievement Award from Tom Regan, dean of the College of Architecture.
Beaumont Housing Authority uses LAUP student Students from the Texas A&M College of Architecture helped the Beaumont Housing Authority win a national award by providing designs, master plans and supporting community research for the renovation of Magnolia Gardens, a BHA housing project damaged by Hurricane Rita. The housing authority received the 2007 National Award of Merit from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials for its collaboration with the Texas A&M students.
In case you missed it:
The need is greater than ever for highly educated professionals to make wise decisions about factors ranging from land use to economic development to hazard and emergency planning. The Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning is now offering a new broad-based undergraduate program, the Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Science degree – the first undergraduate program of its kind in Texas.
Last summer, a team of faculty and students from the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University placed second, earning $30,000 in a nationwide competition aimed at providing the city of Austin, Texas with innovative ideas for encouraging the friendly coexistence of the city’s beloved trees with its much-needed utility infrastructure.
Texas A&M architecture students in Carlos Reimers’ Spring 2007 design studio received awards in a national design competition for sustainable colonia housing in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Texas A&M visualization student Tim Weaver offered a candid peek into graduate student life at Texas A&M in a video that placed first in a multimedia competition sponsored last spring by the university's Office of Graduate Studies.
Texas A&M architecture professors and CHSD faculty fellows Charles Culp and Jeff Haberl were among university faculty honored for their work on one of 15 patents recently awarded to Texas A&M faculty. The inventors were feted at the Feb. 23 Patent and Innovation 2007 Awards luncheon sponsored by the Texas A&M University System Office of Technology Commercialization.
Josh Binger, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in Construction Management in summer 2007, joined two teammates to capture a gold medal for the USA in the Compound Men's Team category in the Meteksan Archery World Cup tournament in Dover, England in July 2007.
Rodney Hill, professor of architecture at Texas A&M University, was recently featured in Insite Magazine for his sculpture, “Obelisk of Knowledge,” which was presented to Texas A&M University at Qatar’s major benefactors.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials named the Texas Engineering Experiment Station’s Energy Systems Laboratory (ELS) a national Center of Excellence on Displaced Emissions. College of Architecture faculty members Jeff Haberl and Charles Culp, are ESL associate directors.
A Feb. 5, 2008 Houston Chronicle feature about Houston’s changing downtown included a Q&A with former San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza ‘92, an outstanding alumnus of the Texas A&M College of Architecture. Garza was in Houston to judge the Urban Land Institute Houston 2008 Development of Distinction Awards.
J. Thomas Regan, dean of the Texas A&M College of Architecture and Michael Murphy, associate professor of landscape architecture, were named among the 2008 Most Respected and Admired Educators, in the 9th Annual 2008 Education Survey and Rankings published in the November/December 2007 issue of DesignIntelligence.
"Sculptures that Embody Light" by Dick Davison, professor of architecture at Texas A&M University, will be on exhibit Feb. 25 - 29 in the Langford B exhibit hall. "The goal," said Davison, "is to use light in such a way that it goes beyond being relatively passive, like stained glass, but is absolutely integral to the image." For more information, contact Davison at 845.6581 or rdavison@archmail.tamu.edu.
Feb. 20-21 Feb. 21 Environmental hazard management & planning faculty candidate Sammy Zahran from Colorado State University will present his research from 11 – 12:15 p.m. at Langford A107B. For more information, contact Clarissa Garcia at 845.7813 or cgarcia@archmail.tamu.edu. Architecture history faculty candidate Elise Friedland from Rollins College will present her research 11 a.m. – noon at Langford A217. For more information, contact Hala Gibson at 845.1015 or hgibson@tamu.edu.
Feb. 21-23 Feb. 22 Architecture design faculty candidate Gabriel Esquivel from Ohio State University, will present “A Effect and Emotion” from 4:20 – 5:10 p.m. at Preston Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Hala Gibson at 845.1015 or hgibson@tamu.edu. Feb. 25 Manuel Baez' lecture on Leonardo Da Vinci, part of the Department of Architecture lecture series, has been canceled pending rescheduling. Feb. 26 Feb. 25-29 Feb. 27 Architecture Design faculty candidate Gabriela Campagnol, a visiting assistant professor at Texas A&M University last semester, will present her research from 4:20 – 5:10 p.m. at Preston Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Hala Gibson at 845.1015 or hgibson@tamu.edu. Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning faculty candidate Zhifang Wang, will give a presentation on her research from 11 a.m. – noon at Langford A323. For more information, contact Clarissa Garcia at 845.7813 or cgarcia@archmail.tamu.edu. “Staffing & HUBs,” an Interdisciplinary Capstone Lecture by Matt Williamson and Robert Hodges of The Beck Group,” is slated 1:50 p.m. in Room 009 of the Williams Administration Building. The lectures are sponsored by The Beck Group. For more information, contact John Cargill at jtcargill@yahoo.com Feb. 29 Architecture design faculty candidate Tanyel Turkasina-Bulbul from Istanbul Technical University will give a presentation 4:20 – 5:10 p.m. at Preston Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Hala Gibson at 845.1015 or hgibson@tamu.edu.
March 3 Architecture Design faculty candidate Alex Eisenschmidt from Syracuse University will present his research from 4:20 – 5:10 p.m. at Preston Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Hala Gibson at 845.1015 or hgibson@tamu.edu. Architecture history faculty candidate Dr. Julie Hruby from Grand Valley State University will present her research from 11 a.m. – noon in Langford C208. For more information, contact Hala Gibson at 845.1015 or hgibson@tamu.edu. March 4 The National Association of Homebuilders student chapter meets at the Preston Geren Auditorium from 7 - 9 p.m. For more information, contact Trey Mailhes at 361.443.0734 or treymailhes@neo.tamu.edu. March 5 Architecture design faculty candidate Logan Wagner will present research from 4:20 – 5:10 p.m. at Preston Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Hala Gibson at 845.1015 or hgibson@tamu.edu. “Safety & Site Logistics,” an Interdisciplinary Capstone Lecture by Tony Townley of The Beck Group, is slated 1:50 p.m. in Room 009 of the Williams Administration Building. For more information, contact John Cargill at jtcargill@yahoo.com. March 7 March 19 “Research Informed Design, Safety, & Improved Outcomes” a lecture by Kirk Hamilton, associate professor of architecture at Texas A&M University, begins at noon in Langford A205. The presentation is part of the Architecture-for-Health Lecture Series sponsored by the Center for Health Systems and Design and the Student Health Environments Association. “Bonding, Insurance & Contracts,” an Interdisciplinary Capstone Lecture by Steve Nelson of The Beck Group, is slated for 1:50 p.m. in Room 009 of the Williams Administration Building. For more information, contact John Cargill at jtcargill@yahoo.com.
March 26 March 27-30 April 1 April 2 April 9 “Proposals & Interviews,” an Interdisciplinary Capstone Lecture featuring Chad Schreiber and Ryan Montgomery of The Beck Group, is set for 1:50 p.m. in Room 009 of the Williams Administration Building. For more information, contact John Cargill at jtcargill@yahoo.com. April 11 April 16 Lecture eyes Friesen Concepts: Larry Lammers, president of Lammers and Gershon Associates of Reston, Va. presents “The Friesen Concepts — The Impact on Today’s Hospital Design,” an Architecture-for-Health lecture sponsored by the Center for Health Systems and Design and the Student Health Environments Association in the Langford A205 at noon.
April 17
April 21 April 23 April 24 April 25 April 28 April 29 – 30 April 30 Student Animation Screening: Students enrolled in ENDS 489, ENDS 205, ARTS 203, ARTS 304, ARTS 305, ENDS 311, and ENDS 312 will exhibit time-based work 5 – 8 p.m. in the Preston Geren Auditorium. For more information, contact Terry Larsen, 979-845-7068 or trl@archone.tamu.edu. May 16 Oct. 23-25 Nov. 6
Study Abroad Social draws big crowd There was information aplenty at the Study Abroad Social Feb. 13 in the Langford A atrium. Students learned more about the Texas A&M College of Architecture’s many study opportunities in faraway locales such as Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey, China and India. |
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Urban and Regional Science degree takes 
A&M student-faculty team places 2nd,
A&M students place 3rd in national
Vizzer wins multimedia competition
Award honors architecture
COSC grad Josh Binger shoots
Insite magazine feature's Hill's sculpture,
EPA names Texas A&M Energy Systems Lab
Ed Garza discusses the changing look of
Survey names Regan, Murphy
The Flyers perform at Fitzwilly’s 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21. There is a $5 cover charge. Three of the homegrown band’s five members are seniors enrolled in Texas A&M College of Architecture degree programs. Bob Turek, lead singer, and Seth Brunner, percussionist, are both environmental design students. Keaton Tucker, the Flyer’s bassist, is a landscape architecture student. The band was featured in the 
mtvU contest winner Lauren Simpson will give a talk about her experiences directing a music video for the band Motion City Soundtrack. Joining her will be the two Viz students involved on the project, Michael Losure and Igor Kraguljac. They will discuss creating the video from initial pitch all the way through to the final review process with the band, record label, and MTV at 12:30 p.m. in Langford C400 (Studio A). (Please note: the time and place are new, as the event had to be rescheduled from the times reported last week). For more information, contact Michael Losure at 
Feb. 29 - March 1
March 20-28
