LiA's Holiday Celebration

Come celebrate the Holidays with a joint party with our AIA Chapter friends and colleagues. It has been a great first year for "Latinos in Architecture" and we're already looking forward to a fabulous 2012. Hope you all can make it.  Food and drinks will be available so please make sure to RSVP. Feliz Navidad!!!!

Design Exhibit in Full Swing

LiA’s Opening Night for “PERSPECTIVASdosmil11”, held at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) on October 7^th, was a great success.  Well over one hundred people came to view this remarkable exhibit aimed to showcase the innovative work and talent of Austin Latino architectural professionals and designers during the 2011 celebrations of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

“PERSPECTIVASdosmil11” introduced viewers to Latino architects and designers with vast experience in a wide range of work, including new residences and remodels, commercial and retail spaces, educational, institutional, civic, transportation, historic preservation, landscape and interior design.  Attendees also had the opportunity to meet and mingle with the fifteen local architects and designers participating in the exhibit.  The social mixer was soon followed by opening remarks given by Juan Cotera, FAIA and a unique slide presentation showcasing some of his firm’s most recent design projects.

“PERSPECTIVASdosmil11” will be on display, thru October 24^th, at the MACC and immediately relocated to the Austin Center for Architecture, where it will remain on display thru November 7^th.  Please feel free to visit http://www.maccaustin.org/ and http://www.aiaaustin.org/ to check on normal operating hours and special events.

Joint Networking Mixer

Please join "Latinos in Architecture" as we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month-2011.  Mix, mingle and learn about other organizations and committees in Austin's Design Community.

Participating groups include:
AIA Austin
Latinos in Architecture Committee (AIA)
Small Firms Round Table Committee (AIA)
Architecture in Schools Committee (AIA)
Architects without Borders- Austin
Architecture for Humanity- Austin
LAMA (Latin American Modern Architecture Research Group @ UTSOA)  

Please RSVP by October 3rd to dvalle.lia@gmail.com

1 Design Exhibit = 15 Perspectives

AIA Austin's “Latinos in Architecture” is proud to announce “PERSPECTIVAS dosmil11”. This exhibit aims to showcase the work and talent of Austin Latino architectural professionals and designers during the 2011 celebrations of National Hispanic Heritage Month.  The exhibit will take place at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC). Opening night is scheduled for Friday October 7th (5:30-7:00PM) with opening remarks by Juan Cotera, FAIA.  We hope you'll be able to attend. Please RSVP at LiAcommitteeAustin@gmail.com

Book Drive a Huge Success

LiA-Austin volunteers got together, on the last weekend of August, to sort through hundreds of books and magazines collected during the 1st annual book donation drive, “From an Architect’s Bookshelf”.  At the end of the day, it was clear that final numbers had surpassed initial expectations, as Austin architects and designers donated nearly 350 books and more than 400 architectural magazines.  All items were organized, classified and carefully boxed for future delivery to local area High Schools (more to come on date of delivery).  A big THANK YOU to all those individuals and firms who donated to make this effort a success.  Thanks as well to all the Bookshelf Leaders at the various Austin design firms, who donated their time and effort to make the program known and successfully collected so many books.  Finally, thank you to all LiA volunteers who participated during the planning and execution phases of the event.  Specifically, THANK YOU to Maria Guerra, Paul Medrano, Michael Guevara, Carlos Valdez, Carolina Cantu, Alfred Mojica, Lina Murillo, Darrell Smith, Martin Barrera, Lamour Hudson, Trinity White, Rachael McDaniel, Manuel Morales-Cantor, Sally Fly, Kristina Schlegel, Elizabeth Humphrey and Lauren Vienne.  We look forward to another great book drive in 2012!!

Book Drive to Inspire Austin Youth

Please join AIA Austin’s “Latinos in Architecture” for the first annual "From an Architect's Bookshelf"

This book donation drive/library development program will provide Austin area High Schools with books that are essential for the teaching and research of Architecture. Additionally, your books will provide motivation to a young student to stay in school and pursue a college degree education.

We encourage book donors to write a note of insight and encouragement inside the cover of the book to personalize the gift to the students.  Donations can include new or gently used books and recent magazines about architecture, interior design, art, construction.

Book donations are being accepted by designated bookshelf leaders at various design offices around Austin. You can also drop off books at the Austin Center for Architecture (801 W 12^th St.) between July 11^th and August 19^th

AIA Austin is proud to join “Latinos in Architecture” from AIA Dallas and AIA San Diego in this national endeavor and invites you to view the following video showcasing the fruits of such wonderful effort…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9kcWMeFmxk

Let's get involved.....Let's make a difference!

Recognizing Excellence in Design

Each year, the AIA Austin Design Awards program seeks to recognize outstanding architectural projects by members and to promote public interest in architectural excellence. This year, Miró Rivera Architects took home two awards: a Citation of Honor for the 1917 Bungalow (Austin, 2009) and the top Honor Award for the Ranch Operations buildings (Texas Hill Country, 2010).

Located near Austin’s historic Clarksville neighborhood, the 1917 Bungalow is one in a series of historic homes whose first owners were freed slaves.  The original ceiling coffers, windows, trims and long-leaf pine floors were retained and the walls were restored to their original wood plank siding. The new wing, conceived as a long, simple volume creates a dialogue with the existing house. Large glass sliding doors and floor-to-ceiling windows create a direct connection to two prominent oak trees and a new lap pool while allowing natural light into the spaces.

The Ranch Operations buildings explore the juxtaposition of simple utilitarian structures against the Hill Country landscape. Designed with a common 16’ module, the structural layout for the three buildings is identical, leaving manipulation of the skin system as the primary vehicle for meeting the programmatic needs for the project.

Congratulations to Miró Rivera Architects and all 2011 Award recipients for such great work. To learn more about their firm please visit them at http://www.mirorivera.com/

Inspiring Future Architects

On Friday, April 15^th, LiA members joined forces with members of AIA Austin’s Architecture in Schools committee to participate in career day at Manor Elementary School.  Volunteers had the special opportunity to present to various student groups and discuss the many different roles architects play in today’s society.  Students heard about the educational paths in becoming an architect as well as the multiple phases in the design process.  At the same time, volunteers were very impressed to learn that a 4^th grade teacher had developed an architecture curriculum to teach her students about math.  LiA volunteers were thrilled to have the opportunity to present to students enrolled in Manor’s bilingual program.  Thank you so much to all members who gave of their time and talents to inspire the students at Manor ES.

A Celebration of Mexican Cinema

The "Consulado General de Mexico en Austin" is hosting a film series honoring the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.  Please join them in the Texas Spirit Theater, at the Bob Bullock History Museum, during this wonderful opportunity.  Admission is free and movies are presented in Spanish with English subtitles.  Arrive early and enjoy extended exhibit hours (6-7:30pm) for “Arte en la Charreria” on those nights as well.  Schedule of shows is as follows:

March 30 - Las Abandonadas, 1944

April 20 – La Ilusión Viaja en Tranvia, 1953

May 4 – La Rosa Blanca, 1961

May 25 – La Virgen que Forjó una Patria, 1942

http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/

Project Tour – Design by LiA Member

Latinos in Architecture is glad to announce that one of our members, Luis Jauregui AIA, will be having one of his projects toured by the AIA’s Custom Residential Architect’s Network (CRAN).  Please join CRAN and the AIA Austin membership, on April 7^th from 11:30am to 1:30pm, to participate in this special event.  Project site is located at 3107 Westlake Drive, Unit A, Austin 78746.  Please RSVP to Elizabeth at (512)452-4332.  Austin-based Jauregui Architecture Interiors & Construction, specializes in luxury residential projects and have satellite office in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas.  To learn more about Luis and his company please visit them at http://www.jaureguiarchitect.com/

LATITUD3S – Celebrating Architecture Throughout The Americas

The School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin is gearing up to host a two-day symposium celebrating architecture throughout the Americas.  Please plan on joining them on March 31 +  April 1 as they host numerous lectures and panel discussions with some of the continent’s most distinguished architects.  The program will kick off with welcoming words from Mr. Fritz Steiner (Dean UTSOA), followed by introductory remarks by Mr. Wilfried Wang (O´Neil Ford Centennial Chair in Architecture) and multiple presentations and discussions by prominent architects from Canada, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina amongst others.  A celebratory reception is planned for opening day at 6:30pm at Goldsmith Hall.

We in Austin are very fortunate to have this exceptional event taking place right in our backyard.  Latinos in Architecture invites you all to make time to attend as many of the presentations planned for the event.

weblink to event -
http://www.soa.utexas.edu/latitudes/

LiA Austin's Innaugural Networking Happy Hour was a Great Success!

LiA’s innaugural Networking and Happy Hour event, held at the Center for Architecture on February 24^th, was a great success.  Many thanks to the nearly sixty people that came to support the launch of our new committee.

Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to network and visit with friends and colleagues from the architectural profession as well as other areas, including engineering consultants, real estate professionals, building product experts, educators and students.  Attendees also had the opportunity to listen to Yesenia Blandon and Terry Salinas, founding members of LiA Dallas, as they enthusiastically discussed the many wonderful events they have been able to organize in their first few months of existence.

LiA Austin, now the second committee of its kind in the nation, is born from a set of needs and realities of our local Latino community, and particularly of us involved in the design industry.  Happy Hour attendees were reminded that through participation and active involvement we can identify and foster tomorrow’s leadership in our local communities and professional organizations.  LiA Austin promises to be a vehicle through which our members can fulfill such mission.

We invite you to join LiA Austin by calling the AIA chapter office at (512)452-4332 or contacting us by e-mail at LiAcommitteeAustin@gmail.com

Check out photos from the event and a link to our blog on FaceBook by searching “AIA Austin Latinos in Architecture.”

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_162581360457393&ap=1

LiA Austin has blog!

You can also find us in Facebook under "AIA Austin Latinos in Architecture"

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_162581360457393