CAPLA Faculty Awarded $250K to Start Heat Consortium
A team led by CAPLA’s Sandra Bernal Cordova, Altaf Engineer, and Ladd Keith has received a $250,000 grant over two years from the Office of Research and Partnerships through the inaugural Big Idea Challenge. Their project, the Heat and Health Resilience Innovation Consortium (HHRIC), aims to develop community-centered solutions to the growing threat of extreme heat. The team—comprising experts from across the University of Arizona—will focus on wearable biosensors, mobile cooling and care structures, health system algorithms, and AI-powered education tools. Their innovations, including the solar-powered CHILL-IT Health Oasis and telemedicine-equipped Kiosk Care, aim to improve public health and infrastructure resilience in Arizona and beyond.
Leading Women in Architecture Society: Pele Kruse ‘26 B.Arch
Pele Kruse, Class of 2026, is earning her Bachelor of Architecture as the first Samoan student in the program. Passionate about sustainable, community-focused design, she’s dedicated to uplifting underrepresented communities through architecture. As president of the Women in Architecture Society and a standout in studio projects, Pele is preparing to return home and help shape the future of architecture in American Samoa.
Improving water conservation and mitigating Arizona's heat island effect
The Arizona Board of Regents held a November showcase at the Arizona Experiment Station's Campus Agricultural Center in Tucson, featuring award-winning research from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University around new smart tree watering techniques.
Guiding a New Era: Kirk Dimond, Landscape Architecture Program Chair and Associate Professor
Kirk Dimond, associate professor of Landscape Architecture, was recently named program chair for the landscape architecture program at CAPLA. Hear about his background in the field and vision for the future.
Architecture + Choreography: Lecture by Beth M Weinstein
Beth Weinstein, associate professor in the School of Architecture, spoke about her recently published monograph, "Architecture and Choreography: Collaborations in Dance, Space and Time," and the unique interdisciplinary encounters and performed events generated through collaborations between architects and choreographers.
Garages and Driveways: An Adaptable Neighborhood Infrastructure | Lecture by Deirdre Pfeiffer
Residents of America’s single-family home neighborhoods have adapted their car-oriented built environments in resourceful and creative ways. Yet, adaptations of garages and driveways are relatively underexamined. This lecture presented research that helps to theorize garages and driveways as an adaptive neighborhood infrastructure that may help households and communities thrive
CAPLA, Jones Studio launch Grand Challenges Lecture Series
Sponsored by Jones Studio, the Grand Challenges Lecture Series aims to engage students, faculty, and the broader professional community with thought leaders across disciplines who are actively shaping the future of architecture and society.
Beth Weinstein, author of "Architecture + Dance," featured on the "A is for Architecture" Podcast
Beth Weinstein, acting associate dean of academic affairs and associate professor of architecture, was a guest on the "A is for Architecture" Podcast to discuss her recent book, "Architecture + Choreography: Collaborations in Dance, Space and Time."
CAPLA students partner with Tucson Hope Factory to address homelessness in Tucson
A collaborative initiative between the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA), the Drachman Institute, community organizations, and the City of Tucson is offering architecture students a unique opportunity to design and develop transitional housing solutions for Tucson’s unhoused population.
Anthony Rascon '26, B.Arch | Exploring Themed Entertainment and Architecture
Bachelor of Architecture undergraduate student Anthony Rascon shares how CAPLA has helped him explore themed entertainment design, leading to an internship with Universal Creative in Orlando. With a unique blend of architecture and immersive arts, he emphasizes the value of interdisciplinary learning and advises future students to embrace diverse experiences within their studies.
New U of A Initiative Leads the Way to Combat Extreme Heat
The new initiative within the Arizona Institute for Resilience will unite and expand existing heat-related programs at the University of Arizona, positioning the university as a global leader in heat resilience through research, education and outreach.