Building a BETTER World.
With the Sonoran Desert as your laboratory, learn to plan, design, develop and build innovative spaces and places that endure.
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Latest News, projects and profiles
Faculty-led, student-powered research advances heat and health innovation
Third-year B.Arch student Brett Lewis earned first place in the poster competition at the 2026 Big Idea Challenge Research Showcase for his work on a climate-responsive cooling unit developed in CAPLA’s Human Factors and Wellness class. M.Arch student Nick Yang also received fully funded National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps+) training, reflecting the growing impact of faculty-led, student-powered research at CAPLA.
Class of 2026: ‘Shaping how people live’
Francisco Zazueta, B.Arch '26, was recently featured by Arizona Public Media for a story as much about perseverance as it is about design.
In the News: STAR Village 'safe sleeping site' to continue for 2nd year
Bill Mackey, associate research professor, was interviewed and featured in the Tucson Sentinel for his insights on Tucson’s STAR Village safe sleeping site.
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CAPLA is a leader in built environment innovation within a Research I institution. We excel in teaching, research and service in a transformational learning environment.