Alumni News & Announcements

Senior Lecturer in Architecture Oscar Lopez and three CAPLA alumni won first place in the 2025 AIA Arizona Ideas Competition for their proposal “BLOCK UP.” The project reimagines the urban tower as a vertical civic framework for Phoenix, integrating public space, housing and climate-responsive design into a shared, adaptable structure. Developed through close collaboration between Lopez and alumni Sal Arellano, Trevor Watson and Cameron Noble, the proposal explores how density can expand community and access beyond the street level, highlighting CAPLA’s impact on forward-thinking, civic-minded design in Arizona.

CAPLA posthumously honors Donald Baker, MRED ’14, as its 2026 Alumnus of the Year, a visionary developer whose influence on Southern Arizona and the university community continues to resonate long after his passing.

CAPLA students, alumni and faculty are redesigning the Cooper Center’s aging cabins to create more sustainable, student-friendly spaces.

The Helen J. Kessler, FAIA International Travel Fellowship will provide CAPLA students with transformative international learning experiences. Kessler ’75 B.Arch created the endowment to share the impact that global travel and study had on her own career.

Architect and alumna Diane Reicher Jacobs, FAIA '88 shared during her convocation address her unconventional path into architecture and the core values that have guided her work: truth, beauty, and love. She encouraged graduates to embrace the uncertainty ahead with curiosity and care, ending with a heartfelt “triple dare” to go forth and build better places.

Robin Shambach is one of 18 distinguished alumni honored during the University of Arizona’s Alumni of the Year Awards Ceremony on February 27. The award recognizes individuals for their professional achievements, public service, advocacy for education, volunteerism, and contributions to students, their college, and the university.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) has named Teresa Rosano, assistant professor of practice, the winner of the Distinguished Professor Award.

Scott Owen Jr., '11 B.Arch, has been promoted to managing principal of the MG2 Minneapolis office. In his new role, Scott will be responsible for overseeing the programs division of Customer Experiences including leading the Entertainment sector.

The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine blends indoor and outdoor spaces, promoting wellness through natural light, biophilic design, and holistic health principles. It includes Mind, Body, and Spirit buildings fostering collaboration, relaxation, and healing.

More than 500 planners from across Arizona gathered in Tucson for the 2024 American Planning Association (APA) Arizona State Planning Conference, participating in workshops on topics ranging from emerging trends and housing challenges to affordability and parking policy.

David Zuniga, a CAPLA alumnus ('23 B.Arch), secured first place in the 2024 AIA Designing Together Contest by transforming a napkin sketch into a bi-national park at the Mexico-U.S. border. His CAPLA education, emphasizing conceptual thinking and societal impact, played a key role in shaping his award-winning design and professional aspirations.

The University of Arizona has awarded Teresa Rosano, an assistant professor of practice in the School of Architecture, the Gerald J. Swanson Prize for Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes excellence in undergraduate teaching.