Paola Salas

 

Beyond school, my hobbies include hiking, photography, and traveling. Tucson has such great biodiversity, from the beautiful Sonoran Desert to the snowy forests of Mount Lemmon. Over the past five years living in Tucson, I’ve been able to explore many beautiful hiking trails with picturesque sunsets. One of my favorite travel experiences has been going to San Diego for spring break!

 

My favorite part of my education at CAPLA has been the opportunity to travel for site visits. I’ve learned so much about different communities and cultures beyond Tucson. I have traveled and worked on projects in Phoenix, Bisbee, Oakland, San Francisco, and Boston! I’ve also loved the hands-on experience through the design-build studio, where architecture students at CAPLA designed and built Row Houses for the University of Arizona. It was an amazing experience to bring to life a project designed by students! Having that opportunity to work on the construction of a house was really important to me and my education, especially when thinking about designing buildings. My biggest challenge at CAPLA has been being away from home, but I’ve made so many great friends and memories here that I’ve grown really fond of this place, and I’ll miss it a lot when I graduate.

 

I am currently an intern at Vint and Associates Architects, a firm that specializes in historic preservation. This internship has been a great learning experience, and I’ve been mentored by experienced architects. CAPLA has prepared me well for the transition from school to career through its classes and studio culture.

 

My advice to prospective CAPLA students is to fully embrace the college experience! CAPLA has many great resources to support and further your education. It comes with its challenges, but hard work and time management will help you have a successful college career. Be sure to maintain a good work-life balance and enjoy all the extracurricular activities U of A and Tucson have to offer