Alumna Kaya Orona named 2026 Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree
CAPLA alumna Kaya Orona, B.Arch ’23, has been named one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s 2026 40 Under 40 honorees, recognizing her accomplishments in the construction industry. Now a preconstruction manager at The PENTA Building Group, Orona has built on her architectural education to lead projects at the intersection of design, construction and development.
CAPLA lecturer Nataliya Apanovich honored with Gerald J. Swanson Prize for Teaching Excellence
Nataliya Apanovich, a CAPLA lecturer, won the Gerald J. Swanson Prize for Teaching Excellence. She’s known for innovative, student-centered, community-focused sustainability education.
CAPLA's Ryan Smith Elected to National Academy of Construction
Ryan Smith, director of CAPLA’s School of Architecture, was elected to the National Academy of Construction Class of 2026 for leadership in offsite construction.
CAPLA’s Ladd Keith receives inaugural U of A Convergence Award for heat resiliency research
Ladd Keith, associate professor of planning, has received the 2026 University of Arizona Convergence Award for Excellence in Applied Research and Engineering for his interdisciplinary work advancing heat planning, policy and governance.
Alumni Spotlight: Bradley Wheeler, B.Arch ‘87
Bradley Wheeler, B.Arch ’87, built a career that extends far beyond traditional architectural practice, embracing opportunities in architectural photography, writing and marketing while remaining grounded in his design education.
ISIE convenes global expo leaders in Paris for Best Practices Workshop
The Institute for the Study of International Expositions (ISIE) brought together leading architects, designers and expo practitioners from around the world for a workshop in Paris focused on best practices in international exposition design.
CAPLA hosts 2nd Annual U of A Real Estate Symposium
The 2nd Annual U of A Real Estate Symposium drew more than 40 real estate alumni and industry partners from the greater Phoenix area and highlighted the real estate trends shaping development and investment across Arizona.
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.
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.
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.
CAPLA panel highlights green building, celebrates student sustainability leaders
CAPLA’s “Building Better is Building Green” panel highlighted how sustainability credentials and real-world experience are preparing students to lead the future of the built environment. The event also celebrated 21 students receiving support from the Green Ginsberg Fund to participate in a summer LEED Green Associate bootcamp and certification exam.