Drachman Institute celebrates community partners, impact
The Drachman Institute recognized 28 community leaders nominated by CAPLA faculty for their outstanding collaboration and leadership across diverse organizations. These awardees represent a wide range of sectors, including local government, nonprofits, and tribal communities, highlighting the strong partnerships fostered through the Drachman Institute.
Alumna and Architect Diane Reicher Jacobs Shares Journey and ‘Triple Dare’ with Graduates
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.
Lecture Recap | "DUST: Origins" by DUST Architects
DUST architects explored how the American Southwest’s desert landscape inspires their work, shaping memory, creativity, and a deep sense of belonging. Its beauty and isolation offer space for reflection and connection to broader human experiences.
MS.Arch Grad’s Research Award Signals Bright Future
As Montse Estrany Bover graduates with a Master of Science in Architecture from CAPLA, she leaves with a prestigious research award for her thesis on Catalunya’s historic agricultural landscapes. Now working at an architecture firm in Spain, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. to continue blending research and practice.
CAPLA celebrates World Landscape Architecture Month
In celebration of World Landscape Architecture Month, CAPLA and the Arizona Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects student chapter are taking over the Arizona ASLA Instagram account in April.
Professor Bob Vint designs The Loft Cinema expansion
Tucson’s cherished independent nonprofit art-house theater, The Loft Cinema, is expanding—and leading the project is Bob Vint, assistant professor of practice at the School of Architecture.
Dean Nancy Pollock-Ellwand shares how global perspectives shape design on ‘International Exchange’
A Canadian and global academic leader, Dean Nancy Pollock-Ellwand reflects on her time in Japan and Australia, her work with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the connection between culture and design—highlighting how emotion and global perspectives influence the built environment and the classroom.
Rodeo Grounds Reimagined: Abigail Power ‘26 BLA
Abigail Power ‘26 B.LA recently reimagined the entry plaza of the Tucson Rodeo Grounds in LAR301, a studio led by CAPLA faculty Erik Schmahl and Kirk Dimond. Inspired by vaquero herding techniques, her design blends cultural history with ecological function through detailed plans, GIS mapping, and a physical model.
Landscape architecture students shine at AZ ASLA Awards Gala, Expo
More than 40 landscape architecture students were recognized for showcasing exceptional talent and innovation during the Arizona Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Awards Gala & Expo.
Ecological Cookbook: Gabriel Garcia ‘26 B.Arch
In ARC410F, Gabriel Garcia '26 B.Arch explored the intersection of architecture and ecology by designing with the Sonoran Desert’s spadefoot toad in mind. His ecological cookbook documents the species’ behavior, habitat needs, and environmental context, guiding a design approach rooted in sustainability and nonhuman-centered thinking.
Indigenous Nations and the Right to Water: Relationships, Resources and Futures | Lecture by Heather Whiteman Runs Him
Heather Whiteman Runs Him is a citizen of the Apsaalooke/Crow Nation. She is the Director of the Tribal Justice Clinic and Associate Clinical Professor at University of Arizona Rogers College of Law where she also teaches courses on tribal water rights, tribal courts, and tribal law.