CAPLA Lecturer and Alumni Win 2025 AIA Arizona Ideas Competition
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.
Applied Active Transportation Class Aims to Improve Bike and Pedestrian Safety on Campus
A CAPLA studio led by Senior Lecturer Joey Iuliano is turning student interest into action by focusing on improving walking and cycling conditions on campus. In collaboration with Parking & Transportation Services and the Office of Sustainability, students analyze crash data and develop design proposals for key campus corridors to improve safety and connectivity. Inspired in part by last fall’s fatal traffic accident near campus, the course aims to produce practical ideas that could inform future campus planning.
Mud y Robots | Lecture by Ronald Rael
Ronald Rael dives into his groundbreaking initiative, "Mud y Robots." This innovative project merges the ancient art of earthen building with the latest in additive manufacturing technology to create sustainable housing solutions with the potential to transform our planet.
Architecture + Choreography: Lecture by Beth M Weinstein
Beth Weinstein, associate professor in the School of Architecture, spoke about her recently published monograph, "Architecture and Choreography: Collaborations in Dance, Space and Time," and the unique interdisciplinary encounters and performed events generated through collaborations between architects and choreographers.
Garages and Driveways: An Adaptable Neighborhood Infrastructure | Lecture by Deirdre Pfeiffer
Residents of America’s single-family home neighborhoods have adapted their car-oriented built environments in resourceful and creative ways. Yet, adaptations of garages and driveways are relatively underexamined. This lecture presented research that helps to theorize garages and driveways as an adaptive neighborhood infrastructure that may help households and communities thrive
CAPLA, Jones Studio launch Grand Challenges Lecture Series
Sponsored by Jones Studio, the Grand Challenges Lecture Series aims to engage students, faculty, and the broader professional community with thought leaders across disciplines who are actively shaping the future of architecture and society.
Beth Weinstein, author of "Architecture + Dance," featured on the "A is for Architecture" Podcast
Beth Weinstein, acting associate dean of academic affairs and associate professor of architecture, was a guest on the "A is for Architecture" Podcast to discuss her recent book, "Architecture + Choreography: Collaborations in Dance, Space and Time."
CAPLA students partner with Tucson Hope Factory to address homelessness in Tucson
A collaborative initiative between the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA), the Drachman Institute, community organizations, and the City of Tucson is offering architecture students a unique opportunity to design and develop transitional housing solutions for Tucson’s unhoused population.
Anthony Rascon '26, B.Arch | Exploring Themed Entertainment and Architecture
Bachelor of Architecture undergraduate student Anthony Rascon shares how CAPLA has helped him explore themed entertainment design, leading to an internship with Universal Creative in Orlando. With a unique blend of architecture and immersive arts, he emphasizes the value of interdisciplinary learning and advises future students to embrace diverse experiences within their studies.
Postponed | Renowned architect Lesley Lokko headlines inaugural CAPLA Lecture Series
The CAPLA Inaugural Lecture Series featuring Lesley Lokko, originally scheduled for Friday, November 1, has been postponed due to the speaker's unexpected illness.
New U of A Initiative Leads the Way to Combat Extreme Heat
The new initiative within the Arizona Institute for Resilience will unite and expand existing heat-related programs at the University of Arizona, positioning the university as a global leader in heat resilience through research, education and outreach.