CAPLA Faculty Awarded $250K to Start Heat Consortium
A team led by CAPLA’s Sandra Bernal Cordova, Altaf Engineer, and Ladd Keith has received a $250,000 grant over two years from the Office of Research and Partnerships through the inaugural Big Idea Challenge. Their project, the Heat and Health Resilience Innovation Consortium (HHRIC), aims to develop community-centered solutions to the growing threat of extreme heat. The team—comprising experts from across the University of Arizona—will focus on wearable biosensors, mobile cooling and care structures, health system algorithms, and AI-powered education tools. Their innovations, including the solar-powered CHILL-IT Health Oasis and telemedicine-equipped Kiosk Care, aim to improve public health and infrastructure resilience in Arizona and beyond.
Leading Women in Architecture Society: Pele Kruse ‘26 B.Arch
Pele Kruse, Class of 2026, is earning her Bachelor of Architecture as the first Samoan student in the program. Passionate about sustainable, community-focused design, she’s dedicated to uplifting underrepresented communities through architecture. As president of the Women in Architecture Society and a standout in studio projects, Pele is preparing to return home and help shape the future of architecture in American Samoa.
MRED Students Research 50 Years of Commercial Real Estate Development in Tucson for Arizona Daily Star
When Arizona Daily Star reporter Gabriela Rico sought to put together a “visual trip down memory lane” of Tucson’s commercial real estate development over the last five decades, she turned to students in the Master of Real Estate Development program at the University of Arizona to lead the research.
No Building Left Behind: Dan Heinfeld ’75 B.Arch
Though Dan Heinfeld knew from a young age that he wanted to become an architect, he couldn’t have known in eighth grade—when he wrote a class paper on the profession—that his career pursuit would not only change his life but also change the design industry itself. As president of LPA, he’s done just that.
A Thriving Tucson Area Depends on a Secure Water Future
Assistant Professor of Architecture Courtney Crosson, Watershed Management Group's Catlow Shipek and Tucson Artisan Builders' Dante Archangeli pen editorial on local water sustainability for Arizona Daily Star.
Lecture Recap and Video: Kirk Dimond on 'A Photovoltaic Green Roof'
Kirk Dimond, assistant professor of landscape architecture at the University of Arizona, joins us for the CAPLA Lecture Series on the topic of "A Photovoltaic Green Roof." View the video from Dimond's October 22, 2021 presentation.
CAPLA Celebrates Heather Henricks Lenkin ’79 B.Arch, 2020-2021 Alumna of the Year
The Arizona Alumni Association has named Heather Henricks Lenkin ’79 B.Arch as its 2020-2021 Alumna of the Year for the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture. Heather was chosen for her outstanding career success, passionate work to protect the world’s cultural resources and unwavering support of the university.
Lecture Recap and Video: Jonathan Jae-an Crisman on 'Civic Expression: Art, Culture and the Built Environment in Little Tokyo'
Jonathan Jae-an Crisman, assistant professor of public and applied humanities at the University of Arizona, joins us for the CAPLA Lecture Series on the topic of "Civic Expression: Art, Culture and the Built Environment in Little Tokyo." View the video from Crisman's November 3, 2021 presentation.
In Memoriam: Richard K. Underwood, CAPLA Friend and Namesake of the Underwood Family Sonoran Landscape Laboratory
UArizona graduate Richard K. Underwood, who passed away on October 3, 2021, was a long-time friend of CAPLA and the university. Through his professional and extracurricular work, Richard and AAA Landscaping (the company he built with his brother Bob in 1975) supported CAPLA in many ways, including the Underwood Family Sonoran Landscape Laboratory.
CAPLA Architecture Senior Lecturer Oscar Lopez and Partner Named 'Young Icons' by Sources for Design Magazine
CAPLA Senior Lecturer in Architecture Oscar Lopez and partner Mihir Bavishi of s p a c e BUREAU have been featured in Sources for Design’s 2021 special issue on "Young Icons: Designs for a New Generation." The profile focuses on their work on Anello, which transforms a vintage Tucson space into a modern dining experience.
Lecture Recap and Video: Courtney Crosson on 'Designing Food Systems in an Urban Desert'
Courtney Crosson is a licensed architect and assistant professor at the University of Arizona, where she teaches classes on water in the built environment and community outreach studios.