
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.

Clare Robinson and Kelly Eitzen Smith honored with 2025 Darryl B. Dobras Awards
Clare Robinson and Kelly Eitzen Smith are the 2025 recipients of the Darryl B. Dobras Awards for Excellence. Robinson was recognized for her leadership in the School of Architecture, while Eitzen Smith was honored for her work supporting accreditation and assessment in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning.

Secrets of Sense: Tasbeeh Alaqtum '20 MS Arch and Sara Ghaemi '20 MS Arch
Secrets of Sense, a project by MS Architecture students Tasbeeh Alaqtum and Sara Ghaemi, stimulates human senses to better appreciate the serenity and beauty of the Vulture Mountains Recreation Area in Maricopa County, Arizona.

The Intersection of Architecture and Technology: Damon Leverett, Senior Lecturer in Architecture
Senior Lecturer in Architecture Damon Leverett began at CAPLA in 2019. With a background in computer science and architecture, he brings a rich mix of architectural technology and systems design experience to the college.

Primer Hogar, Communal-Living Housing: Humberto Lopez Villanueva '20 M.Arch
Humberto Lopez Villanueva's project, Primer Hogar, Communal-Living Housing, which is set near the U.S.-Mexico border, is developed with three different performance realms: cultural specificity, context mediation and fostering community.

Architecture Professor of Practice Michael Kothke Featured in New Tracing Architecture Podcast
Michael Kothke, associate professor of practice in the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona, was featured in the inaugural episode of Tracing Architecture, a podcast that explores the layers of architecture as a profession and a passion.

Urban Planning Professor Arlie Adkins Discusses Sidewalk Deficiencies in Cities in Bloomberg CityLab Article
Arlie Adkins, assistant professor of urban planning, was quoted in a recent article on the critical role that good pedestrian infrastructure plays in city life appearing in Bloomberg CityLab.

CAPLA Research Scientist Adriana Zuniga Provides Insight on Climate Change for WalletHub’s ‘Best Beach Towns to Live In’
Adriana Zuniga, CAPLA and Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy assistant research scientist, notes how coastal communities may be severely impacted by climate change in the near future.

Worker Transit Authority: Bill Mackey, Lecturer in Architecture
Bill Mackey’s Worker Transit Authority is a display of mock planning projects created by a mock planning authority. The Worker Transit Authority asks the community, "How do you move through the city?"

Cross-Disciplinary Research to Reshape the Built Environment: DesignIntelligence Interviews Research Associate Dean Barbara Bryson
Barbara Bryson was interviewed this spring in DesignIntelligence in a wide-ranging conversation about research, UArizona’s RESTRUCT research symposium and “how design, construction and ownership communities can use research to build for the future.”

Beacon, A Future of Public Space: Kittitash Chaikunpon '20 B.Arch
Kittitash Chaikunpon's project, Beacon, A Future of Public Space, which is set in New Orleans, explores the notion of a future for public space in the digital age where technologies and social medias are more pertinent to everyday life.