Sentinel House

Nov. 25, 2019

Drachman Design Build Coalition Residence 7

Overview
Sentinel House was designed and built by the School of Architecture faculty and students.
Who
Drachman Design-Build Coalition
What
Sentinel House
Where
Tucson, Arizona
When
2018
Categories
Approach to Sentinel House Entry Court From Carport.

Approach to Sentinel House Entry Court From Carport

A photo of the Sentinel House design and build by the College of Architecture Planning and Landscape Architecture School of Architecture

Drachman Design-Build Coalition Residence 7 (Sentinel House) is a three-bedroom, two-bath dwelling of 1300 sq. ft. It was designed and constructed by School of Architecture faculty Mary Hardin and Michael Esse, and students in 2016-2017. 

The main building features include scoria (ground pumice stone + cement) walls that serve as thermal masses on the east and west exposures to control indoor comfort, insulated fiber cement walls on the north and south sides, a polycarbonate facade bringing in north light, and cisterns for harvesting and storage of roof water runoff.

The Sentinel House was named for the views it takes in at Sentinel Peak in Tucson Arizona. This house was sold to a low-income family through the HUD (U.S. Housing and Urban Development) First-time homebuyer program. 

Recognition received for the Sentinel House includes an AIA Design Excellence Award and a feature in Arbitare International Magazine Design and Architecture. 

Learn more about Mary Hardin and her work here.

Contacts

Mary Hardin
mchardin@email.arizona.edu
(520) 621-6751

  

Subscribe to The Studio

Sign up for CAPLA's monthly e-newsletter to get the latest news and events, insights from faculty and leadership, profiles of students and alumni and more.

Subscribe Now

Latest CAPLA News, Projects and Profiles

Block Up

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.

The white facade of Mission San Xavier del Bac is seen against a clear blue sky. A paved path leading to the mission passes through an earthen wall fronted by cactus and other desert plants.

Rehabilitation of the Retablo Facade at San Xavier del Bac | Lecture by Starr Herr-Cardillo

Learn about ongoing work to preserve decorative finishes and restore missing and damaged elements of the retablo facade of Mission San Xavier del Bac. This work is supported by the Semiquincentennial Grant Program, administered by the National Park Service.

Bike/Pedestrain

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.

See More