Gather Light: ARC 201
Students in CAPLA’s ARC 201 studio, guided by faculty including Christopher Domin and others, completed the "Gather Light" project focused on understanding and designing in harmony with the Sonoran Desert environment. Through observation, drawing, and modeling, students explored how light, nature, and architecture interact. Key activities involved studying desert plants, translating their forms into design systems, and developing canopies that filter light and enhance outdoor spaces. The project emphasized hands-on learning, teamwork, and iterative design using 2D and 3D representations to create thoughtful architectural interventions that respect and respond to the desert landscape.
Lecturer Christopher Tucker wins AIA Design Pedagogy Award for innovative Abiotic Studio
Christopher Tucker, a lecturer in architecture at CAPLA, received the American Institute of Architects’ Design Pedagogy Award for his Abiotic Studio, a fourth-year course that challenges students to engage with ecological realities and reimagine post-industrial landscapes through more-than-human perspectives.
In the News: Dr. Esther Sternberg Discusses Office Design Impact on Wellbeing, Productivity
University of Arizona professor of medicine Dr. Esther Sternberg, director of the Institute on Place, Well-being and Performance and research director at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, shares her research examining how work environments effect people's health and productivity.
Laura Carr, Ellen Worth Win 2024 Darryl D. Dobras Awards for Excellence
Senior Lecturer Laura Carr and Marketing Specialist Ellen Worth have been selected as recipients of the Darryl D. Dobras Award for Excellence, the highest annual honor for employees within the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture.
Drachman Institute, Southwest Partners Charts Path to Net Zero Urban Water Future
The "Achieving a Net Zero Urban Water Future Across the Southwest" workshop, funded by a National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network (RCN) grant, gathered academics, water managers, and government officials from Albuquerque, Denver, Los Angeles, and Tucson—areas reliant on the Colorado River.
New Beginnings: Julie Reed, Undergraduate Advising Coordinator
Julie Reed, CAPLA's new undergraduate advising coordinator, emphasizes utilizing available resources and seeking guidance when needed for student success. With a background in academic advising, she brings strong support and a passion for creativity and sustainability to the college community.
Three Teams Advance to 2024 Solar Decathlon Finals
The U.S. Department of Energy hosts the Solar Decathlon Design Challenge annually, which gathers students worldwide to present their teams' innovative technologies and designs aimed at fostering the development of the next generation of clean energy buildings. This year, teams from CAPLA will compete alongside students from 37 other universities worldwide, including some from as far as Tehran, Iran.
Interdisciplinary Authors Discuss Intersection of Health and the Built Environment in Their New Book
A new interdisciplinary book, "Measuring the Impact of the Built Environment on Health, Wellbeing, and Performance," explores how technology can gauge and enhance health in homes and offices. It offers insights, methodologies and pandemic-related considerations for optimizing building designs
Celebrating the Natural World: Myles Peña, Lecturer in Architecture
Myles Peña, Lecturer in Architecture at CAPLA, finds inspiration in celebrating nature's beauty within design. With a background in various architectural realms, he now focuses on teaching young minds, sharing his expertise in design principles and technical components.
Unveiling Innovations: ISIE Scholars Symposium Explores New Frontiers in Expo Research
The College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, in collaboration with the Institute for the Study of International Expositions (ISIE), is hosting the 3rd annual ISIE Scholars Symposium: “New Voices in Expo Research” focusing on new research of younger scholars.
Stephen Buchmann on 'Sonoran Desert Bees: Nesting Requirements & Husbandry Methods'
In this CAPLA Lecture Series lecture, Dr. Buchmann discusses some of the common native bees of the Sonoran desert, detailing their lifestyles and behaviors. He finishes the talk by highlighting some Tucson area bee nesting habitats and by discussing what landscape architects and homeowners can do to provide nesting sites and nesting materials for them.