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.
Watch | "The Search" | Lecture by Daniel Toole
Architecture begins with an idea—one strong enough to endure the journey from concept to reality. In his lecture, Daniel Toole reflects on his studio’s first five years, exploring projects across the western landscape, from the Pacific Northwest to Joshua Tree, and recent housing work that navigates growing urban constraints.
Watch | Inaugural CAPLA Lecture Series featuring Lesley Lokko
CAPLA is proud to announce the launch of the CAPLA Lecture Series, which featured renowned architect, academic, and writer, Professor Lesley Lokko, OBE, RIBA as the inaugural speaker.
Laura Carr Receives AIA/ACSA Practice + Leadership Award for Community-Engaged Design
Laura Carr, senior lecturer in the School of Architecture and co-founder of the Native Peoples Design Coalition, has been honored with the AIA/ACSA Practice + Leadership Award by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA).
Teresa Rosano named winner of the ACSA Distinguished Professor Award
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) has named Teresa Rosano, assistant professor of practice, the winner of the Distinguished Professor Award.
Interdisciplinary team named finalists in 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition
An interdisciplinary team of faculty and students from the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) and the College of Humanities has been named a finalist in the international 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition.
Class Notes: MG2 Promotes Scott Owen Jr., '11 B.Arch, to Principal
Scott Owen Jr., '11 B.Arch, has been promoted to managing principal of the MG2 Minneapolis office. In his new role, Scott will be responsible for overseeing the programs division of Customer Experiences including leading the Entertainment sector.
CAPLA Study Abroad: Magnolia Hilvert ‘25
Magnolia Hilvert ‘25, a College of Humanities student, stepped out of her comfort zone and participated in the CAPLA Study Abroad program last summer.
Founding ISAPD: Nathan Becenti ‘25 M.Arch
Nathan Becenti ‘25 M.Arch is the founding president of the Indigenous Society of Architecture, Planning and Design (ISAPD) at CAPLA, where he champions Indigenous representation in architecture. Originally from Tohatchi on the Navajo Nation in Northern New Mexico, he earned his undergraduate degree from UNLV before gaining hands-on experience in high-profile Las Vegas projects.
CAPLA, Rancho Feliz build a brighter future at the U.S.-Mexico border
Bob Vint, assistant professor of practice in the School of Architecture, collaborated with the Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation to design La Hacienda Feliz, a traditional courtyard-style dormitory in Agua Prieta, blending his lifelong connection to Mexican culture with a commitment to addressing systemic poverty through architecture, while also providing CAPLA students an immersive experience in border communities and the challenges they face.