Class Acts

Former and current design students from Texas A&M’s College of Architecture incorporated “green” techniques in the design and construction of winning entries in Brazos Bark & Build, a sustainable doghouse competition sponsored by AIA Brazos.

A group of villages in Costa Rica hard hit by recent flooding received watershed management, drinking water and waste disposal guidance from an interdisciplinary United Nations-sponsored team that included a former Texas A&M environmental design student.

Outstanding alumni of Texas A&M’s College of Architecture discussed how their education paved the way for successful careers and professional accomplishments at a public panel discussion Oct. 26 in the Wright Gallery.

The city of Shanghai has recognized a former Texas A&M land development student’s contribution to its economic and social development by presenting him with the Magnolia Silver Award, one of the city’s highest recognitions for expatriates.

Juan Rodriguez ‘93, a former construction science student at Texas A&M, will develop education, public, interior and special projects as the new vice president of public/private projects at Balfour Beatty Construction’s Houston office.

An Oct. 12 National Geographic channel program showcasing a mansion built by John D. Rockefeller, one of history's foremost businessmen and philanthropists, was hosted by David Applebaum ‘80, an L.A. architect and an outstanding alumnus of Texas A&M’s College of Architecture.

Student access to the latest high-tech building information modeling hardware and software at Texas A&M is one of the continuing benefits of a $1 million endowment created to honor the late Charles McMullan ’58, a former associate professor of construction science.

Two former Texas A&M environmental design students who create, then bring to market innovative accessories and apps for Apple’s iPhone and iPad have detailed their business adventures in a new e-book called “It Will Be Exhilarating.”

Former students are paying homage to the John A. Harris '54, a legendary Houston constructor, by leading a fund-raising effort to name the entry way to Francis Hall, the future campus home of the Department of Construction Science, in his honor.

A blog covering design, technology, gadgets and nerd/geek culture, maintained by a former Texas A&M environmental design student, was recently recognized with an award from the WordPress blogging community.

From painting the lush Scottish landscape, lighting and shading scenes, and putting the curl in princess Merida's shock of bright red hair, 24 former Texas A&M visualization students working at Pixar Animation Studios made major contributions to the summer blockbuster, “Brave.”

Rwandans will soon have a new education facility, designed in part by Zach Wise, a 2012 Bachelor of Environmental Design graduate from Texas A&M. As an intern with Engineering Ministries International, he traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, to help design a training center.

Pioneering designers, an entrepreneur, educator, an advocate for the landscape architecture profession and a leader in the animation industry were named 2012 outstanding alumni by Texas A&M’s College of Architecture.

Concrete dome homes could be widely implemented as the perfect solution to housing dilemmas throughout the world, said Douglas Stanton ‘82, a former Texas A&M environmental design student, at a May 2012 alternative building materials and design expo in California.

An 1889 New York row house with a striking façade has been restored to its former glory earning kudos for lead designer Lorie Riddle ’93 and the restoration team from her firm, Superstructures Engineers and Architects.