Honors

The preconstruction phase of a project has evolved from a meeting and a handshake into an increasingly technological process, wrote Jason Bailey, a Texas A&M construction science student whose essay topped a writing contest sponsored by a national building group.

Two faculty members at Texas A&M’s College of Architecture have been recognized for outstanding research and teaching with 2014 Distinguished Achievement Awards from The Association of Former Students.

Sustained, outstanding service to Texas A&M University has garnered a 2013-14 President’s Meritorious Service Award for Kevin Gustavus, an administrator “known as the go-to person” for resolving business-related matters at the College of Architecture.

Gignac Architects, a design firm with two generations of former students holding Master of Architecture degrees, was ranked fifth among all firms that designed K-12 education facilities with construction starts in a recent 2.5 year period.

Academic excellence and leadership in two student groups has netted Alexandra Olheiser, a construction science major at Texas A&M, an outstanding student award from the National Association of Home Builders.

A report by graduate urban planning students at Texas A&M that helped establish a university bike sharing program was honored with an award in a nationwide contest sponsored by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

As a newly elected leader of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, Ming-Han Li, associate professor of landscape architecture at Texas A&M, plans to elevate CELA’s national and global reputation and enhance service to its affiliated institutions.

For achieving a standard of excellence in the architecture profession and for significant contributors to architecture and society, seven Texas A&M former students have been elevated into the prestigious American Institute of Architects College of Fellows.

A demonstration kitchen for showcasing Tuscan and American culinary cultures designed by Texas A&M study abroad students as a tourist attraction for Castiglion Fiorentino, won a design competition sponsored by the Italian city last fall.

Significant architectural accomplishments, community activism and a commitment to advancing diversity within her profession led to an American Institute of Architects Young Architect Award for Lorena Toffer, a 2004 Master of Architecture graduate.

Nominations for the 2014 College of Architecture Outstanding Alumni Awards, which annually recognize former students of exceptional accomplishment, are being accepted through Feb. 24, 2014.

Leadership in numerous interdisciplinary initiatives at Texas A&M’s College of Architecture has netted Mark Clayton, professor of architecture at Texas A&M, the J. Thomas Regan Interdisciplinary Prize.

Niles Hogan, a Master of Land and Property Development student at Texas A&M, is the inaugural recipient of the Texas A&M Real Estate Center scholarship.

Outstanding College of Architecture Alumnus and decorated World War II veteran William Peña ’42 ARCH received France’s highest honor, the medal of Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, during a 2013 Veterans Day ceremony held at Minute Maid Park.

The season of giving is also one of the busiest times of year for donations to the College of Architecture, as many former students include the college and their own departments for end-of-year donations.