Points of Pride
Our students and alumni at work:
- Aimee (Font) Sanborn, AIA, NCARB (M.Arch. 2005) has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Architecture at Premiere, Dallas, TX. 03.2025
- Ryan Swanson’s (M.Arch. 2013) and Maeghann Coleman’s (M.Arch 2015) multidisciplinary design studio Urban Conga, Brooklyn, NY, was recognized with an Interior Design magazine Best of the Year, Social Impact award for the project “Sprout.”
- Logan DeSaulniers (M.Arch. 2024) received an AIA Tampa Bay Merit Award, Student Category, for “Respite by Escape.” The project was celebrated for its creative use of media and its ability to tell a compelling story through architectural design. 11.2024.
- Co-Principals Carlos Molnar, AIA (M.Arch. 1999), Solimar (Rivera) Molnar, NCIDQ (M.Arch. 2000), and Peter Haurstein, AIA of Sol Design Studio received the 2024 AIA Tampa Bay Firm Award. 11.2024.
- Beverly Frank, AIA (M.Arch. 2005) of BFrank Studio, Tampa, has been appointed to the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design. 10.2024
- Dawn Gunter (M.Arch 2010), Chris Emiliucci-Cox (M.Arch. 2008), Jason Welty (M.Arch. 2008), and Josie Hyde, AIA, LEED AP (M.Arch. 2004) contributed to Gensler’s FIS Global Headquarters, Jacksonville, FL, winner of the 2024 Next Work Environment Competition, Office Design Category. 09.2024. FIS Global was also recognized with an AIA Tampa Bay Sustainability Merit Award. 11.2024.
- Marcel Maslowski, AIA (M.Arch. 2012) and FleischmanGarciaMaslowski Architecture, Tampa, Executive Architect in collaboration with Morphosis, received an AIA Florida Honor Award of Excellence for the Judy Genshaft Honors College, USF, Tampa, FL. 07.2024. The project was also recognized by AIA Tampa Bay as the Top Design - H. Dean Rowe FAIA Award for Design Excellence. 11.2024
- Derek Pirozzi’s (M.Arch. 2012) and Omar Saleh’s (M.Arch. 2012) PS Design Workshop, Sarasota, received an AIA Florida Merit Award, Unbuilt, for 340 Treasure Boat Way, Sarasota, FL. 07.2024. The firm’s Mango Rum Residence was recognized with a Merit Award and the Sarasota Youth Sailing Education Building was recognized with an Honor Award by AIA Tampa Bay. 11.2024
SACD alumni and students, please share your point of pride with us!
Community engagement & research:
The Florida Center for Community Design and Research (FCCDR), the research, grant and contract arm of the School of Architecture & Community Design, continues to engage communities in research and service learning. Examples of ongoing and recent initiatives include:
- West Tampa’s Centro Español Reimagined. Led by Assistant Professor Adriana Pablos Llona. The historic Centro Español building in West Tampa, initiated as a social club and mutual aid society for Spanish immigrants, has stood as a cornerstone of the community for over a century. Professor Adriana Pablos' spring 2024 Advanced Design Studio engaged with community members and explored the history of West Tampa and it’s Spanish heritage. In their designs, SACD students adaptively reused the historic Centro Español as a fine arts community center. Students Cayla Hollander, Kayla Lacivita, Daniel Mariani, Sofia Montilla, Adam Offer, Nicholas Otzko, Jeffrey Proud, Courtney Schichtel, Daniel Tang, and Sarah Verty – tackled the challenge of transforming the building into a true community asset, reflecting the rich heritage and evolving needs of West Tampa. The work was presented in April and exhibited through the summer at the Center for Architecture & Design, Tampa Bay.
- New Life Village Design Collaboration. Led by Assistant Professor of Instruction Josué Robles Caraballo. New Life Village is a unique residential community designed to support families seeking permanency for children impacted by foster care and trauma. From 2022 to 2024, the collaboration has been engaged in Master Planning and Facility Development, supported by a $54,000 grant. In 2019 and 2020, the Design-Build Urban Activation Installation: Interactive Garden was completed at New Life Village funding of $238,000 and an additional $12,000 from the Gobioff Foundation. As part of the broader community-building effort, the team designed and built various social nodes, such as edible community gardens, water play areas, and activated pedestrian walkways, to encourage interaction and engagement among residents. Additionally, the project included the schematic design of a multipurpose building to serve as a flexible space for community activities.
- City of Tampa Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Plans. Led by Associate Professor Trent Green. Ongoing projects include working with the City of Tampa to update the Community Redevelopment Area plans for the Tampa Heights and Central Park neighborhoods. A Community Redevelopment Area, or CRA, is a designated district that’s revitalized through public and private investment. The Tampa Heights Riverfront CRA Plan, adopted in 1999, was updated in 2024.
Faculty and staff awards, recognitions, & activities:
- Associate Professor Steve Cooke was honored with the prestigious 2024 AIA Tampa Bay President’s Award. This award recognizes his 37 years of dedicated service to architectural education, research, mentorship, and contributions to design and community advocacy. The President’s Award is bestowed at the discretion of the current sitting Board President to honor individuals or groups for their significant contributions to the architectural profession and community. The award is reserved for those whose work embodies the mission and values of AIA Tampa Bay, with only one recipient selected each year to uphold its integrity. 11.2024
- AIA Tampa Bay also recognized several other SACD faculty members at its 2024 Celebrate Design Honor & Design Awards Program. Professor Michael Halflants, FAIA’s firm Halflants + Pichette Studio for Modern Architecture earned a Merit Award, Unbuilt for the Oriole Residence. Adjunct faculty member Nate Boyd’s firm Aetherworks Design earned a Merit Award, Unbuilt for the Decatur Island Retreat. Adjunct faculty member Leah Crowe, Assoc. AIA was honored with the Kelley Emerging Professional Award. The Awards Presentation was led by AIA Tampa Bay President Angela Hendershot, AIA (M.Arch. 2005). 11.2024
- Professor Michael Halflants’ firm Halflants + Pichette Studio for Modern Architecture was recognized in 2024 by AIA Florida for several projects. The Phillippi Creek Residence earned the Merit Award of Excellence, New Work. Zahrada 1 earned the Citation Award of Excellence, New Work. Villa Ballada earned the Citation Award, Unbuilt. 07.2024.
- New Director and Professor Ron Dulaney Jr., AIA and Associate Professor and former Interim Director Steve Cooke joined other Directors and Deans of Florida architecture programs in an Education Panel at the 2024 AIA Florida Convention. The purpose of the panel was to discuss strategies, for AIA Florida and Florida architecture schools, to collaborate, promote, and support each other’s mission. 07.2024.