People of SOA

Quantifying Michael Garrison’s and Larry Speck’s careers at the School of Architecture — 100 combined years of teaching, thousands of lectures, tens of thousands of students engaged, multiple generations of designers trained — seems an inadequate summary of the true span of their influence. Here, they reflect on the past 50 years of teaching, sharing hope for their students and for the field of architecture at large. 

Michael Benedikt, who served the School of Architecture community for 50 years, died on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the age of 78. Endlessly curious, deeply original, and profoundly creative, Benedikt was a force of intellect and imagination who challenged and inspired us and left an indelible mark on our academic community. "Treat stones like plants. Treat plants like animals. Treat animals like humans. Treat strangers like friends. Treat friends like family. Treat family like your own self and yourself as a sputtering flame of the divine, a bringer of greater life." - Michael Benedikt

Associate Professor Miriam Solis and Assistant Professor Maggie Hansen have been coalition-building in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) for several years. Amplifying the voices of local youth in Pharr, Texas, their participatory design and collaborative pedagogical methods have forged a powerful link between ecological and cultural work, with actionable design deliverables.

There was a plethora of events and programming during the Fall 2025—Spring 2026 semesters at the School of Architecture, including a range of symposia, lectures and exhibitions.

Students design community-centered spaces within the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve in Benjamin Ibarra-Sevilla’s Advanced Design Studio

County judges across Texas navigate complex decisions: managing growth, preserving rural character, addressing infrastructure and climate risks, and meeting increasing expectations from constituents. Navigating these challenges with limited regulatory powers and fiscal capacity demands thoughtful leadership, strategic coordination, and proactive planning and design.

Associate Professor Charles L. Davis II and Assistant Professor Tara A. Dudley have each been awarded grants from the Mellon Foundation in support of research that advances our understanding of untold histories and communities through architecture and the built environment. These prestigious research grants will fund Davis’ and Dudley’s inquiry and scholarship for multiple years, developing resources that will shape the field for generations to come.

A team of University of Texas at Austin students earned first place in the prestigious Gerald D. Hines ULI Urban Design Competition, taking home the $35,000 grand prize in April. Each year, graduate teams from across the country take on this challenge, aimed at idea generation and increasing awareness for multidisciplinary solutions to development and design scenarios. This year, the competition brought focus to our own city of Austin, Texas.

Igor Siddiqui's 2025 book "Oblique Experiments: Claude Parent's Architectural Installations (1969–1975)" is one of the first English-language monographs dedicated to the French avant-garde architect Claude Parent and the first comprehensive study of his experimental interior installations from the 1970s.

Excellence in design, planning, and preservation demands immense care for community. At The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, we urge the next generation to never lose focus on the tangible ways in which our work impacts the built, natural, and social environments. Our work helps shape a better world, and it is a privilege as dean to support and advance design and research grounded in a shared desire to nurture the health, creativity, and well-being of the public.

As the Materials Lab reaches its 25th year as a dynamic resource and exhibition platform at the School of Architecture, we sat down to discuss its legacy and future in this interview with Director Jen Wong.

Creating additional space for public programming and increased connectivity to the Butler Trail network, the renovation of the ESB-MACC was a monumental team effort.

Artifacts of architectural history exist simultaneously in material and ephemeral states. As objects, they occupy boxes, racks, drawers, and, in the digital age, these records exist as specific itemized codes with a mille-feuille of metadata about the item’s origin and context. This infrastructure tells its own story of architectural history: who digitized the record, how it was documented, how it was searched for, and, importantly, the context in which this data was created. As the digital footprint of information expands, the physical challenge of fitting items into a library space while planning for an ever-growing collection is also no small task. 

Coinciding with the reopening of the John S. Chase Architecture and Planning Library in Battle Hall, we asked eight UTSOA faculty members, students, and alumni to share their thoughts on the ways libraries and archives transcend the physical spaces of their collections.

“Librarians are futurists. Our identity is one of exploration, and we are proud to be trusted to offer pathways to knowledge.” – Beth Dodd, Curator

From public restrooms around Lady Bird Lake to immense infrastructure at the Formula 1 racetrack, Miró Rivera Architects gives the environmental and cultural contexts of each of their projects the utmost respect.  

As beloved as the courtyard has been for generations of students, it became even more significant in 2011 when it became an ode to the impact of the legendary architect, educator, and former Dean: Hal Box. 

Michael Benedikt, who served the School of Architecture community for 50 years, died on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at the age of 78, leaving a legacy of architectural thought and intellectual impact.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

Sonya Sehgal is the first recipient of the Theodore Prudon Education Fund Grant from Docomomo, a national non-profit that prioritizes preservation of heritage architecture, landscapes, and design. The award offered the opportunity for Sehgal to attend a conservation course in Italy that focused on the analysis and restoration of archeological ceramics. 

In the exhibition currently on view at the Materials Lab throughout the fall semester, Associate Professor Danelle Briscoe challenges the aesthetics of “green design” and calls for more responsible, resilient material practices in architecture.

Known for stunning residential work that is elegantly situated in nature, Alterstudio Architecture has designed award-winning spaces in Austin and beyond for over 20 years.  

UTSOA is proud to welcome new and visiting faculty members to the school this fall. With unique insight in the fields of Architecture, Interior Design, and Planning, these scholars and practitioners will bring invaluable new perspectives.

Eric Bunge, Cory Henry, and Daniel Escotto join us as visiting professors this semester, bringing their expertise and insights to the school.

Moynihan has joined our faculty for two years as the 2024-2026 Land, Space, and Identity in the Americas Fellow. We recently caught up with him to learn more about his research and why he chose UTSOA.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

Congratulations to Community and Regional Planning Professor Sandi Rosenbloom on being recognized for her achievements and pioneering work in transportation research.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

Andy Bako has joined our faculty for two years as the 2024-2026 Emerging Scholar in Design. We recently caught up with him to learn more about his design philosophy, current research, and why he chose UTSOA.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

Karel Klein has joined our faculty for the Fall 2024 semester. We recently caught up with her to learn more about her current work with AI technologies, the Advanced Design studio she’s teaching, and what she’s enjoying about joining the School of Architecture community.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

To celebrate her appointment as Associate Professor with tenure in Community and Regional Planning, we caught up with Katherine Lieberknecht to learn more about her research, cross-disciplinary projects, and advice for Texas climate planning.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

Meet new and visiting faculty joining the school this fall, including Andy Bako, Karel Klein and Michael Moynihan.

The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture celebrates promotions for three faculty members, Aleksandra Jaeschke, Katherine Lieberknecht, and Allan Shearer.

Throughout his five-decade career and 100+ semesters teaching at UT Austin, Black has left a lasting impact on the urban fabric of Austin and generations of students.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

The American Society of Interior Designers recognizes Master of Interior Design student Winnie Lin for excellence in design, concept and execution.

The design collective, Partners of Place, is one of only six to receive the prestigious national award, for projects examining the 2024 theme of dirtiness and its societal implications within the context of architecture.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

Charles Hamilton Burnette, Ph.D., who served as the UT School of Architecture’s dean from 1973-1976, died on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at the age of 89.

Recently, Texas Architect Magazine spoke with Dean Woofter about her goals for the school and the evolution of architectural education in our changing world.

Dora Epstein Jones joined our faculty in Fall 2023. We recently caught up with her to learn more about her professional trajectory, current work, and what she’s enjoyed about joining the School of Architecture community.

In celebration of Black History Month, we’re shining a light on the life, impact, and architectural legacy of the first Black graduate of the UT School of Architecture.

We caught up with our 2023-2025 Emerging Scholar in Design Fellow Patrick Danahy to learn more about his professional background and research interests.

To welcome Liang Wang to the School of Architecture and the Urban Design Program, we caught up with him to learn more about his research, interests, and background.

A longtime collaborator with the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS), Associate Professor Benjamin Ibarra-Sevilla will support the institute’s research initiatives and expand the School of Architecture’s cross-campus collaborations.

As Dean Woofter settles in, she spoke with The Architect's Newspaper about her priorities for the school and some of the opportunities, challenges, and urgent topics in architectural education today.

To celebrate his appointment as Assistant Professor, we caught up with Martin Hättasch to learn more about his research, interests, and upcoming symposium, "Radical Middle Grounds: New Agendas for Medium-Density Housing."

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

Steven A. Moore, Bartlett Cocke Regents Professor Emeritus of Architecture, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2023, after suffering a stroke while visiting friends in New Hampshire.

To celebrate Elizabeth Mueller's recent promotion to full Professor, we caught up with her to learn more about her background, research, and her views on issues within the field of planning and in Austin.

Meet new and visiting faculty joining the school this fall including Patrick Danahy, Dora Epstein Jones, and Liang Wang, as well as long-time lecturer Martin Haettasch, now a tenure-track Assistant Professor.

We caught up with the School of Architecture students who participated in the 2023 Design Futures Forum earlier this summer about what they learned and what they hope to bring back to their work and the school.

Reflecting on the impact of Professor Larry Doll and the school's multidisciplinary perspective on her career, the founder of B2 Architecture + Design gives back through a Texas Challenge scholarship.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

Fly’s career-long study of the origins and evolution of places and landmarks designed and built by Black Americans has resulted in the documentation of more than 1,200 Black settlements, burial sites, gardens, streets, and agricultural landscapes around the country

To celebrate Dean Almy's recent promotion to full Professor, we caught up with him to learn more about his background, interests, and his views on the field of urban design.

Texas Architect Magazine interviews Associate Professor Charles L. Davis II whose research focuses on the role of racial identity and race thinking in architectural history.

An architectural designer and scholar working at the intersection of architecture and urbanism, Juana Salcedo joined the School of Architecture in Fall 2022 as an Assistant Professor of Practice.

Learn more about our 2022-24 Emerging Scholar in Design Fellow Tyler Swingle.

Each brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the program, complementing the school's existing research and scholarship.

Joining us are Dwayne Oyler and Jenny Wu, Alex Schweder, Jonathon Anderson, and Dr. Nelly Robles Garcia.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

An interior and architectural designer with experience in academia and at world-renowned architecture firms, Bravo’s research interests are rooted in the space between interiors and architecture.

New faculty include Assistant Professor of Interior Design Ria Bravo; tenured Associate Professor and architectural historian Charles L. Davis; and our 2022-24 Emerging Scholar Tyler Swingle

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

Awarded annually, IIDA’s Educator of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates a full-time design educator for outstanding accomplishments and a commitment to interior design education. IIDA will recognize Siddiqui during the organization’s annual meeting

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

To celebrate Dr. Tara Dudley's appointment as a full-time faculty member, we sat down with her to discuss her background and professional trajectory and learn more about her current and future research projects

PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.

To recognize and celebrate Wingo’s selection as a Presidential Management Fellow, we recently caught up with her to learn more about her background, interests, and what she’s looking forward to as her fellowship kicks off later this year.

In this SOA Voices, we speak with Community & Regional Planning Professor Dr. Bjørn Sletto

In this SOA Voices, we speak with Community & Regional Planning student Louis Alcorn.

In this SOA Voices, we speak with Historic Preservation Ph.D. candidate Magdalena Novoa.

In this SOA Voices, we speak with Community & Regional Planning faculty member Junfeng Jiao

In this SOA Voices, we speak with Landscape Architecture faculty member Gabriel Diaz Montemayor.

In this SOA Voices, we speak with Dr. Richard Cleary.

In this SOA Voices, we hear from Master of Architecture student Kim Choy.

In this SOA Voices, we hear from Community & Regional Planning Ph.D. student Juan Yunda.

In this SOA Voices, we hear from Community & Regional Planning student Alvan-Bidal Sanchez.

In this SOA Voices, we hear from Nerea Feliz.

In this SOA Voices, we hear from Dr. Michael Oden.

In this SOA Voices, we hear from Dr. Sarah Lopez.

In this SOA Voices, we hear from student Ariana Hallenbeck.

In this SOA Voices, we hear from Charlton Lewis.