Two men in suits stand in front of framed sketches at an art exhibit in this historic black and white photo; one man gestures and points towards the art while the other, holding a drink, looks at the display attentively.

Hal Box, Our Beloved Courtyard’s Namesake

October 6, 2025
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. 
Side-by-side aerial images: the left shows rural farmland with fields and dirt roads in black and white; the right shows a modern suburban area with houses, roads, and greenery in color.

Gian-Claudia Sciara Receives Swiss National Science Foundation Grant Award

October 3, 2025
Support from the SNSF Scientific Exchange and UT’s Faculty Development Leave program will allow Dr. Gian-Claudia Sciara to join the Swiss Federal Institute’s Land Use Systems Group as a Visiting Scientist during academic year 2025-26.
An elderly man stands beside an easel displaying a colorful self-portrait in a studio filled with vibrant paintings and a green potted plant. He smiles, dressed in a checkered shirt and jeans.

In Memoriam: Robert T. Renfro

September 25, 2025
Robert T. Renfro, Austin architect and retired UTSOA faculty member, passed away on September 5, 2025, in Austin, Texas. He was 94.
A woman with long brown hair stands smiling next to a large red sign that reads STG DESIGN. Text on a purple background promotes the University of Texas at Austins Professional Residency Program at STG Design in Austin, Texas.

PRP Now! Ellie Slaton // STG Design

September 19, 2025
PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.
A man with short hair and a beard, wearing a dark button-up shirt, smiles while standing in front of tall, wispy grasses. The photo is in black and white.

Q&A with Professor Matt Fajkus

September 18, 2025
To recognize his recent promotion to Full Professor, we spoke with Matt Fajkus to learn more about his latest work, his approach to teaching and how his background influences him.
Three people sit on modern, colorful furniture around a yellow table with a book and two items in this architectural rendering. The room has a minimalist design with soft blue, teal, and yellow tones and a large rug under the table.

Jessica Garza (BSID '26) Wins 2025 Angelo Donghia Senior Scholarship in Interior Design

September 17, 2025
Jessica Garza is one of 15 undergraduate interior design students in North America to receive this honor this year in the form of a $30,000 scholarship.
Side-by-side portraits of a man in a blue checkered shirt and glasses, and a woman in a red blazer with curly hair and gold earrings, both smiling and standing outdoors with blurred backgrounds.

Mellon Foundation Grants Awarded to Tara Dudley and Charles L. Davis II

September 5, 2025
The prestigious research grants will support Davis and Dudley’s research and scholarship, exploring untold narratives and expanding the architectural canon.
Black and white photo split in half: left shows a woman with long dark hair wearing a striped top, smiling; right shows a man with short hair and a beard, wearing a dark shirt, also smiling.

Announcing Fall 2025 Faculty Promotions: Miriam Solis and Matt Fajkus

September 4, 2025
Join us in celebrating two exciting promotions within the UTSOA faculty: Miriam Solis is now an Associate Professor with Tenure and Matt Fajkus is now a full Professor! Their contributions to the architecture and planning fields are immeasurable and we are proud to have them as an integral part of our school's community. Stay tuned for feature interviews with both of these faculty members later this fall.
A smiling older man with glasses and a gray beard gestures with both hands while standing indoors. He is wearing a blue shirt, and there are blurred people in the background.

In Memoriam: Michael Benedikt

September 2, 2025
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.
A person with short hair and glasses smiles in front of a colorful wall of spray paint cans. The text promotes the University of Texas at Austin’s PRP residency at Studio Gang with Hayley Gillette in Chicago, IL.

PRP Now! Hayley Gillette // Studio Gang

September 1, 2025
PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.
Architectural rendering of a spacious, modern library with wooden ceilings, round seating around a central tree, bookshelves, and several people reading, walking, or sitting. Large windows and warm lighting create an inviting atmosphere.

Stephanie Belov and Yuzheng Gan Win 2nd Place in ASID 2025 Celebrating Design Texas Awards

August 28, 2025
The American Society of Interior Designers awarded Master of Interior Design students Stephanie Belov and Yuzheng Gan 2nd place in the Student Commercial Design Category, celebrated during the Awards Gala during the ASID Texas Chapter's 50th-anniversary conference in Dallas.
A man stands on a balcony under a large modern canopy, overlooking a lake with boats docked below and a city with hills in the background.

May Term Travel Opportunities

August 25, 2025
Three new faculty-led study abroad opportunities expose students to critical works of contemporary and emergent architecture, global perspectives, and new cultural experiences. Programs led by School of Architecture faculty and leadership will take students to Japan, South Korea, London, Copenhagen, Zurich, and Basel.
Poster with diagonal magenta lines on a white background, featuring the text Lectures Exhibitions Symposia in the upper left and large bold text UTSOA FALL 2025 at the bottom.

Announcing "Planetary Imaginaries"

August 22, 2025
The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture presents Planetary Imaginaries: an expansive series of public engagements for the Fall 2025 semester starting on September 5. Invited architects, landscape architects, planners, and historians continue the school’s legacy of intentional rooted practice through critical conversations that respond to the increasingly urgent conditions of each field. 
A man in a black coat stands smiling against a beige textured wall with Herzog & de Meuron signage. Text on the left promotes the University of Texas at Austin’s Professional Residency Program with Herzog & de Meuron in Switzerland.

PRP Now! Travis Gerhardt // Herzog & de Meuron

August 20, 2025
PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.
A colorful tile mural depicts people in traditional Mexican attire dancing, playing music, and socializing outside white adobe buildings with red roofs. A cantina sign, mountains, and painted text about the murals history appear above.

Awarded Inaugural Grant from DOCOMOMO, Sonya Sehgal (MSHP) Amplifies the Legendary San Antonio Artist Ethel Wilson Harris  

August 19, 2025
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. 
Sutton Hall, a tan brick building with large arched windows and a blue door, is framed by leafy trees and a lamppost in front. Benches sit on either side of the entrance, with greenery and a sidewalk leading up to it.

2024-2025 Design Excellence Winners

August 15, 2025
Design Excellence awardees represent an exceptional level of accomplishment across our design disciplines.
Two women examine architectural models on a table in a bright, modern room, while several other people stand and mingle in the background. Shelves and materials are visible around the space.

Reflections on “Eco Illusions: The Plastic Behind the Green” Exhibition—an Interview with Professor Danelle Briscoe

August 14, 2025
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.
Modern two-story house with large windows, a curved facade, spacious open areas, and a landscaped yard with tiered stone steps and a reflective pool in the foreground at dusk.

Faculty Studio Spotlight: Alterstudio

August 7, 2025
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.