ARCHITEXT | May 2025

The monthly newsletter of the AIA El Paso Chapter

Dear AIA El Paso Members,

I am excited to share our Chapter’s accomplishments for the month of April. Excom and the Committee Chairs have been doing an excellent job on organizing events and opportunities for our members of the community.

On the first Thursday of the month, Christian Mijares put together the first Emerging Professionals Happy Hour of 2025 and it was a big success! We had over 30 participants who joined at International Bar. Over 25 young professional surveys were filled by the evenings’ participants. That data will be put into a spreadsheet, and analyzed to help guide future events and provide better resources.

Architecture week was celebrated nationally from April 13, through April 19th with the intent to unite and activate educators, community leaders, and architects to inspire and elevate the role of architecture in K-12 classrooms. Karla Murillo lead the AIA El Paso’s efforts by inviting EPISD High School students to an Architecture Firm Crawl; where students toured 8 different architecture and engineering firms and received short presentations from local architects. Another effort geared towards younger children, was the Architecture & Construction Book Drive. Around 20 children’s books related to our industry where purchased and donated to the Downtown El Paso Public Library.

The Chapter also provided a financial donation towards the ACE Mentor Program of Paso del Norte to support a student team from El Dorado High School to attend the 2025 CIRT National Design and Construction Competition in Washington DC. This will be a valuable experience for them and we are honored to have them represent El Paso.

In March the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) opened its doors and we were able to provide an Architecture Tour led by Exigo’s design team. We learned the about the design intent, the process and challenges that went about to make this beautiful facility an award winning project.

On April 15th many of our members joined us at City Hall to appear before city council in support of the Downtown Deck Plaza. We have extended our support in any area where our professional expertise may be helpful. We offer our volunteered time and effort to attend community meetings, answering technical questions, and offering deeper insight into the processes behind capital projects. We believe that involving our community, both supporters and detractors, can help make the Deck Plaza uniquely El Pasoan. A special thanks to Bruno Vasquez for leading this effort and Patricia Rosales & Enrique Escobedo for sticking until the end!

Next month, don’t miss the Roundtable Discussion at the Blue Flame Center for Civic Empowerment. AIA El Paso and the City will join forces with El Paso Stakeholders and other local planning experts to explore the City’s Downtown Zoning Reform Efforts with initiatives aimed at revitalizing our urban core and guide future growth. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questionS and begin a conversation.

With that I leave you and I look forward to seeing all of you in our upcoming events. Thanks to all our members and especially our 2025 Board for your dedication and enthusiasm.

Sincerely,

Lorena Holguin, AIA, LEED AP
AIA El Paso Chapter | 2025 President

CONTACT US

MEETINGS

Stay connected by visiting our calendar of events.

Chapter Meeting

Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 11:45 am
Angry Owl Southwest Grill & Cantina
4799 N Mesa St, El Paso, TX 79912

Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your material knowledge and connect with fellow AIA members!

Women in Architecture
Monthly Meeting

Friday, May 9, 2025 at 12:15 pm
At Countryman & Co. Architecture
108 S Stanton St 3rd Floor, El Paso, TX 79901

Join AIA El Paso Women in Architecture (WiA) for our monthly gathering—a space to connect, collaborate, and support women in the profession.

WiA frames the conversation around the promotion of Women and BIPOC Leaders within the design and building profession through mentorship, education, and networking. Whether you're looking to engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, or expand your professional network, this is the perfect opportunity!

EVENTS

Stay connected by visiting our calendar of events.

Please join us on May 15th, at 5pm at the El Paso Museum of Art for a gallery talk and panel discussion about climate change and its disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities of South El Paso. This event is part of a research project co-lead by Ersela Kripa, Stephen Mueller, and Dr Yolanda Leyva, and will span three years.

The event will take place in our current exhibition space on the first floor of EPMA, where we are showing the research produced in the first year of the project. The panel discussion includes short presentations by historian Dr David Romo, artist Ingrid Leyva, and the organization Juárez Limpio, followed by a discussion I will moderate with them and other community members who have participated in the project.

Please RSVP via email to Ersela Kripa, Ersela.Kripa@ttu.edu whether you would like to join - this will help us determine accommodations.

SAVE THE DATE!

Join AIA El Paso and the City Design Lab ELEVATE Program on June for a panel discussion with architects, developers, preservationists, and city leaders. Together, we’ll explore strategies to support downtown revitalization through zoning reform, expanding housing options, encouraging mixed-use development, and removing barriers to infill.

Location: Blue Flame Building | 17th Floor

Be part of the conversation shaping the future of El Paso!

Congratulations to Our Local Design Award

Visit The Texas Society of Architects to learn more.

We’re thrilled to share that two El Paso-based firms — exigo and Martina Lorey Architect — have been honored with a 2025 Design Award by the Texas Society of Architects!

Out of 194 submissions, jurors Germane Barnes (Studio Barnes, Miami), Barbara Bestor, FAIA (Bestor Architecture, Los Angeles), Tom Kundig, FAIA (Olson Kundig Architects, Seattle), and Víctor Legorreta, Hon. FAIA (LEGORRETA, Mexico City) selected 19 outstanding projects for this prestigious recognition.

👏 Let’s celebrate exigo and Martina Lorey for their excellence in design and their continued contributions to our community’s architectural landscape!

🏆 All winning projects will be featured in the Fall Awards Issue of Texas Architect magazine.

Thank you to everyone who submitted their work — and once again, felicidades to all the honorees!

Federal Street Restoration
martina lorey architects

Mexican American Cultural Center
Exigo

AWARDS & LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The 2025 Studio Awards Call for Entries is now open!

This program recognizes unbuilt projects that demonstrate excellence in design. Real, theoretical, and conceptual projects that go beyond the boundaries of architecture to address current critical issues are encouraged. Entries from both students and practitioners are encouraged and judged on equal footing.

Submit your designs by June 24 here.

The Cornerstone Award is the highest honor TxA can bestow on a non-architect, recognizing individuals or organizations that have enhanced the quality of life by elevating architecture and the arts, promoting community value, or preserving the natural environment.

In 2022, the El Paso Community Foundation was honored with this prestigious award.

Nominations are typically accepted annually as part of TxA’s Honor Awards program, with past deadlines falling in mid-May. Members are encouraged to visit the TxA website or contact Monica Cavazos at monica@texasarchitects.org for more details.

Stay engaged with TxA communications to stay up to date on deadlines and submission guidelines.

Get Involved!

Are you interested in leading Texas architects and shaping the future of our profession?

The Texas Society of Architects (TxA) is seeking passionate leaders to serve on the 2026 TxA Board of Directors, including two national positions. If you or someone you know would be a great candidate for a state-wide leadership role, now is the time to step up! Nominate yourself or a fellow member by Friday, March 21, or apply to be a Strategic Councilor or Young Architect Representative by April 18.

Don’t miss this opportunity to make an impact!

Submit your Nominations here.

COMMITTEES & INITIATIVES

AIA El Paso is forming a Bylaws Task Force, and we invite you to be a part of this important initiative!

This task force will play a key role in reviewing and refining our chapter’s bylaws to ensure they align with our mission and support the growth of our architectural community. We especially encourage AIA past presidents and experienced members to share their insights and help guide this process.

Your knowledge and perspective can make a lasting impact! If you're interested in joining, please contact Lorena Holguin, holguin.lorena@gmail.com, for more details.

Established to identify, mentor, and support architects in their journey toward Fellowship, the FATF works closely with local and state AIA components to guide potential candidates through the nomination and application process.

Fellowship is one of the highest honors bestowed by the AIA, recognizing architects who have made a significant impact on the profession and society.

If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to visit AIA’s Fellowship page or reach out to Fellowship Committee Chair, Morris Brown, FAIA, morris.brown1776@gmail.com, or Patricia Rosales Vera, AIA, patricia_rosales@icloud.com, Co-Chair.

Additionally, we encourage you to join us every 3rd Friday of the month (location TBD) for insightful discussions and mentorship opportunities.

Let’s work together to elevate El Paso architects to the College of Fellows!

ADVOCACY

Make your ANNUAL donation to the Texas Architects Committee.We challenge all members to make a minimum $10 donation TODAY!

Right now, Congress is making key decisions on tax policy that could directly impact how architecture firms operate and thrive. As lawmakers work through the reconciliation process, they need to hear from you—your voice matters.

In times of economic uncertainty, it's critical that we advocate for tax policies that support innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness in our profession.

Here are just a few priorities AIA is fighting for:

✅ R&D Tax Credits and Expensing
Encouraging innovation and investment in design

✅ 199A Pass-Through Deduction – Helping small and mid-size firms compete with large corporations

✅ 179D Energy Efficient Building Deduction – Rewarding sustainable, energy-efficient design

And more policies that support the work we do every day.

🎯 How You Can Take Action:

📧 Email Congress – Use AIA’s pre-written message to contact your representatives in just a few clicks
📞 Call Your Lawmakers – A personal call can have a powerful impact—urge them to support AIA’s tax priorities
📣 Share Your Story – Tell us how federal tax policy affects your practice or firm

Your advocacy can make the difference. Let’s spring into action and ensure a stronger future for our profession.

Thank you for standing up for architecture.

Make your ANNUAL donation to the Texas Architects Committee.
We challenge all members to make a minimum $10 donation TODAY!

DONATE TODAY

LET’S WORK TOGETHER

Visit our website for upcoming events and other resources!

At AIA El Paso, we believe in the power of collaboration to strengthen and elevate our architectural community. Whether you're looking to get involved, sponsor an event, or partner on initiatives that promote design excellence, advocacy, and professional development—we’d love to connect!

Let’s build a better future together. Reach out today and let’s explore how we can collaborate!

📲 Stay Connected!
📷 Follow us on Instagram: @aia_el_paso
👍 Like our Facebook page for the latest events: AIA El Paso Facebook

Promote Your Firm on the AIA El Paso Website!

AIA El Paso is offering members the opportunity to advertise their firms on our website! This is a great way to showcase your work, increase visibility, and connect with potential clients and collaborators within the architectural community. If you’re interested in featuring your firm, please reach out to Patricia Rosales Vera, AIA, patricia_rosales@icloud.com, for more details on how to get started. Let’s highlight the incredible talent within AIA El Paso!

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