NEWSLETTER - April 25, 2025

Students, staff, and faculty from the Huckabee College of Architecture (HCOA) were recognized by the Texas Tech Parents Association for their contributions to the continued success and excellence of Texas Tech University. This honor highlights the dedication, innovation, and hard work demonstrated by members of the HCOA community in supporting the university’s mission.

Fourth-year student Kaylee Lodge and student assistant Miranda Perlmutter received the Student Academic Leadership Award, presented yearly to one student from each college at Texas Tech. The recipients of this award demonstrate exceptional academic performance and contribute to the TTU community through outstanding public service and leadership efforts.

Assistant Professor Dr. Ali Ghazvinian received the Hemphill Wells New Professor Excellence in Teaching Award. This award is presented to faculty who whose outstanding teaching has been recognized by students, colleagues, and administrators.

Kaylee, Miranda, and Dr. Ghazvinian accepted their awards at the Texas Tech Parents Association’s Faculty, Staff, and Student Award Breakfast on April 12th, 2025.

Please join us in celebrating their achievements!

The HCOA was featured in Texas Tech Now for demonstrating a dedication to shaping the future of architecture with environmentally conscious, cost-effective, and aesthetically striking design. The article highlights how HCOA faculty and students are making sustainability a core principle of their design work through innovative projects and educational initiatives, such as the Ecological Architecture + Design Graduate Certificate directed by Associate Professor Peter Raab. 

To read the article and learn more about the HCOA's sustainability practices, click the link here.

Designed by Associate Professor Peter Raab, Assistant Professor Erin Hunt, and Assistant Professor Terah Maher

An HCOA studio, led by Instructor Lenora Ask and supported by Assistant Professor Dr. Ali Ghazvinian and Graduate Part-Time Instructor Derek Rahn Williams, participated in a charity build benefiting CASA of the South Plains' annual Casas for CASA fundraiser. This yearly event helps raise funds to support the recruitment, training, and ongoing guidance of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) volunteers—community members dedicated to advocating for the best interests of children in the foster care system. 

As part of the initiative, students and faculty collaborated to construct a custom playhouse designed by fourth-year student Tia Turvey, which was featured in the Casas for CASA raffle. Supporters of the organization purchased tickets for a chance to win the playhouse, along with other prizes. All funds raised from this initiative go directly to CASA of the South Plains to recruit, train, and support CASA Volunteers.

The build took over 300 hours within two weeks to complete. Contributing students and faculty included Tia Turney, Estabalise Alvarez, Danna Mejia Lopez, Michael Flores, Derek Rahn Williams and Ali Ghazvinian, along with assistance from Chapman Harvey Architects.

Additional information regarding the event and organization can be found by clicking here.

Photos by Miranda Perlmutter

Gather & Grow, a design-build initiative led by Assistant Professor Logman Arja and HCOA graduate students, is a replicable, environmentally conscious urban farming solution that merges landscape architecture with eco-technology. The project explores the integration of additive manufacturing and urban farming by developing 3D-printed ceramic substrates designed for deep-water culture plant growth. These substrates allow for year-round cultivation with minimal water usage, enhancing plant nutrition and growth while employing eco-technics as a framework for the next generation of small and agile micro infrastructures that are inherently ecological and technological.

Aimed at combating food insecurity in both urban food deserts and rural regions with limited water and poor soil, Gather & Grow offers a deployable, soil-free farming system that significantly reduces the risk of disease and pest infestations. The project is a second pilot in a series of technological applications showcasing how 3D printing can revolutionize traditional agriculture, reducing reliance on chemicals and promoting sustainable farming. By blending innovation, ecology, and design, the project aspires to create efficient, scalable systems that not only improve food access but also encourage a deeper human connection to nature.

Participating students are Luiz Trujillo, Marc Loya-Reyes, Judith Duarte, Jacklyn Hurtado, Zachary Casey, Harmony Smith, Jessica Horton, Zoe Wall, Plamedi Kevamviri, Mattia Hajmeli, Max Halwas, Mahamat Adoum Hassane, Kathleen Gutierrez, Gunner Murrell, and Nubia Betancourt.

HCOA students participated in the ASCE Region 6 Frontier Student Symposium, held April 2nd through 5th, 2025, at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. The annual event brought together American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapters from Mexico, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. This year’s symposium was hosted by the ASCE Student Chapter at Tarleton State and featured a variety of competitions and professional development opportunities.

In collaboration with peers from the Whitacre College of Engineering and the College of Health & Human Sciences, students engaged in competitions including Concrete Canoe, Steel Bridge, Timber Strong, Sustainable Solutions, FE Jeopardy, and Concrete Cornhole. They also attended continuing education sessions. Representing the Concrete Canoe team were co-captains Hampton Perez and Gabriel Mateo Vasco, along with Melvin Guilamo, Adrianna Arancibia, Jordan Duarte, and Mihir Patel. Miles Heddin and Evan Machnaki contributed to the project but did not attend the symposium. The Timber Strong team included co-captains Kathryn Donoho and Emma McIntyre along with Paola Bejarano. Estebalise Alvarez led the Sustainable Solutions team as a co-captain while Jordan Duarte and Mihir Patel competed in concrete cornhole and FE Jeopardy.

Ashwin Kannan served as the Web Master and Nurida Nasibova participated as a Global ASCE Member, both supporting the broader efforts of the student cohort. The group was accompanied by Assistant Professor Dr. Ali Ghazvinian, who served as their faculty advisor.

Derek Rahn Williams, a Master of Arts graduate student in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Sociology and Architecture, was recently honored with the Helen DeVitt Jones Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award from the Texas Tech Graduate School. Nominated by his studio coordinator, Lecturer Lauren Phillips, for his work with sophomore students, Derek is the first student from the HCOA to receive this recognition.

During the same awards luncheon, Derek also received the Graduate Student Research Support Award for his ongoing research into how architectural design influences sociological and psychological experiences in carceral environments. His work specifically explores the architectural development of institutional typologies through the lens of the McDonaldization of prison design standards, laws, and policies.

Derek Rahn Williams was awarded the Orlando Ridout V. Fieldwork Fellowship by the Vernacular Architecture Forum. This fellowship will support his continued research mapping the historical expansion of the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia, examining how the prison’s factorization evolved over time. As part of a larger project, this research investigates the relationship between early American carceral architecture and the urban development of the surrounding town, highlighting how prisons and cities were often shaped in tandem.

We're thrilled to welcome two new members to the HCOA team! Please join us in welcoming Emmanuel Rodriguez as our new Senior Academic Advisor and Bart Wofford as IT Support Technician II.

Emmanuel Rodriguez

Senior Academic Advisor

RM 1003D

Bart Wofford

IT Support Technician II

RM 601A

Texas Tech's Faculty Honors Convocation Reception for 2025 was held on April 23rd, where five HCOA faculty members were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the university's students and community. This annual event celebrates excellence in teaching, advising, and service, highlighting the dedication and talent within the college.

These awards recognize the excellence and impact of HCOA faculty and staff in their commitment to education, research, and service at Texas Tech.

CHANCELLOR'S COUNCIL DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD

Joseph Aranha
Professor

HEMPHILL-WELLS NEW PROFESSOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD

Dr. Ali Ghazvinian 
Assistant Professor

PRESIDENT'S EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD

Peter Raab
Associate Professor

TEXAS TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEW FACULTY AWARD

Dr. Lingyi Qiu
Assistant Professor

PRESIDENT’S EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC ADVISING AWARD (NEW ADVISOR)

Jennifer Serna
Advisor - El Paso

Four faculty and staff members from the HCOA were recognized for their dedication and service during Texas Tech's Length of Service Celebration, held on April 23, 2025. 

Among this year’s honorees were Assistant Director of IT Services Denny Mingus, who celebrated 25 years of dedicated service, El Paso Lecturer Andres Gandara, honored for 10 years of committed service, and Executive Associate Kristin Tasker and Assistant Professor Dr. Mahyar Hadighi of El Paso, both of whom celebrated 5 years of service to the university.

We congratulate all of our faculty and staff on these milestones and thank them for their continued dedication to excellence in education, research, and service at Texas Tech.

25 YEARS

Denny Mingus
Assistant Director of IT Services

10 YEARS

Andres Gandara
 Lecturer - El Paso

5 YEARS

Kristin Tasker
Executive Associate

5 YEARS

Dr. Mahyar Hadighi
Assistant Professor  - El Paso

Assistant Professor Dr. Asma Mehan and Associate Professor Dr. Sina Mostafavi participated in the ARCC 2025 International Conference, held at the University of Maryland in College Park and Howard University in Washington, D.C. The presentation took place during Social Session 1 at Howard University on April 5th, 2025, where Dr. Mehan and Dr. Mostafavi shared their co-authored study, Building Housing Resiliency in the Navajo Nation, developed in collaboration with Dr. Ali Nejat affiliated with the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering at Texas Tech University.

The paper represents an early phase of the ongoing NSF-funded Co-DREAM Tech project, which maps socio-environmental challenges and examines the historical dimensions of resource access in the region. It also highlights the outcomes of two research-based courses conducted at the HCOA, focused on design within this distinct cultural and ecological context.

Associate Professor Peter Raab and Assistant Professor Erin Hunt have been awarded a $20,000 Steel Design-Build Grant from the AISC Education Foundation. This grant will support the creation of the Downtown Arts Gateway in Lubbock, Texas.

Professors Raab and Hunt will lead the project in Fall 2025. This initiative will provide HCOA students with an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on experience with structural steel, from design to fabrication, in collaboration with fabricators, engineers, and community leaders. Additionally, the design will incorporate ceramic 3D-printed tiles, providing opportunities for evaporative cooling and ecological interventions.

To view the press release, click the link here.

RSVP: ALUMNI & FRIENDS RECEPTION - AIA 2025

For additional inquires related to this event, please contact Sr. Event Coordinator Rachel Roe at rachel.roe@ttu.edu. 

CALLING ALL STUDENTS, ALUMNI, FACULTY, AND FORMER DEANS:
As we look forward to celebrating the 100th anniversary of Texas Tech’s architecture program in 2027, we’re calling on the HCOA community to share their memories and experiences with the program. YOUR STORIES are a vital part of the shared history of our College. Our upcoming book, Limitless Horizons: The First 100 Years of Texas Tech’s Architecture Program, will highlight this rich legacy.

We invite YOU to help us fully capture the impact and influence of Texas Tech’s architecture program—stories that reflect the experiences we all remember, share, and celebrate!

All contributors will be recognized in the book.

To share your story, please reach out to 1972 alumni, Noel Barrick at nbarrick@hksinc.com, Gary Lindsey at gary.lindsey@lcu.edu, or email architecture.limitlesshorizons@ttu.edu.

If you're not already, follow us on Instagram, X, and Facebook for the latest updates from the HCOA and be sure to like and share our content within your own networks! Do you have news or updates to share? Email architecture.communications@ttu.edu for a possible feature in the next newsletter!