NEWSLETTER - May 23, 2025

Texas Tech University held its Spring 2025 commencement this past weekend with the Huckabee College of Architecture (HCOA) ceremonies taking place on May 15th, 17th, and 21st.

A total of 198 HCOA students received degrees this spring, including 36 graduate degrees and 128 undergraduate degrees from the Lubbock campus, along with 34 undergraduate degrees from the El Paso campus.

The Huckabee College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Shannon Ahern has joined the college as Assistant Director of Development.

In this role, Shannon will be responsible for cultivating relationships with donors and key supporters of the college, as well as leading fundraising initiatives in support of HCOA’s mission. She will work closely with Dean Flueckiger and our alumni to help advance the strategic goals of both HCOA and Texas Tech.

Shannon’s office is located on the 10th floor and she can be reached via email at shannon.ahern@ttu.edu or by phone at (806) 834-6624.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Shannon as she begins this exciting new chapter with the HCOA and TTU! 

Assistant Professor Victoria McReynolds has been named a recipient of the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation Grant. This grant will support publication of a body of photographs and original images produced for her Violet Light research.

These funds enable her collection of Violet Light images, that foregrounds horizontal light, a type of illumination that occurs when the surface of the Earth rolls into or out from darkness, to reach a wide audience. This illustrated publication presents a method for observing how sunlight connects seemingly disparate spaces, on both an architectural and a planetary scale.

The Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation's objectives are to advance the work of emerging and mid-career artists who are under-­recognized, to provide exposure of contemporary art where it may not otherwise be seen, and to promote awareness of the collections of grantee organizations. 

Work by HCOA faculty, research assistants, and students—led by Assistant Professor Dr. Asma Mehan and Associate Professor Dr. Sina Mostafavi—is on exhibition at the 2025 Biennale d’Architecture et de Paysage d’Île-de-France (BAP! 2025). Under the exhibition theme “4°C entre toi et moi” (4 Degrees Between You and Me), curated by Sana Frini and Philippe Rahm, the biennale invites institutions worldwide to confront the consequences of a projected +4°C rise in global temperature through the lens of architecture, ecology, and climate-responsive design.

Faculty were directly invited by the curators in Summer 2024 to represent Texas Tech University, following early research conducted at HCOA. The interdisciplinary initiative features contributions from two courses: ARCH 4601 (directed by Dr. Mehan) and ARCH 5354 (led by Dr. Mostafavi). The project, “Adaptive Arid Climatic Constructs,” explores vernacular intelligence and emerging technologies to develop resilient architectural frameworks for arid and extreme climates.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Adaptive Reuse in the Age of Climate Change This studio examines adaptive reuse strategies of post-industrial landscapes (focused on oil and wind infrastructure) as a catalyst for ecological transition. Drawing from typologies across the MENA region and the Americas, students reimagine fossil-fuel legacies through sustainable and socially engaged design responses.

Informed Variation: Climatic Aware Vernacular Constructs Students explored how traditional forms like wind towers, qanats, and earthen systems can inform new performance-driven solutions. By blending historical knowledge with computational tools and fabrication methods, the projects redefined vernacular frameworks as adaptive blueprints for the future.

The results are presented in the form of posters and original drawings, reflecting site-specific investigations and climate-responsive design strategies.

LEADERSHIP & CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. Asma Mehan, Director | Assistant Professor

Dr. Sina Mostafavi, Director | Associate Professor

Sadaf Alikhani, PhD Student | Research Assistant

Seyed Alireza Seyedi, PhD Student | Research Assistant

Bahar Bagheri, PhD Student | Research Assistant

Zachary S. Casey | Graduate Assistant

Caleb Scott | Graduate Assistant

PARTICIPATING STUDENTS

ARCH 4601 Studio: Ariana Cannon; Elizabeth Davis; Katrina Herdine; Khatheryne Jones; Cade Keeler; Sophia Levitski; Robert Machnacki; Darian Martinez; Tomas Moe; Oluwatofarati Omilabu; Mihir Patel; Hampton Perez; David Potratz; Emily Santos; Hunter Smith; Urile Vega Ramirez

ARCH 5354 Studio: Jesus Astorga; Kevin Carreon; Jack Dittrich; Enrique Espinoza; Amanda Gomez; Hugo Gonzalez; Jylian Hanson; Morgan Hennigan; Gabriel Herrera; Bernardo Lopez; Aaron Malavolta; Brandon Paleo; Jonathan Perez; Brian Ramirez; Caleb Scott; Corrine Tendordf; Garrett Whitehead

EXHIBITION DETAILS

Title: 4°C ENTRE TOI ET MOI

Dates: May 7 – July 13, 2025

Location: École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Versailles, France

Special thanks to the HCOA, AHU_Lab, and Hi-DARS Lab for their continued support.

Read more: ArchDaily Feature

A paper by HCOA faculty and students titled Hybrid Circular Constructs: Symbiosis of Augmented Reality and Digital Fabrication for Discrete Assemblies with Reclaimed Materials has been published in the proceedings of the XXVIII SiGraDi Conference 2024 (biodigital_Intelligent_systems), held in Barcelona.

Authored by Associate Professor Dr. Sina Mostafavi, alongside Edgar Montejano, Bahar Bagheri, and Cole Howell, the paper investigates the integration of Augmented Reality (AR)-enabled production with digital fabrication processes using reclaimed and non-standard materials. The research showcases three built case studies developed in the Fall 2023 graduate course ARCH 5354: Hybrid Circular Constructs, Integrated Design to Robotic Production & AR-Enabled Assembly Systems at Texas Tech University’s Huckabee College of Architecture.

Each case study introduces experimental workflows that combine AR, robotic milling, and 3D printing with recycled elements—ranging from repurposed wood components to AR-guided miter-cut bricks. The work highlights the potential of integrating advanced fabrication techniques with circular design principles in architectural education and practice.

Contributors to the project include HCOA graduate students Timothy Tipparach; Timothy Estrada; Tyler Glass; Thomas Mindheim; Alexander Garza; David Nelson; Chance Welles; Jakob Wiesner; Nathan Kendrick; Corinne McKevitt; Matthew Phenix; and Nathaly Ruvalcaba.

The full conference schedule and proceedings, visit the SiGraDi 2024 website.

Amy Peterman, Unit Manager for Undergraduate Advising at the HCOA, participated as a panelist in the "Family Engagement in Academic Spaces" session hosted by Texas Tech University's Parent and Family Relations on May 6, 2025.  

The session was part of a two-day initiative focused on strengthening family involvement in student success across the university. Peterman joined colleagues from various colleges in an interactive discussion highlighting effective strategies for engaging families throughout a student’s academic journey—from orientation to graduation.

Panelists explored several key areas, including:  

1. Evolving roles of family involvement
2. Building collaborative partnerships
3. Using data to inform engagement strategies
4. Supporting first-generation families

The conversation emphasized the value of intentional, inclusive, and data-driven approaches in building meaningful partnerships between families and academic units. Peterman contributed insights based on her experience advising undergraduate students in the Huckabee College of Architecture, underscoring the importance of communication and tailored support systems.

Other panelists included representatives from the College of Arts and Sciences, Pre-Professional Health Careers, J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Davis College at Texas Tech University.

Alumnus Caleb Mancillas (B.S. Architecture 2024), has been selected as a 2025–2026 Mary Kolb Berglund Traveling Fellowship recipient through AIA Dallas and the Architecture and Design Exchange (AD EX). This prestigious fellowship supports travel-based studies in architecture that aim to research, develop, and disseminate knowledge of the built environment.

The fellowship was presented by Clemente Jaquez, AIA, and includes funding for international travel related to architectural research. As part of the fellowship, Mancillas plans to travel to Santiago, Chile, to explore urban conditions and undertake a winter summit attempt of a 14,000-foot peak in the Andes Mountains. A public presentation of the fellowship experience is expected in the spring of 2026.

For more information on the fellowship and other recipients, visit the AD EX website by clicking here: https://www.dallasadex.org/2025-2026-scholarship-fellowship-and-grant-recipients/

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.

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