Regional and City Planning graduate student Georgex Tafoya recently shared his favorite childhood memory of as part of the 2021 Latinx in Architecture San Francisco (LiASF) workshop, “Exploring our Latinidad,” led by James Rojas of Place It!
Read more in the March 2021 issue of ByDesign: Journal of Exceptional Achievement, and see an excerpt below.
Barrio Dreamin’
Georgex Tafoya
My favorite childhood memory is playing soccer in my front
yard under the supervision of my grandmother in our East
Los Angeles home. As the only child, I would use my
imagination to entertain myself at home. I would imagine
myself playing under bright lights in a huge stadium filled
with thousands of fans. I was the soccer superstar, and my
grandmother was the referee. This was a time for me to
play outside and to dream. For my grandmother, this was a
break from the work she had waiting for her in our garage
where she would sew clothes. My front yard in East L.A. is
the place where I most enjoyed my childhood, and it
continues to be a space where my younger cousins can
play and create memories
A team of Construction Science and Architecture students from the Gibbs College of Architecture made their mark on the national stage this week, earning third place out of 37 universities competing at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Competition, held during the International Builders' Show in Orlando, February 16-18, 2026.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has elevated Gary Armbruster, FAIA, ALEP to its prestigious College of Fellows—AIA’s highest membership honor—for his exceptional work and sustained contributions to architecture and society. Fellowship recognizes architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant impact at a national level. Members elevated to this distinction carry the FAIA designation after their name.
Students from the Spring 2026 Graduate 4 Architecture Design Studio, led by Professor Amy Leveno, exhibited their work at the School of Visual Arts. The exhibition, titled Reimagining the OU School of Visual Arts, featured drawings, models, and animations developed throughout the semester's studio project. The show was hosted in The Spotlight, a creative gallery space located on the first floor of the Fred Jones Art Center, and ran from January 20–30, 2026.
