Lecture Series: Gil Penalosa of 8-80

LRGV-AIA reports that: Gil Peñalosa, executive director of the Canadian non-profit 8-80 and internationally renowned city advisor and active public spaces advocate, will speak to the Brownsville community August 28 and 30 as part of the Building a Vibrant Brownsville lecture series. Mr. Penalosa will share his knowledge and experience in designing parks, streets, and open spaces to foster improved health, economic development, and a greener environment. 

Mr. Peñalosa, the third speaker of the Building a Vibrant Brownsville series, will give a special presentation for the Spanish-speaking community on August 28 at the Camille Playhouse at 5:30 p.m. His keynote address (English) is scheduled for August 30 at the Science, Engineering and Technology Building on the UTB and TSC campus at 7:00 p.m.  Both lectures are free and open to the general public.  

In Edinburg: Mr. Peñalosa's main focus regards economic development and community health initiative for local communities and is an advocate for people-friendly development of cities and safety.  Peñalosa will speak at on August 29, 2012: 1. Edinburg Summit - Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 3:00 p.m, open to the general public., Edinburg City Hall, Council Chamber, 415 W. University Drive, Edinburg, Texas  2. Community Banquet: 5:30 registration, 6:00 p.m. dinner. $20, Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District, Administrative Boardroom, 2nd Floor, 411 N. 8th St,. Edinburg, Texas.  For more information & banquet tickets, please contact Ann Millard at (956) 668-6320 or Thalia Morin at (956)-322-1940 thaliamorin@gmail.com

MG'er Christopher R. Collins, Architect, has been selected to teach two architecture courses at Texas Southmost College School of Architecture. Chris will teach History of Architecture I and II.  (The course surveys painting, sculpture, architecture and the minor arts from pre-historic times to present with emphasis on the relationship of culture, geography, environment and materials to the method of construction.) and Architectural Technology I and II. (This course introduces students to construction materials, methods, and their applications with an emphasis on common building materials: wood, masonry, concrete and metals. Students study building envelope performance and issues of sustainability as well as the mechanical and electrical systems and their relationship to the structural system.) Chris will remain with Mata-Garcia Architects and head our Brownsville office and public relations. Congratulations!

Parish Hall

The Diocese of Brownsville has given approval for Mata-Garcia Architects LLP to commence work on the Construction Document Phase for the San Cristobal Magallanes y Companeros Parish Hall. The Master Plan, at Sharyland Plantation, calls for a parish hall (Phase 1), a parish church (Phase 2), a chapel/columbarium (Phase 3) and a parish school/rectory (Phase 4). We look forward to working with Father Ignacio and his Parish Council on this long awaited project. Construction is due to start November 2012.  

The west elevation uses brick detailing from the historical Oblate Novitiate at La Lomita on the entry portal and wainscot. Cementitious panels, a continuous clerestory and metal tube arches complete the contempory twist on the historical elements.

The Master Plan uses a courtyard to provide a communal space for the complex; the parish church (left), the parish school/office/store (center) and parish hall (right). The parish rectory is at the lower right corner of the property.Parking will be located off of Santa Ingracia Road.

Interior and exterior sketches of the proposed parish hall.

Tuesday Talks: Marvin Windows

Fiberglass Composites in the Window and Door Industry

Maribel Zimmerman, Architectural Representative for Marvin Windows and Doors offered this continuing education program to help our staff understand how fiberglass, a composite material, provides superior and sustainable performance. The program explained the pultrusion process and its environmental impact and how it explores the characteristics and thermal properties of fiberglass. Thanks to Maribel for an excellent program!

Mr. Geodesic Dome

Today is the birthday of geodesic dome designer, Buckminster Fuller. This Thursday, July 12th marks the 107th anniversary of the famed architect and author.

Lighting Seminars

Hector Rene Garcia (Architect/Partner) and Christopher R. Collins (Architect) of Mata-Garcia Architects LLP attended the LED Lighting and Lighting Controls Roadshow in San Antonio on July 11, 2012. The event was sponsored by our friends at Spectrum Lighting Inc. at the Center for Architecture at the Pearl.

Seminars Presented:

INTELLIGENT LIGHTING FOR EXTERIOR SPACES: by Mark Sheppard. This presentation covered outdoor lighting codes and practices. It also identified the pros and cons of outdoor sources LED, HID, etc.; and showed how controls can affect and compliment outdoor projects.

LED LIGHTING EDUCATION FOR SPECIFIERS:  by Tom Scott. This program gave us an overview of factors related to effective lighting design using Solid State Lighting. Attention was given to the advantages of this new technology in architectural and general lighting applications as well as the science of LEDs and how this new technology can be used to provide a superior energy saving solution in the lit environment without compromising a quality lighting design.

DAYLIGHT HARVESTING LIGHTING CONTROL APPLICATIONS: by Richard Hormuth. This exciting program delivered an overview of daylight harvesting. Attention was given to terminology, applications, zoning, and circuiting, daylight entering the space, photo-sensors, open and closed loop, and electrical light reduction.

THE POWER OF DIGITAL LIGHTING AND CONTROLS – SMART AND SIMPLE: by Bill Ballweg. This dynamic speaker offered a fundamental overview of the characteristics of LED digital lighting. Ballweg addressed the quality of illumination, how to create a digital lighting system, the long term cost benefits, and how using controls can reduce the carbon footprint.

A big thanks to Spectrum for sponsoring these excellent programs.

State Champion

Congratulations to 12 year-old Coltin Lopez, son of MGa Construction Manager Chris Lopez, won the 2012 Texas Field Archery Association's BareBow State Championship held in Corpus Christi on June 23rd. We know this is the first of many championships that will come his way.

Vanguard Academy - Alamo Campus

Vanguard Academy, a Charter School for the Fine Arts has signed a contract with Mata Garcia Architects to partner with its superintendent, board and staff in developing a new campus in Alamo, Texas. The master plan of the complex will include an elementary school (Phase One), a middle school, a high school and a multi-purpose facility. We look forward to this exciting project and becoming a part of the Vanguard Academy family.

Brownsville Quad-Plex

Mata Garcia Architects has completed perliminary design work for a quad-plex apartment development in Brownsville, Texas. The $500,000 project is scheduled for construction beginning in August of 2012.

Region One Interview

Mata Garcia Architects is one of five firms selected to interview for Region One's - El Tule Adult Learning Center. Presentations take place Monday, April 3, 2012 with MGa interviewing at 9:45 a.m.

Truan Jr. High School Gym Renovations

Mata-Garcia Architects LLP has completed Construction Documents for the renovation of the Carlos F. Truan Junior High School Gymnasium. Proposals for the $1,000,000.00 project are due on April 17, 2012.

East elevation of gymnasium. Honeycomb graphics overlaid on multiple stripes help deconstruct the corners of the space, giving the facility a intimate feeling with the main focus being that of the court and the teams playing the game. Stinger graphics, a new scoreboard, renovated goals and new telescopic bleachers will round-out the interior finishes.

 New bleachers will seat 750 fans on either side of the new gym court flooring, which will be framed with a border containing graphics for the Stingers and Stingerettes.

Eames: the architect and the painter

This is a fascinating look at the husband-and-wife team of Charles and Ray Eames, who were America's most influential and important industrial designers of the 20th century. Admired for their creations, and most  fascinating as individuals, they rose to iconic status in American culture. 'Eames: The Architect & The Painter' captures the intimate story of Charles and Ray while placing them solidly in the context of their fascinating times.