Bio:

Born in Sonora, Mexico, Carlos grew up at the core of Mexico City, experiencing one of the world's most densely populated cities firsthand, significantly impacting his interest in becoming and Architect. Co-Founder of Merge Architectural Group and recipient of the 2016 AIA Young Architect Award, he's been an active member of the Architectural community in Arizona; past-president of NOMAaz, current president-elect of AIA Phoenix Metro he believes you need to be part of change to trigger change. The great architect,  Carlos Murrieta Bachelor of Architecture from Tec de Monterrey (ITESM) and various certifications
in the areas of Construction Administration, Energy Modeling and Sustainability. I have been recognized as Arizona’s Young Guns in 2008 and awarded AIA Arizona Young Architect of the Year in 2016. I love to participate on my community from volunteering at my kids’ school, participating and some organizations including CSI, international internship programs and recently as president of NOMA Arizona.

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How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

As a child, I used to overview downtown at Mexico City from the 7th floor of an apartment, I knew then that I wanted to be part of whoever was building cities and later thought High School decided I wanted to become an Architect. I spent my early childhood living at the center of Mexico City, a dense City and a place that had a great impact on my interest for the built environ- ment. Moved later to a small town and realized I wanted to be the one building those buildings.

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What do you do?

I am the co-founder and principal of Merge Archi- tectural Group, a 100% Hispanic owned firm in Phoenix AZ, I wear many hats: networking, client relationships, design and totally hands-on on our projects working on the different parts of the process.

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What excites you in the work you do?

The continued challenge of being on top of technology, cultural sensibility, practice, to assure I can provide the best design solutions to my clients, but at the same time, to make the experience of design a great story to everyone participating. Creating spaces that completely change your perception of buildings, for me each design rep- resents an opportunity to create an experience from the tactile, visual, three-dimensional, and spiritual experience.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

One of my biggest inspirations has been nature and its own cycle, moving from the big City into a small town as a child, I learned to appreciate this way of life around our natural resources, my challenge is to recreate them on our buildings. As an Architect I believe I have a special seat at the table, which allows me to trigger change in many ways, the built environment, our costumes, the way we behave in spaces, and it continues to be that inspiration allowing me to pursue excellence.

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

Starting one of the only 100% hispanic-minority-owned firms in the State of Arizona, and a few years later, in 20116, becoming recognized as the Young Architect of the Year by the AIA for the same State. There have been several, some simple some per- sonally challenging. My biggest accomplishment was starting my own firm as an immigrant on an- other Country, and after that being recognized on a couple of times for my Design skills by the AIA.

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Featured Project Name: 

Mexican-American Institute of Cultural Relations - IMARC

 

Featured Project Location: 

Hermosillo Sonora Mexico

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

July 2018

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Role in Featured Project: 

Project Architect, Designer

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Featured Project Description:

This K-12 campus was designed to provide an American school experience in Mexico soil. IMARC serves as an institution that provides a bilingual and bicultural frame to students in Mexico, where they can become familiar with the neighboring Country just 320 miles from this location. The new campus provides spaces for all K-12 functions where each building serves as a canopy over the existing land creating microclimates and gathering spaces students, in a location where climate is important.

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Photography Credit:

Renderings by Merge Architectural Group

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Featured Project Name: 

Navajo Technical University Library

 

Featured Project Location: 

Crownpoint NM

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

November 2017

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Role in Featured Project: 

Project Architect, Designer

 

Featured Project Description:

This new 8,000 GSF Library became the Hub for the new Navajo Technical University campus. From this building students connect to different campuses and other universities, for some this is the only node to a computer and internet access. The building was thought around a simplified structure surrounded by a shell that shields the interior from the high desert environment, the use of daylighting became a must as well as the sound control in its interiors, achieved with perforated paneling.

 

Photography Credit:

Carlos A Murrieta, AIA

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Featured Project Name: 

Gila River Indian Commnunity D3 Multipurpose

 

Featured Project Location: 

Sacaton AZ

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

02/2022

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Role in Featured Project: 

Design Architect

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Featured Project Description:

The building’s conceptual design was initiated by representing all the stages of life, in the form of different activity programs relation to each age group. Spaces were arranged counter-clockwise, following cultural principles, starting with childhood activity spaces on the right (at sunrise) and continuing to the elder activity spaces on the left (at sunset). The “Birth” activity spaces are correlated to a swimming pool (water) as the beginning of life and the core as the end of life.

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Photography Credit:

Carlos Murrieta