Bio:

The great architect, Fatima is an architect working and living in Arizona. Originally from Mexico, where she obtained her professional degree in Architecture from Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey. She moved to Arizona in 2005 and acquired her Arizona license in 2016. With 15 years of experience, most of them in K-12 projects, she focuses in providing clients and the community with quality spaces that allow for growth, learning and well-being.

 

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

I was always in social studies, learn how people feel, react, behave. I liked how architecture can influence people’s well-being.

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What do you do?

K-12 Architectural Project Manager.

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What excites you in the work you do?

All the unknowns and opportunities each project brings.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

The energy and passion of educators.

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

It still brings me so much joy to see teachers and students get excited about their new spaces, sometimes to the point of happy tears.

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Featured Project Name: 

Anna Pavlova under the bridge

 

Featured Project Location: 

Tempe, AZ

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

2014 - Unbuilt

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Role in Featured Project: 

Designer

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Featured Project Description:

Submission to the Imagination Cube competition. Unrealistic concept exploring just one real construction material. We didn’t think about gravity, costs, area, or real life. All with the purpose of exercising the imagination muscles that we sometimes forget when doing real projects on tight deadlines. Through this playful exercise we were hoping to activate thinking outside the box when we went back to dealing with reality.

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Photography Credit:

Fatima Garcia and Luis Cruz-Martinez

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Featured Project Name: 

Central High School

 

Featured Project Location: 

Phoenix, Arizona

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

2019

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Role in Featured Project: 

Project Manager/Architect

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Featured Project Description:

Central High School is located in the hearth of Phoenix, along its main avenue, serving a big and diverse community. The challenging renovation of existing buildings included: Updating the administration building to make it safer for students but accessible and recognizable to the community. Renovating and expanding the existing cafeteria space, adding much needed day-lighting and giving it a college feel. And creating new and modern labs and classrooms for the popular culinary arts program.

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Photography Credit:

Stefan Yarish

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