معرفی
Oscar Lopez is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture at the University of Arizona's College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA), where he has taught since fall 2016. He serves as chair of the Academic Events Committee and leads the lecture series "Haptics of Place: Technologies, Assemblies, and Spirit of Place" featuring prominent architects like Juhani Pallasmaa and Eric Höweler.
He holds both undergraduate and master's degrees from Arizona State University's School of Architecture, with early career experience at StarkJames Design + Build and Studio Rick Joy before founding s p a c e BUREAU and later desertWORKS studio.
Lopez's research pioneers the concept of "Haptics of Place," investigating how ephemeral placed-based design intersects with tangible architectural elements like technology, assemblies, and tactility to create sensorially engaging atmospheres. His teaching emphasizes social architecture through studios focused on community-based public works along the Santa Cruz River, encouraging students to develop personal design manifestos rooted in spatial experience.
Scientific awards:
- AIA Award (local)
- AIA Award (regional)
- AIA Award (national)
As an educator, Lopez mentors students across Foundation, second-year, and graduate studios (ARC 510D), using narrative-driven exercises like "Where is grandma going to sit?" to explore light, materiality, and spatial relationships. He advocates for immersive engagement with architecture, advising students to "go down the rabbit hole" early in their careers while acknowledging architecture's demanding nature.
Lopez leads desertWORKS studio, producing community-focused public works recognized by AIA awards. He previously co-founded s p a c e BUREAU and contributed to CAPLA's leadership as a School of Architecture director search committee member, expressing strong support for current director Ryan Smith's vision.
