Urban Plants and Resilient Gardens
2025-06-24 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
This event has been rescheduled for Tuesday, July 1, noon.

Urban Plants and Resilient Gardens, a lecture and workshop by Falon Mihalic, PLA. Houston has a biologically diverse set of native plant life (5,000 species in Texas) and is within the growing range of many worldwide subtropical plants. Recent weather impacts have shifted the palette of landscape plants to those that withstand flood, drought, freeze, and extreme heat. Learn about the newly developed plant palettes and planting strategies for our changing climate.
The program is in conjunction with our current exhibition, Verdant Laboratory, on view through August 22 at the Center. This event has the option of bringing your own lunch or order lunch in advance at registration.
This course has been approved for 1.0 AIA LU and 1.0 LA CES HSW.
Exhibition and programming sponsors:
Verdant Laboratory is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance; REES; and Houston Architecture Foundation.
Programming Partners
ASLA Texas, H/GC Section; Texas Parks & Wildlife
Image credit: XO house by LOJO Architects, Leonid Furmansky
This event is approved for
1.5 AIA LU
1.5 LA CES HSW

About
Falon Mihalic is a sculptor and landscape architect who began making art with watercolor paintings in 2007. Their projects investigate our perception of landscapes and ecology through site-specific works in light art, ceramics, and large-scale public art installations. Falon is a licensed landscape architect (TX, FL, IL) with a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design and a B.A. in Natural Sciences from New College of Florida. Their work has been supported by the Kaboom Foundation, the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the Houston Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Center for Spatial Studies at Rice University.
Falon has presented widely, including a recent international talk at the Center for Metropolitan Planning in Prague. They currently have multiple permanent public art commissions underway across the US.

It Takes A Village
2025-06-24 12:00 - 13:00 | https://architecturehouston.org/event/it-takes-a-village/
As many parents and caregivers will attest, “it takes a village” to raise children – and for many aspiring architects, the same is true when preparing for licensure exams. AIAH Women in Architecture (WiA) committee and HNOMA are joining forces to build a community tailored for parents and caregivers in the industry who are navigating the challenges of licensure preparation.
We want to hear from you!
Join us for an Open Forum where we’ll discuss your needs, challenges, and ideas for the kind of resources and support that would make a real difference.
Two opportunities to join us (RSVP):
Virtual Forum – Tuesday, June 24th from 12-1p
In-Person Forum – Thursday, July 31st from 4-6p
Whether you’re just starting the process or already deep into studying, your voice is important. Let’s build this village – together.

enLAce Rapido
2025-06-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
enLAce Rapido is an opportunity for professionals to meet and network with Maestros- Latino firm owners, principals, and industry leaders from a variety of Houston firms that we are recognizing for their professional journey and accomplishments. Registrants will be paired and rotate to meet several Maestro engaging in 15-minute conversations. They will have the opportunity to network, share ideas, seek advice, and potentially find a mentor.
enLAce Rapido is open to all professionals looking for career development and growth.
Maestros
Luisina Basilico, AIA, Principal, Design Director, Page
Hector Covo, AIA, Principal, HKS
Dr. Luis Matias Barajas Saldaña, Sustainability Design Advisor III, Perkins&Will
Benito Guerrier, AIA, Partner & Managing Director, Government Practice, Kirksey
Rogelio Hernandez, AIA Principal, English + Associates
Silvana Micolich, AIA, Principal, RDLR

About the Maestros
Luisina Basilico, AIA, Principal, Design Director, Page
Luisina is an award-winning architect that started her professional career in Washington D.C. working on modern residential design. Graduate school at Rice University brought her to Houston and Page. Her prolific time at Page has run the gamut on project scale and program complexity including international master plans to laboratory buildings for national academic clients, and regional pediatric hospitals to municipal aviation facilities.
Luisina co-leads the Design Studio in the Houston office, and it doesn’t take long to recognize that she thrives in a team environment and excels at rallying her colleagues behind a cause and integrated process to get a job done. Luisina is inspired daily by being part of a studio that aspires to make lives better through design by challenging prescribed ideas and staying engaged on advances in the architecture and construction industry.
Mentoring others, encouraging professional growth, and fostering a collaborative environment are fundamental drivers for Luisina. She was one of the founding members of a group at Page focusing on women in leadership development. She also has served in leadership roles such as Chair of the Design Awards Committee for AIA Houston Chapter, which afforded her a valuable opportunity to observe the annual design awards jury deliberations. Knowing that professional development goes beyond the workplace, she has volunteered in several youth organizations that expose elementary school girls to a wide range of careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, math, and of course, art.
Dr. Luis Matias Barajas Saldaña, Sustainability design Advisor III, Perkins&Will
Dr. Luis Matias Barajas Saldaña is an applied physics in architecture PhD with expertise in building physics, focusing on regenerative design. He holds a master’s in technology in architecture, from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, is a licensed architect from Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila with a minor in domotics. Barajas has worked with building performance and participated in the Smart Energy Regions initiative from the European Union Cooperation in Science and Technology program, and the Scientific National System of Researchers of Mexico. He has collaborated with the New York City Building Performance Lab as an applied research scientist. Barajas is a former faculty member of Rice University School of Architecture, the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture, and currently faculty in the Science Department at John Jay College at the City University of New York. And works as the sustainability design advisor at Perkins&Will Houston Studio, and as co-director of the Perkins&Will High performance lab.
Hector Covo, AIA, is a Principal at HKS. He believes that architecture is a tool to elevate the human spirit and improve the quality of life for those who experience it, inside and out. He strives for his work to have a positive impact on the built environment and the community. He has been involved in organizations, which focus on design and policy issues that have industry-wide and local impact, and others that provide scholarships and mentoring for students. He speaks to promote higher education and architecture as a career to at-risk youth in urban schools.
He has 25 years of experience in a wide variety of project types including healthcare, senior living, education, performing arts, worship spaces, entertainment, hospitality, and commercial interiors. Prior to joining HKS, he led his previous firm’s senior living group nationally, with a particular focus on the continuum of care for seniors in urban environments.
Benito Guerrier, AIA, Partner & Managing Director, Government Practice, Kirksey
Benito oversees Kirksey’s Government Practice and business development efforts for all public projects in Texas, and has dedicated his decades long career at Kirksey to ensuring the satisfaction of our client base. He frequently interacts with policy makers and government officials when managing the firm’s public projects, thereby promoting firm awareness and environmentally responsible design. Benito has also been involved with several community organizations committed to enhancing the quality of life in the state of Texas.
Rogelio Hernandez, AIA Principal, English + Associates
Rogelio received a Master of Architecture from Texas Tech University and began his career in Corpus Christi, TX. Since moving to Houston in 2021 he has been active with the AIA Houston Chapter on Small Firm Roundtable committee and TAC committee. He is the Managing Principal of English + Associates Architects, a multi-discipline firm focused on delivering civic, educational, aviation and commercial projects. Rogelio is passionate about school design and impacting human well-being through thoughtful building design.
Silvana Micolich, AIA, Principal, RDLR
Silvana Micolich, AIA, NCARB, received her professional degree in architecture from the University of Buenos Aires (2001) and has extensive experience in high-end commercial interiors, retail, hospitality, civic, and education sectors. Her professional journey brought her to Houston, where she leverages her bilingual fluency in Spanish and English. Her bicultural background has given her a deep understanding of diverse construction methodologies, and her design philosophy emphasizes integrating these methods to harmonize projects with their local environment, meet programmatic needs efficiently, and utilize materials effectively. Silvana is actively involved in the AEC community and contributes to the strategic vision of projects. Her passion for design extends beyond architecture, encompassing painting, photography, jewelry making, and 3D printing, which enriches her creative perspective and approach.

Full Day Continuing Education
2025-06-25 08:30 - 14:00 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
We cordially invite you to attend a full day of Continuing Education (CE) Seminars.
8:30-9:00am Breakfast and Registration
9:00-10:00am
Architectural Powder Coatings – 1.0 AIA HSW
Presented by Channing Wilson & Chuck Frank, Sierra Pacific Windows
10:00-11:00am
Shattering Expectations: Glass Operable Walls- 1.0 AIA HSW
Presented by Audree Garcia, TRW Family
11:00-Noon
Understanding Stone Wool (Mineral Wool) in Interior and Exterior Applications -Solutions for Thermal, Fire, and Sound Control – 1.0 AIA HSW
Presented by Nick Stone & Omarr Cantu, ROCKWOOL
12:00-12:30pm
Break for Lunch
12:30-1:30pm
An Introduction to High Performance Coatings Systems – 1.0 AIA HSW
Presented by Annie Miranda Sommer, Benjamin Moore & Co.
**Following the presentation there will be a product showcase
AIA Credits Total:

4.0 HSW

Total AIA Learning Units:

Individual classes are not available for the event.
Pre-registered pricing includes breakfast and lunch.
Parking is not included.
A minimum of 3 business days’ notice is required to receive a full refund if you need to cancel your reservation.
Online registration will close Friday, June 20th – Registration has been extended to Tuesday, June 24, 3pm
Onsite registration is available for day of (breakfast and lunch is NOT included)

Panasonic OASYS Model Home Tour
2025-06-27 10:00 - 12:00
Join Committee on the Environment, Friday, June 27th, for the Panasonic OASYS model home tour.

Unveiling the Future of HVAC and Indoor Air Quality
Step inside the OASYS Concept Home, where wellness, comfort, energy efficiency, and resilience come together under one roof. This net-zero fully connected smart home showcases the revolutionary OASYS™ system—a game-changing approach to HVAC engineered to redefine how we live. Discover how the OASYS Concept Home can inspire your next project.

Friday, June 27th, 10am-Noon
The home is located in Bellaire. I will provide the address to all registrants.
Continuing Education Credit: Self Reported (AIA) / Self Directed (Texas)

arcHERtect: building a treehouse & sculpting a garden
2025-06-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Calling all junior architects! Get ready for an imaginative day with the National Organization of Minority Architects, Houston and Architecture Center of Houston.
Slide into Summer with us as we immerse ourselves in designing a treehouse sprouting from a whimsical garden. Climbing vines, trap doors, secret pathways, tire swings, and every flower under the rainbow. During this workshop, you will have the opportunity to practice being both the architect and landscape architect, who gets to help design a treehouse and garden, and the client, who will work with an aspiring Architect to design your very own treehouse and garden. At the end of workshop students will be able to share their designs and receive feedback from architects.
Surrounded by the current exhibition at the Architecture Center of Houston, Verdant Laboratory, students will be able take inspiration from artist and Landscape Architect, Falon Mihalic’s sculptures, watercolors, and terrariums. Falon will share her journey into architecture and the visual arts.
Additional information about the class:

Students will be paired into teams of two
Each team member will take turns playing the roles of client and architect
Participants will interview each other to understand their partner’s vision for their treehouse and garden.
Guided questions and prompts will be provided to help uncover details like favorite colors, desired rooms, special features.
Using the information gathered, each Architect will sketch a design of their partners treehouse and garden.
Students will build and sculpt a dreamhouse and garden based off of the sketch using clay and other materials.
Teams will present their designs to the group, explaining features and choices made
Architects & designers will be on hand to guide participants, answer questions, and share experiences.

This interactive event is perfect for students aged 7-12 who are excited to explore the world of architecture and unleash their creativity. Through fun activities and teamwork, participants will learn how to design while developing essential skills in problem-solving and collaboration. Join us for a morning of excitement & inspiration as we build dreams and foster the next generation of architects!
arcHERtecture is generously sponsored by
