The Un-missable Un-gala

A not-so-formal night for a very significant milestone

by Stephen Schad • November 21, 2025

On Friday, November 14, the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design community gathered on campus to celebrate the College’s 80th anniversary in an unconventional way – with an un-gala. Four years earlier, the College honored its 75th anniversary (postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) with a tented celebration on the lawn, complete with a second-line band and an illuminated airscape installation inside the architecture building.

This year’s milestone event embraced a different spirit, though. Designed to capture the energy and joy of a gala without the formality, the un-gala invited alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students to reconnect while raising funds for emerging design technologies at the College.

A highlight of the evening featured a live demonstration by Andrew Kudless (Bill Kendall Memorial Endowed Professor of Design Technologies) and Chris Battaglia (Assistant Professor of Emerging Construction Technologies and Presidential Frontier Faculty). The duo showcased the College’s robotic arm as it 3D-printed a sculptural vase in real time, giving guests a glimpse into the future of construction robotics now taking shape at the Hines College.

This past summer, Kudless, Battaglia, and Jason Logan (Assistant Professor and Director of the Keeland Lab) reimagined and renovated space in the architecture building, creating a dedicated hub where advanced design media, automation, and fabrication can continue to grow upon the College’s recent advances in design technologies. The design media space now occupies the building’s original fabrication facility, which was used until the Burdette Keeland, Jr., Design Exploration Laboratory opened in 2007.

During his remarks at the un-gala, Kudless reflected on the transformative potential of the Construction Robotics and Fabrication Technology (C.R.A.F.T. Lab) and the College’s ambition to lead nationally in design media research and education. He emphasized how this next chapter of technological innovation relies on the successful establishment and sustained investment in the forthcoming Lab.

“One of the goals for the C.R.A.F.T. Lab has been to create an active community hub that brings together students, faculty, alumni, and industry partners to explore the future of design, technology, and fabrication at all scales,” shared Kudless. “Although the building across the street is not yet complete, we have worked hard over the last few years to update our curriculum and facilities to bring the latest technologies to our students.”

The success of the un-gala was made possible through the generosity and enthusiasm of its sponsors, including top “Life of the Party” supporters Aria Signs and Design, Marilyn Archer and Jack Eby, and Webb Architects. Additional sponsors, friends, and community partners helped ensure the evening not only celebrated the College’s rich 80-year history but also propelled its vision for the decades ahead.