Alumni Spotlight:
Jeffrey "JB" Cruzen (B.Arch. '76)

Name: Jeffrey “JB” Cruzen
Hometown: Cypress, TX
Major: Bachelor of Architecture
Graduation Year: 1976
Employer: Retired Chief Architect with Houston Airport System
Title: Architect Emeritus [Texas No. 8927]

Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design? What drew you to design?
Nearly fifty years after graduating in 1976, I remain proud of the continued growth and success of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture + Design. As a former Gerald D. Hines Interests Construction Manager during the early 1980s, I experienced firsthand the high professional standards and ethical conduct Gerry Hines expected throughout his organization. Those same values are reflected today in the College's leadership, faculty, students, and expanding academic programs.

Today's curriculum offers opportunities far beyond the five-year professional Bachelor of Architecture degree I completed. At that time, the program provided the educational foundation required for Texas architectural licensure, followed by three years of professional experience under a licensed architect.

Throughout high school, first in Woodside, California, and later in Ridgewood, New Jersey, I planned to pursue engineering design and intended to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. That changed during a visit to Houston with my father in March 1970. Through his business with the Astrodomain organization, I met George W. Lanier Jr., AIA, Chief Architect and Planner for Astrodomain, who suggested architecture might be a better fit for my interests.

Within days I was visiting the University of Houston campus and meeting with Dean William R. Jenkins, FAIA, and Assistant Dean Edmund Furley, FAIA. Those conversations convinced me that architecture combined the creativity, technical problem-solving, and public service I was seeking.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?
The early 1970s were a remarkable period to be a college student. Campus life reflected the social and political changes occurring throughout the country. The Vietnam War, civil rights, environmental awareness, and changing cultural attitudes shaped many conversations both inside and outside the classroom.

Inside the College of Architecture, however, the focus was clear: hard work, discipline, and excellence.

Howard Barnstone became the professor who most influenced my education. His passion for architectural history, preservation, and thoughtful design challenged students to think beyond aesthetics and understand architecture's broader cultural responsibilities. Donald Barthelme also made a lasting impression. Early in our first year he reminded the class that architecture should never be pursued simply for financial success. He emphasized that the profession demanded sacrifice, dedication, and a lifelong commitment to learning. His advice proved true throughout my career. Our first-year class began with approximately 150 students. Professors Donald Barthelme, Robert Lindsey, Edmund Furley, John Zemanek, and C.R. Lively, established rigorous expectations from the very beginning. We quickly learned that architecture demanded commitment, perseverance, and countless hours in the studio.

One of our first assignments was constructing a detailed scale model of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's 1929 Barcelona Pavilion. By the time that project was reviewed, dozens of students had either withdrawn or failed to meet the required standards. Each year the class became smaller until only a handful of us completed the entire degree program.

The curriculum was heavily influenced by the Bauhaus tradition, and the work of Mies van der Rohe. We studied principles such as "form follows function," "less is more," and "God is in the details," while also learning from Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, Frank Lloyd Wright, and John Zemanek's appreciation for Japanese wood design.

One of the most memorable fourth-year experiences was participating in the College's partnership with the Galveston Historical Foundation to study and envision the revitalization of the historic Strand District. Using the Comprehensive Plan as our guide, each student developed an adaptive reuse proposal that balanced historic preservation with new development. It was an invaluable lesson in urban planning, historic preservation, and community revitalization.

For my thesis project, I designed a new public park in Houston's Montrose neighborhood, using Bell Park as the planning model. One of my thesis jurors was George W. Lanier Jr. AIA, by then serving as Houston's Parks Director under Mayor Fred Hofheinz. His thoughtful critique emphasized not only design quality but also the importance of realistic budgets, political support, and designing spaces that reflected the character of surrounding neighborhoods. Those lessons stayed with me throughout my career.

Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?
After graduating in 1976, I built a career spanning commercial architecture, real estate development, aviation, airports, and public service. My experience included design, program and construction management, asset management, airline facilities, airport planning, and executive leadership.

Some of the highlights include:

·      Construction Manager with Gerald D. Hines Interests during the initial development of Westlake Park.
·      Senior Architect with 3D/International.
·      Architect and later Chief Architect for Continental Airlines, overseeing projects throughout the United States and internationally.
·      Deputy Program Manager for United Airlines at Los Angeles International Airport.
·      Chief Architect and later Assistant Director of Design for the Houston Airport System.
·      Consultant to the Port of Houston Authority following retirement from public service.

Today I hold Architect Emeritus status under Texas License No. 8927 and remain active in the profession through consulting. My past professional affiliations include the American Institute of Architects, Houston Chapter AIA, the Texas Society of Architects, and NCARB.

Be patient, remain open-minded, and be willing to change direction when unexpected opportunities appear.

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?
A defining moment came in 1987 while I was working at 3D/International. I volunteered to go to New York City to help resolve a complex set of issues for Texas Air Corporation's Rockefeller Center offices, including permitting, landmark review, leasing, contractor coordination, and asbestos abatement. Successfully completing that assignment led directly to an offer from Continental Airlines. That opportunity reshaped my career and began twenty-seven years in aviation. Looking back, accepting an unexpected challenge changed the direction of my professional life.

What is one valuable lesson you learned during your time at the Hines College?
I also learned not to take criticism personally. Design juries were rigorous, but constructive criticism is essential to becoming a better architect. Students who accepted feedback and continued improving generally succeeded, while those who resisted criticism often struggled.

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?
Listen carefully, remain patient, and never stop learning from experienced professionals.

Looking back over more than fifty years in architecture, I realize how fortunate I was to work alongside exceptional mentors. As a student, I worked for Paul and Janet Ross Sanders, where Janet introduced me to the fundamentals of interior design. After graduation I joined S.I. Morris Associates, where I had the privilege of working with Gene Aubry, FAIA, and the extraordinarily talented Sally Walsh. Watching Sally develop elegant interiors with innovative design solutions taught me that exceptional architecture depends upon collaboration, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.

Every stage of my career—from student intern to construction manager, airline architect, airport executive, and consultant—was shaped by mentors willing to share their knowledge. Their guidance, combined with the rigorous education I received at the University of Houston, provided the foundation for a rewarding career spanning more than five decades.

I remain grateful to the faculty, classmates, mentors, and professional colleagues who made that journey possible, and I hope today's students continue building upon the remarkable legacy of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture + Design.