Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Andres A. Pacheco
Hometown: Charlottesville, Virginia
Major: Master of Architecture
Graduation Year: 2003
Employer: VMDO Architects
Title: Senior Associate

Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design? What drew you to design?
I was always intrigued by a graduate degree in architecture. However, I was living "the life" as a young architect back in Ecuador. A friend suggested I consider the graduate architecture program at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design at the University of Houston. I thought, It is now or never!

What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?
I miss my walks to and from Cougar Place to the Architecture Building. It was the longest distance you could walk on campus and perfect for meditation. There were no cell phones back then, which was perfect. Many excellent professors there challenged me and sometimes pushed me to the edge, so this meditation time was priceless.

Bruce Webb, one of my studio professors, sensed I was a little rigid in my ways in my first semester. He took the time to teach and coach me through my first semester, almost like what a disinterested but loving Mr. Miyagi (from the Karate Kid) would do. I still remember when, after working so hard through the week to produce drawings for my first studio review, he put my drawings aside without looking at them. He said to me, "Tell me the story of your project." I was shocked. I didn't have an answer for that; I just had drawings. How about all the hard work?, I thought.

I remember being so frustrated and angry walking back to Cougar Place that night. It hit me; I realized what Professor Web was trying to do, and I knew he was on to something. I said to myself, "What's there to lose?" I would either embrace the reality and potential of beauty in meaning and stories in architecture, or I would be content and happy with beautiful compositions and technical achievements.  

Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?
Architecture is such a wonderful profession. I have the blessing of working with a fantastic, talented group of people, and we all strive to take our projects to the next level through challenging VE processes, technical difficulties, and last-minute client requests. In the middle of all these challenges, I often find myself directing the project in a path that hopefully keeps its soul and story alive, infusing rigor and clarity throughout the multitude of ideas, constantly pruning and nurturing the design until it is powerfully perceived and executed.

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?
Winning the 2023 AIA National Architecture Award for the Lubber Run Community Center with VMDO Architects was an extraordinary moment, and we just won that same award again with GW Thurston Hall, a project in which I also led the design. On top of that, this project also won AIA's COTE Top Ten Award and a Housing National Award. Just mind-blowing. I've been truly blessed.

Winning awards is undoubtedly exciting, and I am so grateful for the recognition. Still, these come and go, and someday, they will remain somewhat static on the wall, like a snapshot in the past. Being able to work on any project at hand is what truly motivates me the most every day. I am so thankful for that opportunity.

I look forward to discovering and uncovering each project, contemplating how to shape each idea, and bringing innovation, clarity, and execution to every project that comes my way. It's a privilege that I treasure.

What is one valuable lesson you learned during your time at the Hines College?
My first semester at UH was tough. I was low on cash and working too many hours on campus to help with the bills. Coming from Ecuador, I was homesick and ultimately lost in translation. I knew barely enough English to pass the TOEFL (English exam), but it was not enough to read about Plato, urban determinants, and the theory of architecture. It was nearly the end of the first semester, and I knew I was in trouble. I remember asking this professor to help me and be easy on me. This was a truly challenging class. He said, "No, You have the same opportunities and resources as everybody else in this class. If you truly like this class, you will find a way to put more effort into it." I almost failed that class, but I truly enjoyed that theoretical world and felt deeply challenged.

The following semester, I defied the advice of my peers and professors and enrolled in another class taught by the same professor. I dedicated myself to working and studying harder than ever before. By the end of that second semester, the professor praised my significant improvement (a rare occurrence, I heard) and awarded me an excellent grade. I am grateful for that experience and that the professor didn't give in to my requests. Now, I realize that he could have crippled me for life if he had given me any special treatment. I know now that I can conquer all challenges with enough hard work and determination.

What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?
“Keep it simple,” but packed with life, soul, and stories.

Website: www.vmdo.com