Alumni Spotlight:
Jes Deaver, AIA (M.Arch. '16)
December 10, 2024
above: canvas by nick deaver jes deaver architecture, Austin, TX
Name: Jes Deaver, AIA
Major: Master of Architecture
Graduation Year: 2016
Employer: Nick Deaver Jes Deaver Architecture
Title: Principal/Partner
"The confidence and passion for sharing my ideas is something I began to build as a student at the Hines College."
Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design? What drew you to design?
I was drawn to Houston because of its scale, history, and ecology. After visiting UH, I knew that I was in a place that valued independent thinking and innovative perspectives about the built environment. Design was always a part of my life as a writer, filmmaker, and photographer.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time on campus? Was there a particular professor who influenced your education?
There are many great memories from my time on campus; however, I am especially fond of the time Professor Colaco reviewed my second-year drawings and told me that I had an innate understanding of how things are built. It boosted my confidence in ways that are reflected in my daily practice. Dr. Gregory Marinic and Professor Jason Logan will forever be ingrained in my memory as brilliant, cross-disciplinary design leaders who pushed me further than I thought possible. Professor Patrick Peters also opened my mind to the joy of working with others to create something meaningful for the community.
above: Deaver and students in her Sci-fi House course at Texas Tech on a Buffalo Bayou tour with Steven Roop, AIA along with their guide, hines college Professor Susan Rogers
Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular design or business philosophy?
A typical day has me on a job site meeting with builders and clients, working on drawings in my office with my partner and father, Nick Deaver, AIA, and more recently, teaching at Texas Tech University Huckabee College of Architecture. I usually finish my day working on an article for Texas Architect magazine or researching innovative ways to discuss design with the public. My interest is in the future, land stewardship, and helping people tell personal stories.
What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud? How do you feel the College prepared you for this?
I was honored to be invited as the 2024 H. Dean Pierce Endowed Visiting Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University Huckabee College of Architecture. The confidence and passion for sharing my ideas is something I began to build as a student at the Hines College.
above: Offbeat by nick deaver jes deaver architecture, Austin, TX (photo by Leonid Furmansky)
What is one valuable lesson you learned during your time at the Hines College?
Coming from a background in film and television I was new to learning software and drawing skills required for architecture. I learned that if you need to understand something quickly, the fastest road to knowledge is to find a partner. I collaborated with undergraduate students and my peers in graduate school to elevate technical skills while sharing my knowledge of storytelling.
What advice would you give to current architecture and design students?
My advice to current students is to be fearless. Do not be afraid to make decisions in your student projects, your career, or your ideas about the broader world. Being curious is something you should nurture as an everyday practice.
Connect with Jes:
www.ndjda.com
Instagram
Threads
More College of Architecture and Design Stories
Hines College Student Organizations You Should Know: American Institute of Architecture Students
With innovations and challenges shaping our world, student organizations like the University of Houston American Institute of Architecture Students (UH AIAS) play a vital role in preparing aspiring architects for their future careers.
The Hines College inducted a remarkable 38 top students into the University’s Beta Delta chapter of the national Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society in Architecture and the Allied Arts. The Society is the sole national honor society for architecture and design majors holding accreditation from the Association of College Honor Societies.
Growing up on the Ivory Coast, Kadmiel Konan (B.S. '23) always had an interest in technology and design. His interests in design has helped him hone a variety of skills that go beyond the role of a traditional industrial designer, having worked on projects for clients like Snap-on, Tabasco, NOV, and KOCH.
