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The Hines College is once again making its mark on the city’s architectural landscape, with faculty, students, and alumni recognized among the winners of this year’s AIA Houston Design Awards. Presented annually by the American Institute of Architects’ Houston chapter, these awards are considered the region’s highest honor for design excellence.

Sam D'Amico, FAIA (B.Arch. '81) is a proud Hines College alum who is inspired by the design and emotive aspects of architecture. As the national healthcare design director at SmithGroup, where he is also a vice president, he integrates art, nature, and daylight to create healing environments.

Yuliana Hernandez (M.Arch '16) is now a project designer at SmithGroup. She said, "The studio environment at the Hines College fostered a sense of community and collaboration that helped me grow not just as a designer, but as a teammate and leader. It taught me that architecture is not just about buildings, it is about people."