news

In the midst of so called Recession... we are looking for qualified staff

2010-04-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

Escalante Architects is looking for qualified individuals who can come and assist us in the multiple projects our office is handling and those that are coming in. For the level of qualifications and work ethic expected in our office please send an email to office@escalantearchitects.com

Please no unsolicited phone calls. For those interested just be aware that we expected nothing but perfection, devotion and passion to the craft of architecture.

A new Addition to our Team

2010-03-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

John Rivera, AIA has joined Escalante Architects. He showed up at the office and I gave him the list of pending projects, deadlines and aspirations in our practice. Without a doubt, he gets it and I trust that he finally arrived at a place that he can call "home"

Welcome John, I will see you tomorrow!!!!

Ana

Article in Buildipedia by Stephanie Aurora Lewis, a great writer, architect and sustainability guru

2010-03-01T20:59:00.000-08:00

Please enjoy,

http://buildipedia.com/channels/go-green/item/962-green-desert-home

Ana

An Essay written by my daughter Sofia... the biggest homage a mother can expect... while still alive

2010-02-24T21:50:00.000-08:00

Essay written my daughter on February, 21st, 2010 in her English Language Arts class at St. Theresa School.

My Mom

I don't know where to begin. My mom has done so much for me. When I was sick, she got medical care for me.

When I had a bad day she was there for me. When I wanted to talk about my problems sometimes, she wasn't at the house because she was at work and I would call call her. She would comfort me, when I did not feel good about myself and she would tell me that "You are a beautiful and kind girl" When I cried, she was there for me.

She sacrifices everything for me and my sister. She is the coolest mom for me. I know when she wasn't there for the Holidays, but I knew she was doing something good. She was helping the kids in Uganda, that far away place in Africa. She designed a school, shelters, clinics for free. She gave the school pencils, glue, erasers. You know school stuff.

She asked me if I was proud of her for helping Uganda's children. I said yes.

My mom said to me the night she was going to Africa and if that was OK with me. I cried and she spent the night telling my why. After she explained, I thought she was a good role model for me. I want to be just like her someday.

I love my mom with all my heart. That is why I think my mom should be "Mom of the Desert". I don't expect her to win but it would be nice if she did. But my mom told me that "you can't expect to win all the time, all you can do is do your best and reach for the stars, and if we get half way there, you will have done a lot better than those who never dared to try".

Sofia Escalante Lentz

ISN'T THIS KIND OF HEARTFELT ESSAY WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT? Our children... their future... the role we play in their lives and most importantly the lessons that will resonate throughout generations after we are gone... leaving rock-citizens in our place is what immortality is all about... a big way to repair our already bankrupted world we have been active participants of.

Ana Escalante, a proud mom!!!!

Instructions for Mid-Term Requirements for ARC 102 Cal Poly Pomna Students

2010-01-26T10:01:00.000-08:00

Students, the following items you need to develop for the Mid-term jury on Feb 1st. 2010 are:
1. Model 1 (5"x5" original cube with 1/3 of its mass missing)
2. Model 2 (10"x5"x2.5") sectional model.
Models should demonstrate a high level of craftmanship and care.

Drawing, which should be developed first in tracing paper and once approved by me on 01/26/09 during class. Once approved the drawings should be drafted in Bristol paper (paper size is 19"x24") with the utmost level o care and craftmanship, as explained to you in class. Use a lead holder mechanical pencil, and 4H, 2H, HB or F as needed contantly sharpening the ends. No cheap mechanical pencils are allowed since they don't provide uniform lines. All corners of the object should meet seamlessly. Use the proper tools to develop your drawings as stated in the syllabus.

The final drawings should be grouped in the following format:
1. Orient your drawings in a "landscape" on the sheet of paper.
1. 2 axonometrics or isonometrics on Sheet 1
2. Sheet 2 should include a longitudinal section, align with a horizontal section (plan) and two transversal sections. Sections should be drafted with a heavier lead HB, 2B or F on the cutting plane and you need to draft what is behind the cutting plane with a lighter lead such as 2h as well as the the hidden volumes using a dash/hidden lines. Remember you don't have to show the thickness of the materials but rather the volumes. (Total 4 sections. For extra credit you may add additional sections to describe your object)
3. Elevations (orthogonal views-flat drawings) that should be arranged in a "T" shape and with the front elevation align with the top and bottom on the left side and the back secion should me aligned with the front elevation towards the center of the sheet, in additon to the two 2.5x5" elevations for consistensy.

Hatching is allowed if you intent to include the shaded parts of the object. But it has to be lines at 45 angles equally spaces and crisp lines.

Finally each one of you have been given individual crits to either redo the model due to poor craftmanship and accuracy. The model should be completed by tomorrow and it has to show a visible improvement from the prior model. No slanted planes, glue stains or gaps. It is up to you to simplify the design. Method: Draw the pieces accurately, cut them all at once using an X-acto knife (change your blade every 6 cuts max) and then glue them using Elmers Glue.

In addition concentrate on drawing on tracing paper all the drawings described above.

I will be posting a sketch of the layout of the drawings shortly and please manage your time wisely. If you need to go to the IDC to draw or work, please do so. There are no exceptions as to the expectations of "skill building" requirements.

A beautiful homage to our work

2010-01-22T23:47:00.000-08:00

Please check this article written by Stephanie Lewis, a great architect, writer and just an amazing woman who has managed to have it all... a wonderful and meaningful career, family and a forever trailblazer in this merciless business and demanding life. We are honored to have a dear friend who took the time to stop and look at our work and capture, we inprint in all of our projects and that is to engage all of our senses to create meaningful and dignified architectural spaces in every project we undertake. She understands our passion and we are grateful for it.

Here is the link

http://buildipedia.com/channels/go-green/item/962-green-desert-home

Enjoy,

The EscArc gang

News

2009-12-24T18:45:00.000-08:00

Escalante Architects wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. We pray that your embrace 2010 full of dreams and with an open heart to receive the unexpected blessings God has in store for you.

After a very ardous year, our office will be closed from the 12/25/09 until 12/30/09, we all need a hard-earned break from the daily grind. Ana and Alex will be in Denmark on a research project, so if you need to reach either of us, please dont't hesitate to contact Ana at ana.escalante@escalantearchitects.com

God Bless you, and my special thanks to Cliff, Alex, Justin, Mason, Ashi and Stan for doing such a magnificent job during 2009. We are a family and we will continue to work hard to strive, blossom and succeed not only at a professional level, or educators, but as philantropists and borderless architects.

An Inspiring Message for Peace

2009-12-12T20:14:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the speech by President Barak Obama during the ceremony in Oslo, as he became the 2009 Nobel Peace Laurate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3uU_mCNcKM
Inspiring, invigorating and humbling... a little reminder that as many of the sacred books of Theology state, "all and each one of us can become an agent of change". He gets it and we are so blessed to have him as our commander in chief

Reichard Frinier' Life Time Achievement Award Article

2009-11-30T11:29:00.000-08:00

Richard_Frinier_1.pdf

Palm Springs Elections on November 3rd.

2009-11-01T18:28:00.000-08:00

Please don't forget to exercise your right to vote and select our leaders for Palm Springs City Council and other important agencies. Escalante Architects endorses openly and wholeheartedly the following leaders and people of integrity:
Chris Mills, AIA and Giny Foat for City Council and Jim Cioffi, AIA for Desert Water Agency.
Palm Springs needs them to continue to allow our community and its citizens to move to new heights and prosper.

American Institute of Architects Letter by President Peter M Watts, AIA

2009-10-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yep, it happened... we got the gig we love

2009-08-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

After so much work and endless all-nighters, we got the gig and beat the competition with our passion, design skills and professionalism.... Stay tuned!!!!
Thanks to all of our colleagues, Michael, Pam, Alex, Justin, Cliff, Mason, Ashi, Chuck, Dave, Tom, Marvin, Ralph and everyone who poured their heart and did their best to provide a design solution to a couple of historical buildings who are ready to embark in a new life... the ultimate goal of sustainability... adaptive reuse to embody a present-day use in an economically viable fashion.

An inspirational message of gratitude from one of our students from Cal Poly Pomona

2009-07-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

-----Original Message-----
From: Bryan Walker
To: Ana Escalante
Sent: Mon, Jul 20, 2009 11:13 pm
Subject: Gratitude for ARC 203

Dear Ana,

I wanted to personally thank you for putting in your time and dedication towards helping us in our studio. I appreciate everything you did for us, I feel like I have learned a lot from the past quarter and all of the work you helped my team get through will benefit all of us in the years to come.

Thank you,

Bryan Walker

My reply:

Bryan,

Thank you for your note. It is very touching and it was wonderful to wake up this morning and read this wonderful message.

Sometimes, as educators we go about life knowing full well that the impact of our teaching will take years to be absorbed and understood by our students long after we are departed from their lives. It is gratifying to know, you and your classmates got it from the beginning of Spring Quarter. I expect to hear about your wonderful achievements you will accomplish during the rest of your education and beyond.

Hopefully, I will be teaching the "Uganda Studio" in 5th year, and I hope you, Jeniffer, Anthony and the rest of your team-mates will be my "frequent flyers". The idea behind it will be to design a community center and as a result the winning solution will be invited to go to Africa to see the fruits of their labor be actually built.

Have a great sumer, and just know, I am very proud of you.

Ana

Cal Poly Students are among the winners of the "Comptom Creek Competition" sponsored by the SBGC Council in Sustainability

2009-07-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of the "Come to Jesus talk from Ana to her wonderful students"
Bryan Walker, Anthony Corby and Jenniffer Guerra were among the winners of the "Compton Creek Competition" whose design proposal will enter on a national level in a competition of Sustainability sponsored by the SGBC Council.

Quote: "Just because design has to be green, it doesn't have to look like Birkenstock, it can look like Prada". Enjoy the design which included rehabilitation of the creek, a performing arts center, housing and retail in addition to a multiple of ammenities needed by that blighted section of Los Angeles.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T15:04:00.000-07:00

To all the moms, who are here with us and those who are gone... the bio-moms, the surrogate ones, the adopted ones, and all of those who have eeked themselves a role as moms to our loved ones, whether their children came from their wombs or not, those teachers who end up becoming moms to their students and even those men, who at times have to wear the "mom hat"... Our utmost respect, love and admiration... because imagine, what would the world be without their precense in this world?...a world devoid of compassion, unconditional love and humanity. This planet could not exist as we know it without their precious role God has bestowed upon them.
Of all my achievements, chosing to become a mother has been my pinnacle, my Mt. Everest, with all the shortcommings, delays and mistakes... I still have managed to raise two rock solid citizens of the world who will take my place when I am gone... As a mother I have learned to live with my heart outside my chest, because those little "scrunchy monkeys" ripped it out of my being and that it is a miracle in itself... I wouldn't trade it for anything else... I am at awe at my capacity to love my children unconditionally and completely. Thanks Lourdes and Sofia, you make every sacrifice and selfless act... well priceless.
Lourdes and Sofia's Mom!!!!

Welcome back!!!!

2009-05-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

Justin Williams is joining our firm again, after being absent for a year... I am so delighted to have him back in our team... lots of late nights, running and crazy deadlines, for Ju-Ju, Ivan, Alex, Cliff and myself.
Justin, welcome home... If my memory does not fail me, you started with us way back in 2006 when we designed and developed the CD's for the AROH School in Uganda.

Easter & Passover

2009-04-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

Today, we celebrated Easter, by attending mass to recall the rising of our Lord Jesus from the dead. And yesterday had the honor to participate in Passover, with our oldest brothers in the faith. We all celebrated with joy, faith and grace the rituals passed from generations of the Holy books, the Torah and the Bible. With a humble heart we wish all of you many blessings, growth and triumps to come, but not without remembering with reverance the sacrifices and rituals that enriched all of our lives and for many generations to come.
God Bless you all.
The Escalante Architects Dream Team.

Dwell Magazine recognizes Escalante Architects

2009-03-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sidney Williams, Palm Springs Art Museum, Associate Curator of Architecture & Design, for mentioning Escalante Architects as one of the Modern Architects "to watch today" in her recent interview in Dwell Magazine.
Please check the following link,

http://www.dwell.com/articles/palm-springs-california-detour.html

It is our great honor to be recognized among our peers including Lance and Philip.
We appreciate Sidney and her many contributions to the City of Palm Springs, Art Museum and her unwavering support of the emerging generation of Modern Architects.

Dwell Magazine recognizes Escalante Architects AROH-Uganda project as part of our Humanitarian Agenda

2009-03-23T22:37:00.000-07:00

Our humanitarian work was published in Dwell magazine. Don't ask me why and how it happened. But please check the following link:
http://www.dwell.com/articles/restoration-of-hope.html
Enjoy,
Ana

Greenworks

2009-03-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

A series of prototypes of sustainable homes designed by our office may see the light of day in the hands of a developing company from Chicago is interested in building these green homes throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond... An idea, whose time has come.

Latest News.

2009-03-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

Escalante Architects was just awarded several projects by a combination of private-sector and public clients. Thank you for your support and please be aware of our new website coming up soon.
Ana Escalante, AIA

A milestone for my Cal Poly Students Work

2009-02-16T22:15:00.000-08:00

This photos are just mere fragments of very extensive productions from First Year Architectural Students in my class. I tell them that becoming an architect is a life-long journey pretty much like becoming a marathon runner or a mountaneer, mileage and dedication is all it takes Enjoy,

An African Adventure

2009-01-25T06:47:00.001-08:00

After being back from a whirlwind trip to Africa, to serve the children of AROH-Uganda, and criss-crossing the country at the speed of light & experiencing an extreme safari, (totally unprotected from the wildlife) at dusk near Prince Albert Lake, in addition to, cruising in the Nile River on a mamba (a boat used to hunt crockcodiles) and seeing a clinic our office design and and assist on the fundraising for AROH-Uganda, with my good friends Ronald Mugabi, Alex Meyerhoff and Godfred Mobati. Ronald, the director and brainchild of Aim for the Restoration of Hope-Uganda, an NGO with lofty dreams to serve the less fortunate... our children in East Africa on a miniscule budget, to ending up in Paris at the Champs Ellysee... It was a life-altering experience which reaffirmed to us and my architectural colleagues that "Yes, architects can make a difference in this world by bringing hope, hard work and most importantly unselfeshly giving all we got to offer until there is nothing left. Audrey Hepburn said it better: "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to receive...Love has to do with what you are expected to give, which is everything!!!!!". Students, Friends, Colleagues, and acquitances, please follow Mother Theresa's motto, "Give what you don't have, give until it hurts... that is the absurdity of God's Love in Action". Our message to our friends is that in this world divided by creed, ethnicity, gender, economic boundaries and all kinds of barriers, please join Escalante Architects to assist AROH-Uganda by helping our Ugandan children, who are our future, and in doing so, you will worship God, the living God, who crosses all boundaries we ficticiously have created for ourselves.

More images to come!!!!!

Thanks Ronald for welcoming me and my friends into your heart!!!!

Ana

On the day of Obama's inaguration... News from El Salvador

2009-01-20T10:17:00.000-08:00

All,
Please check this out, and enjoy. An example for all of us to emulate. The lesson is well... priceless
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/14/AR2008071402682.html

or watch it on you-tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXbxkP95VPU

2009-01-13T16:33:00.001-08:00

Alex and Ana hopped on a plane to Africa on Christmas Eve and came back as bearers of a life-changing story. An Architect by trade, Ana is a professor of architecture at Cal Poly Pomona and a practicing architect. Alex, a director of Planning and Economic Development at their architectural & Planning firm. Their role around the office is continually evolving but they will forever be employed as silent partners with Director Ronald Mugabbi at Aim for the Restoration of Hope-Uganda, grand story tellers and dreamers. In their sparks of creative intelligence and insanity are helping directly the charity to redefine the concept of humanitarian work, offering new life to old hope. They both believe wholeheartedly in magic and the impossible. Ana a proud parent to two incredible daughters, Sofia and Lourdes, Alex a devoted parent to Alyssa, his beautiful daughter who is trying to find her own voice in the world. Ana warned Alex, “Going to Africa changed my life for ever…And it will change yours too”