Position
Founder Escalante Architects
Education
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Master of Architecture, 1990
Universidad Albert Einstein, San Salvador, El Salvador
B.S. Architecture, 1987
License
California Board of Architectural Examiners
Experience
Ms. Escalante Founder of Escalante Architects (Formerly O'Donnell + Escalante Architects) has been active in the field of architecture and teaching since graduating from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona. She is a registered architect and a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Her duties include involvement in all projects from the original conception to final completion. Also highly regarded by both the academic and the professional circles for developing a symbiotic teaching and professional practice.
Ms. Escalante has been a member of the adjunct faculty of Cal Poly Pomona since 1997, where she teaches vertical studios. Honors include being selected by the AIA California Chapter as one of the four talented architects emerging in California and was invited to lecture about her work in the 2001 AIA Monterey Design Conference. In addition, she has been awarded the "Certificate of Recognition for Leadership & Teaching Excellence" granted by the California Energy Commission in 1996-1998; and the "1996 Commendation for the Enrichment of National Culture" granted by the government of El Salvador. Publications include "Indigenous Architecture in the Coachella Valley" a research paper founded by College of the Desert Foundation.
As many of her predecessors, Ms. Escalante Migrated to the Palm Springs area, with the belief that the desert and its extreme climate, has always been the frontier for architectural experimentation and freedom. She perceives the harsh desert environment and raw beauty, as the Promised Land, where the heavy hands of bureaucratic control and contextual norms have yet to dominate one's ambitions. What's more, the desert is so unforgiving, that only sound architectural experiments have stood the test of time. It is within this context that Escalante Architects has embraced the opportunities and challenges offered by projects and clients, that not only dealt with programmatic solutions of shelter and safekeeping, but embrace the site, climatic conditions and "place making".
Awards/Honors
2006- Featured on the 10.06 Metropolitan Homes Publication: "Vacation Homes"
- NEW BLOOD NEXT GEN Exhibit at the A + D Museum, Los Angeles, California
- Published on CA-MODERN magazine, under the title, "Building Boom" Palm Springs is Erupting with Architecture backed by Modern Principles".
- "Architect of the Year" Universidad Albert Einstein, San Salvador, El Salvador
- Jury member for the 2005 AIA Inland Empire Design Awards
- "Golden Nugget Community Spirit Award, for Hanson House, a residential facility for families of patients critically injured or terminally ill at Desert Regional Medical Center. Palm Springs, California.
- Work featured in the 11.03 of Architectural Record magazine, "Three Classic California Homes (Iserman, Barlow and Lane Residences)
- Lecturer at the 2003 AIA National Convention, under the title "Architecture Vanguard in Southern California". San Diego, California.
- Lecturer and moderator at the "7th International Congress of Architecture" at the Monterrey Institute of Technology, along with Issac Broid, Marc Barani and Alfred Berger, Among other. Monterrey, Mexico.
- AIA California Council Monterey Design Conference: Emerging Talent Speaker, "Design Currency"
- Architectural Review Committee, City of Palm Springs, California
- Architecture Faculty Appointment at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California
- College of the Desert Faculty Design Studio: 4 Winning entries, 2 Second place, and 3 Citations, "Leading Edge Student Design Competition"
- Exhibit of Faculty Work, Affordable Housing Prototype, California State Polytechnic University Pomona, California
- Top Ten Business Women of the Year in Palm Springs - The Desert Sun
- Citation, Cal Poly Pomona Faculty Advisor "Leading Edge Student Design Competition" - California Energy Commission
- Lecture Series: Young Architects in Southern California. California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, California
- Research paper. "Indigenous Architecture in the Coachella Valley a Case Study Indian Potrero - Bullseye Rock (Tatmilmi - You Koo Hul Ya Me)"
- Finalist, "National Museum of Anthropology David J. Guzman International Design Competition" sponsored by the National Council of Arts & Culture, El Salvador
- First Place, Faculty Advisor "Survival Shelter Design Competition", California State Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo, California
- Architecture Faculty Appointment at College of the Desert, Palm Desert, California
- American Institute of Architects "Henry Adams Scholastic Award" for Excellence in the Study of Architecture. Highest Ranking Graduate Student at California State Polytechnic University Pomona
- Team Member AIA Award of Excellence for the design of 3 desert homes, Riverside, California, published in the 06.94 edition of Progressive Architecture magazine.
- Graduate thesis "Exploration into Cubist Space" was selected as the "Best Graduate Thesis Award" granted by the Richard Neutra Foundation at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and awarded by guest educator Herman Hertzberger of the Berlage Institute, The Netherlands.
- Winning Entry, "Turtle Bay Wood Museum Student Design Competition" Redding, California
- Team Member, finalist phase I and II for "Olympic West Highrise Design Competition", AKS Runo Los Angeles, California
- Institute Honors/ Graduate Thesis, Universidad Albert Einstein, El Salvador
- Board Certified, Colegio de Arquitectos, El Salvador
