2015 Young Architects Award

José Alvarez represents the ideals, opportunities, and future of the architecture profession. A native of Caracas, Venezuela, he finished his architecture education in the United States and has worked for New Orleans–based Eskew+Dumez+Ripple for the past 17 years. His devotion to client satisfaction, attention to detail, and endless pursuit of quality design and building performance has made him directly responsible for delivering some of the firm’s most iconic and challenging projects to date, including the New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC); the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, La.; 930 Poydras Residential Tower in New Orleans; and Teatro Santander, in São Paolo, Brazil.

As a local and regional leader in the AIA, José participates as a state delegate in the conversation of policy and practice, and also leads the state professional educational program. He has served as the AIA Young Architect Forum (YAF) program director in New Orleans and participates in a recurring roundtable discussion which pairs students and young professionals with recently licensed architects, firm owners, and fellows to explore the topics of career development, licensure, firm ownership, legal concerns, and general best practices.

José is not only passionate about architecture but also on issues of advocacy as they relate to minorities in the architecture profession. He was instrumental in the reorganization and establishment of the Louisiana chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), which has won several awards under his leadership. He is one to watch as he shapes the profession through leadership in both design and diversity.