For the fourth year in a row, El Dorado High School’s Aztec Architecture Academy has claimed the top spot in the Texas Society of Architects 2024 Student Design Challenge, showcasing the academy's talent and its commitment to preparing students for successful careers in architecture and design.
Eleventh graders Ariadna Castro, Bruno Rodríguez and Elyan Apodaca won Most Outstanding Group, the highest honor in the high school category. Additionally, seniors Leemae Maldonado, Jazmyne Lopez, Gracie Navarro, and Casandra Salinas achieved second place in the competition.
“We have to do even better (next year) so that we keep our title for the academy,” said Luisa Valenzuela, Aztec Architecture Academy instructor. “The first time that we did it, a lot of people didn't even know where El Paso was, but now they recognize that (El Dorado) it is one of the best high school architecture schools in Texas. So, it's just amazing.”
The Aztec Architectural Academy is the only one of its kind in the El Paso region. It offers a rigorous, hands-on program that allows students to gain a foundation in the fields of interior design, construction, civil engineering, and architecture.
The competition challenged students to transform an existing bridge in the community into a destination that also served as a connector, such as a park, sports field, dog park, farmers market, or other idea aligned with this year's theme, "The Bridge: Community + Connector."
For their design, Project Bayou, Castro and her teammates, remodeled an existing bridge in Houston, connecting it to a recreational center they created.
Castro enrolled in the academy because she was interested in becoming an architect. She said that the opportunities the academy provides, such as competing in design challenges, have allowed her to gain industry-level experience. Castro plans to enter next year’s competition and hopes to continue the academy’s winning streak.
“It's really amazing because to know that I could still continue that high standard of always winning,” Castro said.
Students gathered in the school's cafeteria to hear the exciting news while watching a live broadcast of the awards announcement from the Texas Society of Architects’ 85th Annual Conference and Design Expo in Houston on Oct. 4.
Leemae Maldonado decided to join the academy when she was in middle school. The aspiring architect recalled constructing buildings out of Legos and in Minecraft.
Her team redesigned the lake area in Ascarate Park, which included constructing a bridge over the lake to connect both sides of the park.
Maldonado was proud that their design, Project Revive, won second place, and she expects the juniors will do a great job at next year's design challenge.
“I’m really honored to be part of the academy because I've learned so much throughout my years here at El Dorado, and I think it's just really like cool that we keep winning,” Maldonado said. “And every year the quality of the work just keeps improving.”
Valenzuela attributes the academy’s success to the students collaborating with each other and learning from each other to enhance their projects.
“Next year, our seniors have to do a higher level than the past generation because we need to keep on going,” Valenzula said. “We know that we have to improve on our projects and change and modify, and they learn from each other. That's the cool part.”