At the Hines College, the QuadZero Studio is training the next generation of climate-conscious architects and designers. Founded in 2016 by Hines College architecture professor Dr. Bruce Race, FAIA, FAICP, the studio has become a crucible for exploring what it truly means to design resilient cities. The name reflects the studio’s core mission: zero greenhouse gas emissions, zero energy waste, zero water waste, and zero landfill waste.

On May 8, the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design celebrated the Class of 2025 – 195 graduates whose academic experience is defined by resilience and adaptability. Many of these students started their academic journeys under unexpected circumstances at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging stronger and more prepared to tackle the demands of their future professional careers. As they close this transformative chapter, several graduates reflect on their unique experiences, offering insight and inspiration to those who follow in their footsteps.

The University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design continues to shape the future of the Gulf Coast through its investigative Gulf Futures studios, supported by a major grant from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). Awarded to advance community resilience and adaptation strategies along the Gulf Coast, the grant has catalyzed groundbreaking work by faculty and students, focusing on climate-responsive design, environmental justice, and sustainable infrastructure.