
CARLOS A MURRIETA
Merge Architectural Group
SAY IT LOUD - NOW Exhibitor
SAY IT LOUD - NOMA 50th Exhibition
Arizona | Mexico Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
One of my biggest inspirations has been nature and its own cycle, moving from the big City into a small town as a child, I learned to appreciate this way of life around our natural resources, my chal- lenge is to recreate them on our buildings.
Carlos A Murrieta
Bio:
The great architect, Carlos Murrieta Bachelor of Architecture from Tec de Monterrey (ITESM) and various certifications
in the areas of Construction Administration, Energy Modeling and Sustainability. I have been recognized as Arizona’s Young Guns in 2008 and awarded AIA Arizona Young Architect of the Year in 2016. I love to participate on my community from volunteering at my kids’ school, participating and some organizations including CSI, international internship programs and recently as president of NOMA Arizona.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
I spent my early childhood living at the center of Mexico City, a dense City and a place that had a great impact on my interest for the built environ- ment. Moved later to a small town and realized I wanted to be the one building those buildings.
What do you do?
I am the co-founder and principal of Merge Archi- tectural Group, a 100% Hispanic owned firm in Phoenix AZ, I wear many hats: networking, client relationships, design and totally hands-on on our projects working on the different parts of the process.
What excites you in the work you do?
Creating spaces that completely change your perception of buildings, for me each design rep- resents an opportunity to create an experience from the tactile, visual, three-dimensional, and spiritual experience.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
One of my biggest inspirations has been nature and its own cycle, moving from the big City into a small town as a child, I learned to appreciate this way of life around our natural resources, my challenge is to recreate them on our buildings.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
There have been several, some simple some per- sonally challenging. My biggest accomplishment was starting my own firm as an immigrant on an- other Country, and after that being recognized on a couple of times for my Design skills by the AIA.
Featured Project Name:
Mexican-American Institute of Cultural Relations - IMARC
Featured Project Location:
Hermosillo Sonora Mexico
Featured Project Completion Date:
July 2018
Role in Featured Project:
Project Architect, Designer
Featured Project Description:
This K-12 campus was designed to provide an American school experience in Mexico soil. IMARC serves as an institution that provides a bilingual and bicultural frame to students in Mexico, where they can become familiar with the neighboring Country just 320 miles from this location. The new campus provides spaces for all K-12 functions where each building serves as a canopy over the existing land creating microclimates and gathering spaces students, in a location where climate is important.
Photography Credit:
Renderings by Merge Architectural Group
Featured Project Name:
Navajo Technical University Library
Featured Project Location:
Crownpoint NM
Featured Project Completion Date:
November 2017
Role in Featured Project:
Project Architect, Designer
Featured Project Description:
This new 8,000 GSF Library became the Hub for the new Navajo Technical University campus. From this building students connect to different campuses and other universities, for some this is the only node to a computer and internet access. The building was thought around a simplified structure surrounded by a shell that shields the interior from the high desert environment, the use of daylighting became a must as well as the sound control in its interiors, achieved with perforated paneling.
Photography Credit:
Carlos A Murrieta, AIA