IR Architects Supports Woodbury School of Architecture First Year Studios with $30,000 Sponsorship

IR Architects has announced its support of Woodbury University School of Architecture and its first year studios through a $30,000 sponsorship, the university announced today.  IR Architects was founded by Woodbury Architecture alumnus Ignacio Rodriguez, AIA.

The purpose of the sponsorship is to contribute to student education in their initial studio year through increased access to construction techniques and skill building, as well as formal and spatial explorations.  The sponsorship expands the school’s capacity to provide high-quality education to the widest range of students. It recognizes the importance of strong foundation skills in securing a successful career post-graduation.

The sponsorship also gives students early exposure to user experience, similar to techniques used in virtual and augmented reality. Students will learn how to visualize architecture from a user’s perspective as means of expanding their technical abilities and conceptual design skills. IR Architects Studios follows Gensler’s Formwork Studio, taught by assistant professor Yasushi Ishida.

“We sponsored the studio mainly to support the school, as it is the alma mater of both my wife and I,” said Ignacio Rodriguez, CEO of IR Architects. “In the process, we hope to observe and identify the natural talent of students just beginning their journey into architecture and get their fresh perspective on form and design. This is why we sponsored a first year studio rather than a third or fourth year.”

IR Architects Studios follows the success of the first year 1B studio coordinated by Prof. Heather Flood, which recently won the 2017 Architect Magazine Studio Prize. The prize recognizes thoughtful, innovative, and ethical studio courses at accredited architecture schools. The 1B studio will be featured in the September issue of Architect Magazine.

“We’re coordinating the first year studios to explore how the early stages of architectural education can transform the intellectual and technical abilities of students” Flood said. “The studios reveal an optimism and willingness to experiment, fail and try new things.  We are incredibly thankful to Ignacio and IR Architects for recognizing the impact that foundational learning has on the long- term success of students.”

Rodriguez, principal and CEO at IR Architects, graduated from Woodbury’s Bachelor of Architecture program in 2007.  He received a full scholarship to study architecture, and while at Woodbury, he received the prestigious Degree Project of the Year Award.  Upon graduating, he developed a distinct style and founded IR Architects in 2012. Since that time, the firm has quickly become a formidable force in the competitive world of Los Angeles architecture, designing more than 250,000 square feet of luxury real estate throughout Southern California.

“The students and faculty of the Woodbury School of Architecture are deeply grateful for the generous support from Ignacio Rodriguez Architects,” said Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter, AIA, Dean of the School of Architecture. “Ignacio was an exceptional student whose personal journey is now inspiring the next generation of students. Upon visiting the first year studio final exhibition, Ignacio recognized the remarkable teaching of Heather Flood, Nate Imai and Yi-Hsiu Yeh and the exceptional student work in the undergraduate program.  Sponsorships like Ignacio’s reaffirm the value of our diverse and welcoming community in transforming our students into successful professionals. With the sponsorship gift, we’re able to expand our learning opportunities to students at the start of their education.”

The IR Architects Sponsorship will support the fall 2017 and spring 2018 first year architecture studios at the School of Architecture.  For more information on the sponsorship, please contact Eric Baldwin, Director of Communications, Woodbury University School of Architecture.

About IR Architects

IR Architects (Ignacio Rodriguez Architects) is an elite Los Angeles-based firm specializing in contemporary architectural design for high-end multi-million dollar residences and estates within Los Angeles’ burgeoning luxury real estate market. The firm fuses sleek functionality with creative aesthetics to elevate each project to its fullest potential. With a client-focused approach and advanced design expertise, incorporating the most innovative techniques, the firm has built an impressive repertoire in Southern California. IR Architects prides itself in providing sophisticated projects that deliver real value, inspiring all who enter to marvel at the end result.  At IRA, the goal is to guide a client’s vision from ideation to fruition, by helping them interpret, illustrate and transform their dream property into a reality.

About Woodbury University

Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California. The university ranks 15th among the nation’s “25 Colleges That Add the Most Value,” according to Money Magazine, was voted “Best Graduate School” in the Los Angeles Daily News 2018 Readers Choice Awards, and is a 2018-19 College of Distinction. Woodbury was a finalist for the General Community Service Award, a part of the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognition program. With campuses in Burbank/Los Angeles and San Diego, the university offers bachelor\\’s degrees from the School of Architecture, School of Business, School of Media, Culture & Design, and College of Liberal Arts, along with a Master of Business Administration, Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Architecture and Master of Science in Architecture. The San Diego campus offers Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture degrees, as well as a Master of Science in Architecture, Real Estate Development. Visit woodbury.edu for more information.