TTU HCoA Honors Alumni

Texas Tech University’s Huckabee College of Architecture (TTU HCoA) continues its proud tradition of recognizing excellence through its annual awards program. Presented by the Design Leadership Alliance (DLA), the awards honor alumni, students, and supporters whose work and leadership have made significant contributions to the college and the architectural profession. Each year, three primary awards are presented: the Alumni Design Award, the Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Kleinschmidt Award. In 2023, the program expanded to include a fourth honor—the Student Design Leadership Award—recognizing an exceptional graduating student who demonstrates academic achievement, peer leadership, and community involvement.

The DLA, composed of TTU alumni, friends, and supporters, hosts the awards at the Texas Society of Architects (TxA) Annual Conference. The program promotes public interest in architecture, highlights the achievements of TTU HCoA alumni, and supports students through sustained engagement and funding.

“One role of the DLA is to serve as a platform to celebrate our alumni’s prolific work and the huge impact they’ve made within the profession and college,” says current DLA president Sean O’Brien, AIA. 

Design awards are open to submissions by TTU HCoA alumni practicing as architects, interior designers, or design interns. Honor awards, including the Distinguished Alumnus and Kleinschmidt Awards, are nomination-based and recognize broader contributions to the field and college.

Last year’s jury included Jes Deaver, AIA, of Nick Deaver Jes Deaver Architecture in Austin; Kristina Yu, AIA, of McCLAIN+YU in Albuquerque; and Todd Wascher, AIA, of Lake|Flato Architects in San Antonio. Selected projects reflected a wide range of scale and innovation. Christ Church Anglican in Midland by Rhotenberry Wellen Architects, Cosmic Saltillo in Austin by Clayton Korte, and Sunset in San Antonio by Card and Company received Alumni Design Awards for their excellence.

The late Ron Wommack, FAIA, received the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award. A Dallas-based architect, Wommack founded his firm in 1990, developing a refined modern style that emphasized natural materials and light. His work earned three TxA Design Awards, 15 AIA Dallas Design Awards, and the 2006 AIA Dallas Firm of the Year award. His career reflected both design excellence and a commitment to the architectural community in Texas.

The Kleinschmidt Award was presented to Brian H. Griggs, AIA, for his service to the college. Griggs, an alumnus of TTU and principal at Parkhill in Amarillo, authored Opus in Brick and Stone: The Architectural and Planning Heritage of Texas Tech University. His book explores the university’s architectural legacy and highlights the work of local architects shaped by their education at TTU.

The 2024 Student Design Leadership Award went to Jaclynn Herbein, a recent Master of Architecture graduate with a certificate in Urban and Community Design. Herbein served as a teaching assistant for two years and as a summer research assistant, demonstrating academic leadership and a strong commitment to the college community.

O’Brien reflects on the value of the program, encouraging alumni to take part in future cycles. “The DLA can serve as the common thread between the HCoA and our amazing alumni. I hope any TTU HCoA alumni reading this article considers submitting their work and nominating their peers for these awards.”

Through these recognitions, TTU HCoA celebrates both legacy and emerging leadership—honoring the professionals who shaped the college’s reputation and supporting the students who will define its future.

The submissions period for the school’s 2025 honor and design awards closed on July 11. The recipients will be announced at TxA’s Annual Conference in Dallas this fall.