Armando Ramos.
I grew up between constructions sites and real estate development - I have wanted to be an architect since I can remember. My passion for it grew more as I traveled and lived in other cultures until I found music, a discipline that I still practice and that influences my work. After working for a time as a musician, I opted to return to my first love - space.
I started out working while in college in Mexico City for Gomez Palacio Arquitectos for 3 years. There I was a drafstman and it was about the time that computers were just starting to be used for drawing, so I had the tremendous pleasure of experiencing drafting by hand and learning the trade the traditional way. After graduating I left for Europe were I travelled, learned, and ended up working in the south of Spain in Puerto Banus. Aside from working and learning from the multiple study trips trough Spanish white towns I had many heated conversations about space and architecture with the creator of Puerto Banus, Noldi Schereck, who eventually became an important mentor.
I then emigrated to California, where I enrolled in NewSchool of Architecture to do a Masters in Architecture. Soon after I enrolled I got a full time job at the largest firm at that time in San Diego, AVRP studios. It was a very exiting time; I participated in the transformation of the Gaslamp district and worked on several high-rise mixed use projects.
I started my own practice right after finishing graduate school, living bi-nationally between California and Baja California in Mexico. The region was growing at an unprecedented rate and it was the high point of the real estate boom - at that time a lot of master planning was needed and at the studio we had very large development commissions. Then we started getting projects in multiple cities in Mexico and the US and it allowed me to explore large scale projects with all of the challenges and complexity that accompanies them. This had the benefit of forcing me to start researching and asking myself questions on how to solve coordination, communication and complex geometry in such a way that they could be easily transferred to the construction and execution of a building.
In 2009 I had the privilege to join of one of the most forward thinking practices on the globe, Gehry Technologies, where I was responsible for business development, management, deployment and implementation of GT’s unique Virtual Design and Construction Services throughout Latin America and the United States. It is not an exaggeration to say that we transformed the industry. Before forming DIVERSE I was the senior partner responsible for expanding and managing the New York office of Fernando Romero Enterprise (FR-EE).
I am proud to have been able to successfully start and grow practices globally. My main interest is in design and delivery methods and searching for new solutions that relate different cultures and build bridges between them. I have explored prefabrication, social housing issues and the cultural relationships and social impacts that these can have. In a globalized world collaboration is essential to any project - the rules have changed in how we design, deliver, build and manage projects. More recently, I have devoted my efforts to understanding and changing how we interact in an industry that has been somewhat left behind in the technological era, understanding that our culture and capabilities are not yet at the same level as technology. Thanks to developments in other industries, we have the tools; now we need to develop the know-how and the culture.
Education : MA from the NewSchool of Architecture and Design in San Diego, CA, and a BA in Architecture from Universidad Anahuac Del Sur, Mexico D.F., licensed architect, lecturer and serves on the Board of the Jose Limon Dance Company
Experience.
Vanguardia Partners, New York, NY. Managing Director, 2013-2014
Founded Design Development company in New York City, Architect and Developer for mixed use, cultural and ustainable development around the 5 boroughs of NYC. Special focus on opportunities with the power to influence and change neighborhoods through design and community-oriented programming.
FR-EE (Fernando Romeros Enterprise) New York, NY. Managing Director, 2011-2013
Responsible for all operations in the United States and the global expansion of the company. Worked on several cultural, residential and urban projects and a book launched at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. This 15 person practice in NY is an extension of the 100+ firm based in Mexico City. The New York office serves as the main design arm of the enterprise and the main contact for global opportunities. Design, BIM strategies, Business development.
Gehry Technologies, Los Angeles, CA. Director of Business Development, 2009-2011
Responsible for business development, management, deployment and implementation of GT’s unique Virtual Design and Construction Services in all of Latin America and the United States.
As Director of Business development I was part of building a team with the goal of changing the paradigm of the construction industry. We developed strategies intended integrate different building trades in projects ranging from traditional mixed use, large and complex infrastructure projects with political challenges, and complex geometrical design-to-fabrication processes.
My responsibilities included: development of business with the most important builders, architects and developers in Mexico and Brazil; negotiation of contracts, development of proposals; client relations and assting clients with competitions and the bidding process. I was also responsible for starting and running the Mexico Office. I secured more than $8,000,000US in consulting work and started GT’s expansion into the Brazilian market (still active and growing).
ACR2SV, San Diego, CA / Tijuana, Mexico. Founder and Principal, 2003-2009
Founded an international architecture firm with projects in the USA and Latin America and designed over 2,000,000sf of residential, resort, high-rise, and master planning projects for Latina American, European and USA Clients. Researched and experimented with several materials and BIM-enabled project delivery processes.
Baja Diamante, San Felipe, Mexico. Vice President, 2005-2008
Developed and Managed a 444-acre, 3-phase development in Baja California consisting of a Nicklaus Design Golf Course, hotel, condos, marina, seaport village and single-family residences.
Developed and designed all of phase 1 residential.
Designed, managed and supervised construction of all of phase 2 including: Crystal Beach Villas, a 100-unit residential development; Diamante Condominiums, a 6 story mid-rise and; Diamante 2, a 22-story mixed use high-rise.
Designed and planned all of phase 3 including golf course and 500 residential units.
Built and managed sales and marketing team, with sales over $30 million US per year.
Austin Veum Robbins Partners (AVRP), San Diego, CA. Job Captain, Junior Architect, Business Development, 2002-2003
Job Captain and co-designer for 2 high-rises in downtown San Diego. Implemented early BIM/3d strategies.
Developed relationships and new business with various clients in Baja California. Participated in schematic design and design development for several California- and Baja California-based projects.
Gonzalo Gomez-Palacio y Asociados, Mexico, D.F. Intern/junior architect, Business Development, 1996-1999
Draftsman, schematic design, design development and construction documents for several award-winning projects, ranging from
residential to commercial and institutional projects.
Developed business and secured 2 projects for the office.
Teaching Experience.
Tec de Monterrey campus Ciudad de Mexico, 3rd year design studio
Tec de Monterrey campus Guadalajara, designated “Lider Academico,” 2010
Chair, Front-era art Gallery, AIA National Convention, 2003
Invited Juries:
SCI-Arc
NewSchool of Architectire and Design
Universidad Iberoamericana
New York Institute of Technology
Education.
NEWSCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN, SAN DIEGO, CA, MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE 2002-2003
UNIVERSIDAD ANAHUAC DEL SUR , MEXICO, D.F. BACHELORS IN ARCHITECTURE 2001- 1995-1999
Licensed Architect , Federal Mexico license / 2005; Baja California State license
International Associate AIA