Big ideas get better when people learn how to build them together.
Through the ACE Mentorship Program, FPC designer Alan Ramirez worked with students from East Central High School as they developed an original concept for a coffee shop and music venue, guiding them from early ideas to final presentation at UTSA on April 1.
Along the way, students explored more than design. They learned how collaboration shapes the process and how strong ideas often come through listening, revising, and finding common ground. As Alan shared, one of the most important lessons was learning how to compromise. As students worked through different design options, they saw that everyone brought a different perspective on how the space should look and feel. Through mentorship, they learned that compromise was essential to moving the project forward, a takeaway echoed by
the panel of critics.
Weâre proud to support programs like ACE that open doors to design education and
encourage the next generation to imagine, create, and lead.
At Plaza de Armas, a historic downtown complex was reimagined for a new kind of civic life.
Designed for the City of San Antonio, the project brings together culture, communication, and public access in one restored place.
Inside the historic shell, the project opens up new possibilities for public life: a multipurpose cultural space, two television studios, and a flexible setup that allows the studios to open together for larger performances and events.
It is a project where preservation meets public engagement, giving a group of buildings from the 1880s and 1890s a new role in the life of the city.
@cosagov
Small space. Big impact.
Next to the Alamo Heights municipal pool, a quarter-acre pocket park transforms an
underused parking area into a place for gathering, play, and pause.
Designed in collaboration with @coralstudiosatx , the park creates a new civic room within the existing complex. A shaded pavilion with perforated brick lattice draws from the language of the pool while inviting airflow, filtered light, and relief from the South Texas sun. Natural play elements, open lawn, and integrated amenities support a range of everyday uses, from family outings to quiet moments between activities.
A modest footprint, carefully shaped to serve the community in lasting ways.
Opening Summer 2026
@alamoheightspool
Mission San JosĂŠ has received a Texas Historical Commission Award of Excellence in Historic Architecture, recognizing preservation work at the World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark.
FPC served as preservation architect on multiple recent projects for the church, continuing a relationship with Las Misiones spanning more than 50 years.
Recent efforts include conservation of the carved limestone façade and Rose Window, as well as a comprehensive roof replacement completed in 2023. Through an ongoing Annual Maintenance Program for all four mission churches, the work supports the careful balance between conservation, continued use, and long-term stewardship of one of Texasâs most significant historic sites.
@txhistcomm@lasmisionessanantonio@worldheritagesanantonio
#historicpreservation #missionsanjose #texashistory #stewardship
Built by hand. Preserved with care.
At Goliad State Park, a @texasparkswildlife park, FPC restored the historic custodian cottage to serve as a new visitor center for the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail.
Originally constructed between 1936 and 1937 as part of an experimental studio supporting reconstruction work at Mission EspĂritu Santo, the cottage reflects the remarkable craftsmanship of Civilian Conservation Corps artisans.
The restoration carefully preserved historic materials and details, including lime plaster walls, cypress shingles, wood windows, doors, and hardware. The courtyard was dismantled and reset to meet accessibility requirements while maintaining its original character. New interpretive exhibits support the continued telling of the Camino Real story, connecting visitors to the legacy of place and craft.
@goliadstatepark
Time altered the courthouse. Stewardship restored it.
Completed in 1893, the Caldwell County Courthouse stands as one of Texasâ most distinctive expressions of Second Empire architecture. Its mansard roofs, ornamental metalwork, and finely detailed masonry shape a civic landmark defined by craft and proportion.
FPCâs exterior restoration reinstated lost slate tiles, iron cresting, railings, and decorative elements at the central clock tower using historic photographs, attic evidence, and paint analysis. Limestone and sandstone façades, wood windows and doors, and the complex roofscape were carefully renewed to reestablish material clarity.
Structural stabilization and a concealed HVAC system support continued use, while a light metal bridge introduces accessible entry without altering the original stone steps.
FPC is currently preparing a master plan aligned with Texas Historical Commission standards to guide future restoration phases and support eligibility for Texas Courthouse Preservation Program funding. The work is scheduled for completion in 2026.
The Conservation Society of San Antonio has recognized the rehabilitation of Travis Park United Methodist Church with the 2026 Historic Preservation Award for the Built Environment.
For nearly 140 years, this Romanesque Revival sanctuary has shaped the character of downtown San Antonio. FPCâs work focused on repairing water infiltration damage while preserving the materials that give the building its meaning: slate roofs replaced in kind, limestone and cast stone carefully repointed, stained glass restored, and interior plaster repaired to match the historic paint scheme.
Each decision followed the Secretary of the Interiorâs Standards, allowing the sanctuary to continue serving its congregation and the city.
Congratulations to the FPC historic preservation team and the folks at Travis Park United Methodist Church!
@travisparkchurch@saconservation
Last weekâs lunchtime âThe Sky is the Limitâ Design | Build challenge wasâŚchallenging đ We had some very high highs and the lows were honestly still high thanks to the teamwork, ingenuity, and humor of the FPC team â¤ď¸
This activity was hosted by our Mentorship committee, a program that is all about growing skills, exploring interests, developing future leaders, strengthening cross-generational connections, and guiding junior team members through the design process.
Looking forward to our next challenge!
Carolyn Peterson, FAIA (1939 â 2026)
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our principal emeritus Carolyn Peterson, FAIA. A giant of preservation architecture in Texas, Carolynâs remarkable career encompassed the preservation and restoration of our stateâs most iconic buildings, including the Texas Capitol, the San Antonio Mission churches, the Alamo, and the Texas Governorâs Mansion.
Carolyn began her career in the office of OâNeil Ford in 1964, later becoming the first female principal at Ford, Powell & Carson in 1979. She continued to break barriers for women in Texas. She was the first woman in the state to be elevated to the AIA College of Fellows (1991), the first to receive the Texas Society of Architectsâ Medal for Lifetime Achievement (2008) and also, fittingly, the first to receive their OâNeil Ford Medal for Design Achievement (2023).
Carolyn leaves an indelible impact on the field of historic preservation and the architectural community. Fearless and creative, she approached her work with a deep respect for the craftsmanship and context of the buildings she helped to preserve. She mentored and inspired countless architects and preservationists in her long career. Our FPC family mourns her loss and is proud to help carry on her legacy.
It was so great to have these students from the Young Womenâs Leadership Academy stop by this week to spend the day with us and learn more about the field of architecture. From project site visits to design charrettes, these young leaders got a first-hand look at the work in progress. We love to see the future of the practice today!
#architecture #womeninarchitecture #womensupportingwomen #womenshistorymonth
