Emine Canak (M.Arch. '16) has always been passionate about how spaces shape human experiences. Now the founder and principal designer of E Plus Interiors, her design philosophy is to create soulful, thoughtful spaces that reflect her clients. To students, she advises, "Go beyond studio walls, socialize, attend events, and connect with creative minds. Design is how you see and respond to the world."

Claudia Morles (B.Arch. '19) recently got her master's in production design. A film she worked on, Red Egg and Ginger, had its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival on June 8. She said, "My background in architecture gave me a solid understanding of space and how people move through it, how it affects emotion, and how different elements relate to one another physically and visually. That foundation really helped as I shifted into designing for story-driven, cinematic environments."

At the Hines College, the QuadZero Studio is training the next generation of climate-conscious architects and designers. Founded in 2016 by Hines College architecture professor Dr. Bruce Race, FAIA, FAICP, the studio has become a crucible for exploring what it truly means to design resilient cities. The name reflects the studio’s core mission: zero greenhouse gas emissions, zero energy waste, zero water waste, and zero landfill waste.