The University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design congratulates Donna Kacmar, FAIA, on being awarded the title of Professor Emeritus following her retirement at the end of spring 2026. This honor recognizes retired faculty who have left a lasting mark through their scholarship, teaching, and service.
Kacmar joined the Hines College in 2000, and for twenty six years, she has brought fresh approaches to teaching, drawing on both her professional experience and the evolving needs of the College. She taught undergraduate and graduate design studios, building technology courses, seminars, and study abroad programs. In her classes, she challenged students to explore how architecture connects to its surroundings, materials, and the communities it serves.
In addition to her teaching, Kacmar maintained an active architectural practice and continued scholarly work by authoring three books. Big Little House and Big Little Hotel explore materiality, light, and human experience in hospitality architecture. She also edited Victor Lundy: Artist Architect, the first book to examine the work of the American midcentury Modernist architect.
From 2009–2019, Kacmar directed the Hines College’s Material Research Collaborative (MRC). The MRC gave students hands-on opportunities to work with new materials, sustainable design, and innovative building techniques, often in partnership with local firms on real-world projects. While directing the MRC, she produced two major catalogs: Made in Houston, 2015, and Made in Texas, 2017. These catalogs were a resource guide for students, faculty and architects of Houston and Texas.
In 2025, Kacmar received the Texas Society of Architects’ Award for Outstanding Educational Contributions in Honor of Edward J. Romieniec, FAIA, in recognition of more than three decades of impact in architectural education. Her contributions have helped shape generations of architects at the Hines College of Architecture and Design.