ARCHITECTURE AS A LIFE

Once admitted to the School of Architecture in the "Universidad de las Americas Puebla (UDLA)," in August 1997, he successfully participated in the "UDLA Foundation Scholarship Award," presenting an excellent thesis about CACAXTLA, an ancient prehispanic archeological site. He earned the highest GPA at the end of his first year and his work made it into the "Annual Best Projects Exhibition".  After three semesters in the UDLA, he earned the opportunity to transfer to  the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin.  During his studies at the University of Texas at Austin, José Antonio received the Texas Architectural Foundation and E.G. Spencer scholarship because of his outstanding academic status.  During his studies José Antonio worked as a half time design associate at Team Haas Architects (www.teamhaas.com), where he successfully collaborated in several educational, commercial and private projects.  At Team Haas José Antonio participated in two AIA design award projects and in the year of 2000 Firm of the Year award.  In the year of 2000, he also worked in the city of New York, completing a 4 month design practice at RGA architects and Planners (www.rga-arch.com) with projects like a 200 room hotel spa and resort in Costa Rica and the Dreamworks Audio Studios in Brooklyn.  Later on, in the year of 2001, José Antonio extended his professional practice to the European continent.  In may of this same year he participated in the Oxford Study Abroad Program doing architectural research through the UK, all over England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.  In this same year, José Antonio was hired by Sauerbruch and Hutton Architects in Berlin Germany from June till December, where he completed a professional practice program.  In May of 2002 José Antonio graduates with honors from the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin, and his thesis project "Metropolitan Carpets" successfully participates in the UIA Berlin 2002 International Competition awarded with a publication on the prestigious German architecture magazine a-matter. Right after graduation, José Antonio was hired by Frank O. Gehry and Associates (Gehry Partners) in Los Angeles, California, where he joined the design team of current projects like the "Museo Puente de Vida" in Panama City, Panama. On april 2003, José Antonio will give a lecture about his own personal architecture experience as an invited speaker on the "9th International Congress of Architecture" at the "Universidad de las Américas", in Puebla, México. To date, José Antonio, as a fulltime designer at Frank O. Gehry and Associates (Gehry Partners), continues his professional career, and believes that every day is a learning experience.

GROWING AS A PERSON

Born August 14, 1978, in Puebla City, Mexico, to Juan Manuel Gonzalez and Cándida Peña, both architects with degree from University of Puebla.  José Antonio González Peña completed the elementary and high school requirements in the "Alexander Von Humboldt German School".  His parents focused his education on the world of arts and crafts.  Displaying promising academic skills and leadership abilities during his school career, he became one of the best students of his class.  During his scholastic career, he studied arts and crafts, photography, painting, sculpture.  During his free time he was a member of the Puebla State Swimming Team. 

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