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“I have been a great supporter of the University of
Miami for many years,” says UM trustee and local
developer Jorge M. Perez who recently donated $1.25
million to create a new Architecture Center at the
School of Architecture. “I have watched carefully
the great strides the University has made over the
past decade. We have gone from ‘Suntan U’ to a very
well respected university and continue to make huge
strides in the academic field.” Founder and CEO of
The Related Group of Florida, a Miami-based real
estate development company, Perez decided to become
involved with the University’s School of
Architecture for a number of reasons.
“First, I am a real estate developer and I pride
myself with the creation of buildings that promote
great architecture,” explains Perez. “Second, I have
followed the work of the school, particularly in the
promotion of the New Urbanism ideals. Third, I am a
great admirer of the school’s dean, Elizabeth
Plater-Zyberk. Finally, a number of my company’s
best developers are graduates of the University of
Miami School of Architecture who appreciate and
encourage my involvement.”
Thanks to Perez’s generosity, the University last
month broke ground on the Jorge M. Perez
Architecture Center on the Coral Gables campus. The
Center will consist of an 8,600-square-foot building
designed by internationally recognized architect and
urbanist Leon Krier. The building will provide a
lecture hall with state-of-the-art
telecommunications equipment for daily teaching. It
will also accommodate the School’s visiting
lecturers’ program that brings celebrated architects
to Miami for public presentations. In addition, the
building will include a gallery for exhibitions of
interest to students, faculty and others in the
community, and a classroom with multimedia
capabilities.
“I think this new building will finally match the
physical plant with the School’s academic
excellence,” says Perez. “There will now be a
meeting place and a source of pride for the
students. Leon Krier has designed a truly beautiful
building and I am very proud to have contributed to
its development.”
Established in 1983, the University of Miami
School of Architecture is one of the leaders in the
New Urbanism, an international movement that applies
the principles of sustainable neighborhood design to
urban areas. Enrolling more than 350 undergraduate
and graduate students from throughout the United
States and abroad, the School is nationally
recognized for training hands-on practitioners who
strive to weave architecture into the fabric of
society and for the School’s work in the
representation and documentation of historic
buildings, towns, and cities.
“Mr. Perez continues to make his mark in urban
development in South Florida,” says Plater-Zyberk.
“The School of Architecture is honored to be part of
his commitment to his community.”
“It is always wonderful to give back to the
community in which you live and work,” adds Perez.
“It’s very exciting to participate in providing a
learning center of this magnitude for the
architectural students at UM, an institution I am
very proud to be involved with.” The Jorge M. Perez
Architecture Center is expected to open in October
2004.
- Michelle Valencia
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