Jose Pagan Pares

Director of Structural Assamblages

 Jose R. Pagán Parés graduated with a Bachelor in Environmental Design from the School of Architecture of the University of Puerto Rico in June 2000 with high honors.  Jose started his journey and interest in the education of an architect early in his career as an architecture student. During his years as a student at the University of Puerto Rico, he worked as a Teacher Assistant for the Architecture Summer Workshop for prospective student interested in studying architecture, from June 1998 to June 2000. As part of the team, lead out by Arq. Javier De Jesús Martínez, his work consisted in coordinating and preparing design exercises and lectures and revising student work.

Continuing his formation as an Architect, he enrolled at the College of Architecture of the Illinois Institute of Technology, from where he graduated with a Master in Architecture in June 2003 with high honors. His work as a student was exhibited at the Open House of 2001 (Jazz Museum) and at the Open House of 2003 (Thesis Project “Criollo Dream”).  Continuing his interest in the formation of an architect, he worked as a Teacher Assistant for Prof. Nagle, Pettigrew, and Wetzel, First Year Design Studio, during his years in Chicago. To enhance his educational background, he participated in the internship program at GENSLER global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm in Chicago from 2002 to 2003.

Jose move back to Puerto Rico after completing his education in Chicago and form part of the firm SPACES, Space Planners and Coordination Enterprises, in San Juan Puerto Rico from 2003 to 2004. Jose has always been interested in the multidisciplinary approach to architecture. This interest led him to collaborate as consultant for various artists in the Public Art Project of the government of Puerto Rico (“Proyecto de Arte Publico”).  Among the works he participated, where the letters of Ponce, located at the intersection between PR-52 and PR-10 in Ponce, of the artist Carlos Rivera Villafañe. This interest in the multidisciplinary approach to architecture led him to continue his formation and education as an architect in Barcelona, at “Fundación Politécnica de Cataluña”, where he received a Master in Design and Restoration of Architectonic Structures in July 2006. His thesis in double curvature structures received one of the highest punctuation for the program that year. Not losing his interest in Architecture and the theoretical aspect that involves it, he participated in several competitions during his stay in Barcelona and worked in various architectural firms. Among the competitions we can mention: the Reconstruction of the Social Club at Viladrau (Finalist); Rhizome, 400.000 Habitatges International Competition, Amposta, Tarragona; Rhizome Fence- International Competition-Siderar Steel Design, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Steps- Transite Competition, Junta de Andalucía, MÁLAGA; Reflections- Transite Competition, Junta de Andalucía, ALMERÍA; among others.      

He returns to Puerto Rico in July 2008 and started working as a private consultant for various firms. He has been invited to diverse Design Juries of First Year Design Studio, Prof. Annabelle  Hernandez and Maruja Fuentes, and Fourth Year Design Studio, Prof. Nathaniel Fuster, at the School of Architetcure of the UPR. Currently he is part of the jury committee for Thesis student at ARQPOLI, Prof. Nathaniel Fuster, and at the School of Architecture of the UPR, Prof. Luis Daza. Currently he works as a Project Manager at the firm Fuster+Partners Architects in San Juan, Puerto Rico.