College of Design Signs MOU with National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) 

The College of Design at NC State University has signed an MOU with the Faculty of Architecture of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México (UNAM) to promote academic and research activities between the two institutions and further affirm the value of international collaboration. 

UNAM, located in Mexico City, Mexico, is the largest public institution in Latin America and the Caribbean with over 373,000 students. The university, located on a UNESCO World Heritage site, is recognized for its research quality. The Faculty of Architecture represents programs in landscape architecture, urbanism, architecture, and industrial design, serving over 8,000 students. 

Collaborations with UNAM will allow the college to extend its involvement in global issues related to urbanization and the environment and translate that knowledge into teaching and practice through the lens of a global framework. 

“This MOU marks a historic shift for the College of Design,” says Dean Mark E. Hoversten. “By partnering with UNAM, we continue to expand the perspectives shared and taught as part of our design disciplines, and further our context of the region to produce stronger work.”

This past fall, landscape architecture and architecture students from the college were able to travel to Mexico City as part of the DUDA Visiting Designer Program, an immersive studio that brings prominent design professionals into the curriculum. Students were able to work with Gabriela Carrillo, a renowned Mexican architect, to focus on urban and environmental challenges in Mexico City, examining natural systems, land use, density, and the interplay between historical and contemporary infrastructure.

“Mexico City’s complexity, from its indigenous legacy to its environmental challenges, provides a rich context for exploration,” said María Bellalta, professor and department head of landscape architecture + environmental planning and director for global engagement at the College of Design. “Students not only analyzed these elements but are learning to design and consider interventions that respect and enhance the local cultural identity of the region.”

Professor Bellalta continues to bridge the gap between the College of Design and Latin America, most notably through her role as director of education and academic affairs for the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) Americas. “There are powerful design programs developing work in territories that inspire new relationships with less familiar landscapes than our own. Through a shift in our practices, guided by reciprocal and equitable aspirations, we have the potential to move ahead and expand the field,” she says. 

The two institutions have embarked on a three-year partnership to explore joint research projects, develop joint symposia, share innovative teaching methods, and provide opportunities related to student, faculty and visiting scholar mobility. 

For questions about the partnership, contact María Bellalta, professor and department head of landscape architecture + environmental planning; director for global engagement, College of Design, NC State University at mdbellal@ncsu.edu.