UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA
DE NUEVO LEÓN

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History

The School of Architecture of Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, was born due to the progress, growth and development of culture in Monterrey and the north of Mexico.

In 1946, in the midst of the development of the University during the presidency of Dr. Enrique C. Livas, we started to hear about the School of Architecture project.

As a consequence, the School of Engineering under the direction of Manuel Martinez Carranza, added a course in architecture to its academic programs.

Architects Joaquín A. Mora and Lisandro Peña Jr. were invited to develop a career orientation course. Engineering and high school students participated in the course.

In August of the same year, the School of Engineering asked the Honorable University Council for approval to begin the program. One month later, on September 18, the course started under the leadership of Joaquin A. Mora.

Joaquín Antonio Mora Alvarado, Lisandro Peña Flores and Oswaldo Reyes were the first professors in the field.

The school's founders fostered within the graduates a culture of hard work and commitment for community service.

Between 1946 and 1947 a total of 10 students were enrolled in the school, of which only one was a woman, Victoria Mares. The student population gradually increased until 2017 when the Bachelor of Architecture registered 3,470 students while the Bachelor of Industrial Design reached a number close to 1,640 students.

The first School of Architecture was located in Colegio Civil, and shortly thereafter it was placed on Padre Mier Street, between Garibaldi and Cuauhtémoc avenues.

It was in 1962 when the present location in Ciudad Universitaria was officially established.

School of Architecture shield contains a Mexica symbol, this symbol is the Calli, which means "house". The house was the physical space where some human activity took place. Calli belongs to the mystical calendar used by the Mexica, the Tonalpohualli.

 

The Calli represents the particular designs of houses in these ancient towns, it is also a symbol of protection and transformation. It symbolizes the designs of such a basic construction as a house, the protection that architecture provides in any construction and the transformation it has suffered with the centuries.

The Pegasus has been a symbol of architects since 1780, when the Academia Mexicana de San Carlos was founded, the first school of architecture on the American continent.

The Pegasus is a mythological creature, representing a winged steed. According to Greek mythology, the history of the Pegasus originates in a clash between Perseus and Medusa, in which the blood spilled on the fertile soil by Medusa when she died, gave birth to Pegasus. Perseus used courage in confronting Medusa, was prudent in deciding not to look her in the face, and intelligent in seeing her through the reflection of his shield. Three virtues that made it possible for Pegasus to be born and, therefore, it is respected.

Characteristics of Pegasus:

 

The School of Architecture has chosen the Pegasus as its representative symbol since 1946, the year when our school was founded. The virtues that characterize the Pegasus: courage, prudence and intelligence, as well as the values: relevance, freedom, autonomy and respect for life. Those are the values that the School promotes in its athletes, students, and professors.

In the front courtyard of our school there is a bronze sculpture of a Pegasus, the author is the architect Edmundo Ayarzagoitia Graham.

This piece called "Pegasus" is the figure of a stylized steed, this is the central element since the complete work is composed of two structures that represent the wings surrounding a bronze steed, its dimensions are 216 cm x 350 cm.

 

The project was made possible thanks to architect Jaime Suárez Garza, who collected the bronze needed to build the body of the steed during the 50th anniversary of the founding of the School of Architecture.

 

The Pegasus and the School of Architecture.

 

The work of the architect and industrial designer is related to technique, vigor, freedom and determination. The pegasus is related to our students and graduates as it is the fruit of man's imagination and represents creativity and inspiration.

Likewise, the strength, nobility, vitality, freedom and beauty of this being, are the qualities of the education that a student will receive in our school.

 

Athletic committes of the School of Architecture proudly bear the name "Pegasos". The Pegasus is a being that possesses the vitality and nobility of a steed, but with the beauty, lightness and elegance that comes from having wings.