2025-ongoing

Art Conversations and Research in the Public Sphere (Baja California and San Diego County).

INSITE_LAB 2 is a year-long collaboration between INSITE and TAAE (Transborder Association of Architectural Education). This new edition of the INSITE_LAB aims to cultivate a network of emerging architects, artists, and designers committed to addressing critical spatial, social, and environmental issues through interdisciplinary collaboration and site-specific explorations.

Guest curators: Marcel Sánchez and Adriana Cuellar

Fellows

Maribel Alvarado Ramírez _ Carolina Bailon _ Karla Carrillo _ Elver Cienfuegos _ Mia Fernanda Diaz de Leon Solis _ Nickolas Andres Gastelum _ Anneilyn González _ Emma Jimenez _ Alfredo Jiménez Santana _ Alexander Konja _ Brianda Michell Martínez Parra _ Miguel Ángel Onofre Parroquin _ Sebastian Pérez López _ Brenda Elizabeth Ramírez Gómez _ Ángel Javier Ramírez Rosales _ Aranza Samantha Ruvalcaba _ Heddy Troncoso _ Valeria Vázquez Caballero _ Jessica Naomi Vásquez Martínez

Institutions

Escuela Libre de Arquitectura (ELA) _ Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana (TecNM-ITT) _ New School of Architecture and Design (NSAD) _ San Diego State University (SDSU) _ Southwestern College (SWC) _ Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali (UABC-MXLI) _ Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana (UABC-TJ) _ Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana (IBERO) _ University of California San Diego (UCSD) _ University of San Diego (USD) _ Universidad Xochicalco (UX)

Interlocutors

Teddy Cruz _ Adriana Cuellar _ Fonna Forman _ Felipe Orensanz _ Francisco Orozco _ Marcel Sánchez _ Andrea Torreblanca

INSITE LAB 2 is made possible through the support of the haudenschildGarage and The Conrad Prebys Foundation.

Overview

INSITE-TAAE (Transborder Association of Architectural Education)

The INSITE-TAAE Fellowship is a collaborative initiative between INSITE and the Transborder Association of Architectural Education (TAAE). This program brings together emerging architects, designers, and artists from universities across the San Diego–Tijuana region to explore the complex social, spatial, and environmental issues shaping the region through a transdisciplinary and cross-border lens.

The Fellowship marks a significant milestone in regional collaboration, recognizing that traditional models of architectural education and practice often overlook the richness and challenges of borderlands. Through site visits, public forums, workshops, exhibitions, and mentorship from regional and international practitioners, Fellows are invited to rethink architectural practice as a tool for equity, inclusion, and social transformation—emphasizing shared learning, dialogue, and collective agency as catalysts for innovation.

In its inaugural year, 22 students from 11 universities across the San Diego–Tijuana region have been selected as Fellows. They represent a dynamic and diverse group of young thinkers developing research and public programming that explores new possibilities for the cultural, environmental, and spatial conditions of the border.

The Fellowship is envisioned as a year-long collaborative engagement that deepens participants’ understanding of the built environment in border regions. It aims to cultivate agents of meaningful change—transcending traditional educational limitations by harnessing collective wisdom, creativity, and cross-border solidarity.

Acknowledgments

Major Support
The Conrad Prebys Foundation

Collaborators
The Department of Art, Architecture + Art History (DAA+AH), University of San Diego (USD)
TAAE (Transborder Association of Transborder Education)

Institutions
Escuela Libre de Arquitectura (ELA)
Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana (IBERO)
Tecnológico Nacional de México, Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana (TecNM-ITT)
New School of Architecture and Design (NSAD)
San Diego State University (SDSU)
Southwestern College (SWC)
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali (UABC-MXLI)
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana (UABC-TJ)
University of California San Diego (UCSD)
University of San Diego (USD)
Universidad Xochicalco (UX)

TAAE Representatives
Alejandro J. Peimbert, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali (UABC)
Blas Herrera Najera, New School of Architecture & Design (NSAD)
Eduardo Montoya, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana (UABC)
Guillermo Sepúlveda Gil, San Diego State University (SDSU)
Jose Francisco García, Southwestern College (SWC)
Liliana Castro, Escuela Libre de Arquitectura (ELA)
Marcel Sánchez Prieto, University of San Diego (USD)
Roberto Arce García, Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana (TecNM)
Tania Hernández, Universidad Xochicalco (UX)
Teddy Cruz, University of California San Diego (UCSD)
Zuehellen Gámez Rodríguez, Universidad Iberoamericana (IBERO)

Current Members of TAAE
Adriana Cuellar, University of San Diego (USD)
Alberto Almejo Ornelas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC)
Blas Herrera Najera, New School of Architecture & Design (NSAD)
Eduardo Montoya, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC)
Georgina Muñoz Reyes, Universidad Iberoamericana (IBERO)
Guillermo Sepúlveda Gil, San Diego State University (SDSU)
Jose Francisco García, Southwestern College (SWC)
Marcel Sánchez Prieto, University of San Diego (USD)
Megan Groth, University of San Diego (USD)
Roberto Arce García, Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana (TecNM)
Samael Barrios, Universidad Xochicalco (UX)
Tadeo Franco, Universidad Iberoamericana (IBERO)
Tania Hernández, Universidad Xochicalco (UX)
Zuehellen Gámez Rodríguez, Universidad Iberoamericana (IBERO)

Former Members of TAAE
Alan Rosenblum, New School of Architecture & Design (NSAD)
Gilberto Aguilar Bustos, Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana (TecNM)
Jose Parral, Woodbury University
Zurizaid Morales Padilla, Universidad Iberoamericana (IBERO)
Iván Meza, Escuela Libre de Arquitectura (ELA)

Coordination: Marcel Sanchez Prieto, University of San Diego (USD)
Assistant coordinator: Covadonga Gordillo, University of San Diego (USD)

Overview

Curatorial Statement

Acknowledgments