Sandra Calzadillas

I’ve been thinking a lot about this question, and honestly, I think it goes back to when I was a kid. I grew up in Mexico—like I was mainly raised over there—and we lived in a small town with a little river right next to our house. I wasn’t the type of girl who played with dolls or painted her nails or did makeup. I was really creative with my hands, so every time I had the chance, especially when it rained, I’d wait a couple of days for the clay to build up and then I’d head down to the river.

I loved playing with the clay and branches. I had dolls too, but I’d use the clay to make little houses for them. It goes back to me being a crazy, wild kid—just being creative like that and not being afraid to mess things up. That’s always been who I am.

When I found out architecture was kind of the best of both worlds—you can be out in the field and also work in an office—I thought it was the perfect combination. I wanted to do both. I did a semester of architecture in Mexico and got into the program over there, and I really loved it. It was a lot of drawing and learning about history and architecture. After that semester, I came to the U.S., and I just wanted to keep going with architecture. It’s been about nine years since I moved here, and I’ve been pursuing it ever since.

I think the most known project I’ve worked on wasn’t just mine—it was a collaborative project with everyone in the studio. We got to do the prototype for the DART bus shelter, and it was such a unique experience because I had never worked with such a big group before. It was really interesting for me to learn how to adapt and listen to everyone. I’ve always been the type to take initiative—not to be bossy, like "mandona," but more like delegating tasks, saying things like, “Okay, I’ll do this, you do that, and you handle this.” Then we’d come together, tweak things, and keep moving forward. I’ve noticed a lot of people don’t really like taking charge, maybe because it comes with a lot of responsibility, but I don’t mind it.

That project was such a great experience for me. It taught me how to work with a big group. Over the years, I’ve learned that architecture isn’t just about my project—it’s not even about me—it’s about delivering something good for the client. To do that, you have to work in a team. You can’t do everything on your own. In undergrad, it was different; everyone worked independently, and I thought that’s how it would be in real life. But it’s not. In reality, you’re working with a whole group of people, and it’s really nice to learn how to come together and create something great.

Even my dad asks me, “How do you do it, working with all those men out in the field?” You know, my family wanted me to go into the medical field, but I went completely the opposite direction. I told them, “That’s just a stereotype.” And honestly, I’ve learned to ignore it because now I see so many women doing it. If they can do it, I can do it. There are so many women and minorities doing incredible things in architecture, and that inspires me.

I just ignore the idea that someone is better than me because they’re a man or because I’m a person of color. I focus on doing the best I can, showing what I’m capable of—not because of my skin color or gender, but because of my skills and abilities.

When we’re working on a project, the first thing we think about is what the necessity is—like, what’s the priority for the community? We always do a lot of research before actually starting a project. Once the research is done, we prioritize the necessities and start working them into the project.

It’s not just about designing something functional—we also want it to be aesthetically pleasing, so it’s a space where the community feels comfortable and can come together. It’s about creating something that’s engaging and welcoming, where people can gather, connect, and enjoy the space. So, yeah, it’s both functional and something that brings people together.

Even though my little hometown didn’t have many architectural features, just knowing that you can go to a space, gather with people, do different activities, socialize, and network—that really inspired me.

Not just with the DART bus shelter project, but also with other projects, like this recent one I worked on—a School of Arts in Fort Worth. We were trying to figure out how to engage people to come into the school and experience the art that students are producing. So, we came up with this concept called “your object of desire.” It’s a ramp full of art, where local artists can come paint murals, and the community can walk down the ramp and experience the art along the way.

Creating spaces like that, where people can come together and engage, is what really inspires me. Looking forward, if I ever get the chance to see one of my own projects built and watch people actually using and engaging with that space, it would be amazing. You can create something like that anywhere, you know? And when your design engages people, that’s what really drives me.

It’s not just about being functional—it’s about how the space connects with the community. When people respond to it in a positive way, it’s incredible. Of course, not every project meets that standard. There are some projects that don’t engage with the community, and they end up in that “bad project” category that nobody really references. But when you get it right, when a space truly brings people together, it’s just amazing to see that happen.

Being a woman in such a male-dominated field and making it through—that’s been the biggest achievement for me. It’s not about a specific project or even the awards we’ve won. It’s more about not giving up and actually finishing. I think that’s what I’m most proud of.

There’s no one project that stands out—yeah, like the other day, I was on FaceTime with my dad, and he said something that really stuck with me. Obviously, my parents inspire me every day to get up, keep going, and push through. But my dad told me, “I thought being outside working was hard, but seeing you, I realize how tough it really is.”

So, I think my proudest moment is just getting it done. My parents have seen me struggle, and they know how much work it’s taken. Finishing it all, despite everything, means the most to me.

I guess being a daughter of immigrant parents really motivates me. I didn’t want to focus too much on it because it’s such a sensitive topic, but I’m so proud to say I’m the daughter of immigrant parents. They never gave up, and that really inspires me to keep going.

I’ve always been a people pleaser—especially when it comes to my parents. I’ve always wanted to make them proud and to see them smile because of my achievements. At first, I was doing it for them, but over time I realized I was also doing it for myself.

I see all these inspiring women and men out there who are architects, and sometimes I dream about being on a magazine like them, you know? It’s little dreams like that that keep me going, step by step. And maybe one day, I’ll achieve it.

But honestly, the biggest thing is my parents. They’ve gone through so much, and they never gave up. That’s what inspires me the most.

I think I would describe my experience with EDGE Center as "FLOURISHING".