Distinguished Alumnus Mark Rios, FAIA, FASLA

Every year, we gather to recognize an alumnus who plays a role at the critical juncture of tradition and deviation, where lies the very vitality of the school. Tonight, we honor our 2009 Distinguished Alumnus, Mark Rios, FAIA, FASLA, whose work has integrated social intelligence and design creativity at a level that has significantly improved the City of Los Angeles. Mark has not only enhanced USC as an loyal insider but as a generous outsider. He has given back in the truest sense as the Director of the Landscape Architecture Program from 2001 to 2007, readying the program for a new direction and level of rigor.

-Qinyun Ma, AIA
Dean
Della and Harry MacDonald Chair



As Founding Principal, Mark Rios, FAIA, FASLA, has been the leader of both the design and business direction of Rios Clementi Hale Studios since first establishing the fir, Rios Associates in 1985. Under his design leadership, the firm has developed an international reputation for its collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach, establishing an award-winning tradition across an unprecedented range of design disciplines.

Though formally trained in both architecture and landscape architecture, Mark's eclectic interests and innate curiosity have propelled his creative explorations beyond traditional professional borders. The firmrenamed in 2003 to acknowledge its collaborative naturespans the design disciplines of architecture, landscape, interiors, graphics, branding, planning, ad prodcut design for clients that include entertainment studios and vues, cultural institutions, schools and universoities, city agencies and departments, retail and restaurant establishments, and private individuals. This approach spurred the American Institute of Architects California Council to bestow its 2007 Firm Award to the multi-discipline practice.

Mark was Chairman of Landscape Architecture at USC from 2001 to 2007, and has been on the faculty at UCLA. He was elevated to AIA Fellow in 1999 and to ASLA Fellow in 2006.

Mark recieved his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from USC in 1978, and both Master of Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture degrees from Harvard University in 1982. Mark won the USC Architectureal Guild Traveling Fellowship in 1979.

Category:

Education

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• architecture
• guild
• alumnus
• distinguished
• mark
• rios
• rhcstudios
• landscape
• design

[chesterbarnes01]

Makes me wistful that I never got to work for him.