Alberto Alfonso AIA is a founding principal and president of Alfonso Architects, an architecture firm located in

Ybor City Ybor City ( ) is a historic neighborhood just northeast of downtown Tampa, downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It was founded in the 1880s by Vicente Martinez-Ybor and other cigar manufacturers and populated by thousands of immigrants, mainly ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

. Born in

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

, Alfonso was educated at the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...

where he received his M.A. He founded Alfonso Architects, Inc. with his brother Carlos and partner Angel del Monte. Alfonso's interest in modernist architecture developed at an early age as he was raised in the house of an architect: his father Carlos E. Alfonso, Sr. Alfonso, Sr. began his career in

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

, Cuba and left the country with his family in 1960 to begin a practice in

Tampa, Florida Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...

. Alberto Alfonso received the 1987 Eduardo Garcia Award from the Florida Central chapter of

The American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to sup ...

as well as firm of the year in 2003 and 2007. Recent projects recognized by the State of Florida AIA Design Awards program include design work for

Tampa International Airport Tampa International Airport is an international airport west of Downtown Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA)., effective December 30, 2021. T ...

Airside C,

Nielsen Media Research Nielsen Media Research (NMR) is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre, films (via the AMC Theatres MAP program), and newspapers. Headquartered in New York City, it is best known for the Nielsen rat ...

Global Technology Center,

University of South Florida College of Medicine University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine is one of the graduate schools of the University of South Florida. It is located in north Tampa, Florida and serves the greater Tampa Bay Area. Established by the Florida Legislature in 196 ...

Center for Advanced Healthcare Frank and Carol Morsani Center, the University of South Florida Medical Office Building, Mission of St. Mary Chapel, the University of South Florida School of Psychology building, The

Chihuly Dale Chihuly () (born September 20, 1941) is an American glass artist and entrepreneur. He is best known in the field of blown glass, "moving it into the realm of large-scale sculpture". Early life Dale Patrick Chihuly was born on September 20, ...

Collection at the

Morean Arts Center The Morean Arts Center (formerly known as The Arts Center) in St. Petersburg, Florida displays works by local, national and international artists. Past displays have included artists' works by Jasper Johns, Duncan McClellan, Allison Massari, Peter ...

and the Tampa Covenant Church. The University of South Florida Polytechnic has named Alfonso as executive in residence and interim program development director for architecture and design. In his USF role, Alfonso's responsibilities will include developing the curriculum for the undergraduate program in architecture and design, conducting national and international searches for new incoming facility positions, planning for a study abroad program in France centered on the work of the late master architect

Corbusier Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (6 October 188727 August 1965), known as Le Corbusier ( , , ), was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner, writer, and one of the pioneers of what is now regarded as modern architecture. He was ...

and developing national and international relationships with other Polytechnic programs. Alfonso is working in partnership with

Santiago Calatrava Santiago Calatrava Valls (born 28 July 1951) is a Spanish architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter, particularly known for his bridges supported by single leaning pylons, and his railway stations, stadiums, and museums, whose sculpt ...

on designing the new campus for USF Polytechnic in

Lakeland, Florida Lakeland is the most populous city in Polk County, Florida, part of the Tampa Bay Area, located along Interstate 4 east of Tampa. According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau release, the city had a population of 112,641. Lakeland is a principal c ...

. The bachelor's program in architecture and design at USF Polytechnic is part of the school's strategic plan to expand its programs as it prepares for the opening of its new campus. Alfonso's appointment runs from April 15, 2011, to June 30, 2015. Alfonso was one of four architects included in the book ''Four Florida Moderns'' by Saxon Henry. It includes an analysis of his work by the late New York architect,

Charles Gwathmey Charles Gwathmey (June 19, 1938 – August 3, 2009) was an American architect. He was a principal at Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, as well as one of the five architects identified as The New York Five in 1969. Gwathmey was perhaps bes ...

. Alfonso is also included in '' 100 Florida Architects and Interior Designers'' edited by Damir Sinovcic. Alfonso is an exhibiting painter and has been a featured artist at The Tuscan Sun Festival 2010 and 2011 in

Cortona Cortona (, ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Arezzo, in Tuscany, Italy. It is the main cultural and artistic centre of the Val di Chiana after Arezzo. Toponymy Cortona is derived from Latin Cortōna, and from Etruscan 𐌂𐌖𐌓� ...

, Italy. In December 2010 Alfonso's paintings were exhibited at The Morean Arts Center, in a collaborative exhibition titled “Painting the Poem, Poeming the Painting.” His other works, including a concrete etching and sculptured metal panels, can be found in the Nielsen Media Global Technology Center, the Mission of St. Mary Chapel, Carmel Café, and Tampa Covenant Church.

Selected architectural works

* Tampa Covenant Church (2010) *

Airside C (2005) *The Chihuly Collection at the

(2010) *

Global Technology Center (2002) *

University of South Florida The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, and other campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. It is one of 12 members of the State University System of Florida. USF is ...

Center for Advanced Healthcare Frank and Carol Morsani Center *

School of Psychology building (2005) *

Medical Office Building

Artwork

*Featured artist, The Tuscan Sun Festival *"St. Francis and the Angel", oil (2009) featured in The Tuscan Sun Festival *"Prolegomena to Any Future Metamorphoses", watercolor (2010) featured in The Tuscan Sun Festival *"Man Handling Man Aging", watercolor (2010) featured in The Tuscan Sun Festival *"And Diego Valasquez", watercolor (2010) featured in The Tuscan Sun Festival

Publications

*Chihuly Collection Presented by the Morean Arts Center, exhibition catalogue. Essay by Alberto Alfonso, AIA (2011) *100 Florida Architects and Interior Designers, Edited by Damir Sinovcic(2011) *Four Florida Moderns, by Saxon Henry, Norton (2010) Four Florida Moderns RGB.jpg , ''Four Florida Moderns''

Awards

* 2011 American Institute of Architects, H. Dean Rowe, FAIA Award for Design Excellence, Tampa Covenant Church * 2011 American Institute of Architects Tampa Bay Chapter, Merit Award of Excellence, The Chihuly Exhibition at the

* 2011 Archdaily Building of the Year, Religious Category Winner, Tampa Covenant Church * 2010 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida, Award of Excellence for Renovations/Additions, Tampa Covenant Church * 2008 American Institute of Architects State of Florida Design Honor Award * 2007 American Institute of Architects, Tampa Bay Chapter Firm of the Year Award * 2007 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Merit Award of Excellence, Sam Rampello Downtown School * 2006 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Honor Award of Excellence

- Airside “C” * 2006 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Merit Award of Excellence Mission of St. Mary * 2005 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Honor Award of Excellence Nielsen Media Research Phase II - Oldsmar, Florida * 2005 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Merit Award of Excellence

– Psychology/Communication Sciences & Disorders Building * 2005 American Institute of Architects, Tampa Bay Chapter H. Dean Rowe Award for Design Excellence Mission of Saint Mary * 2005 American Institute of Architects, Tampa Bay Chapter Design Merit Award

– Airside "C" * 2004 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Award of Excellence

- Oldsmar, Florida * 2004 American Institute of Architects, Tampa Bay Chapter Honor Award for Architecture

- Oldsmar, Florida * 2004 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Award of Excellence Photo Tech, Inc. - Sarasota, Florida * 2004 American Institute of Architects, Tampa Bay Chapter Design Merit Award Photo Tech, Inc.- Sarasota, Florida * 2004 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Merit Award - Unbuilt Projects Sam Rampello Downtown Partnership School - Tampa, Florida * 2004 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Merit Award - Unbuilt Projects Mission of Saint Mary - Tampa, Florida * 2004 American Institute of Architects, Tampa Bay Chapter Design Honor Award - Unbuilt Projects Mission of Saint Mary - Tampa, Florida * 2003 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Awards Firm of the Year Award * 2002 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Awards - Unbuilt Projects Nielsen Media Research Florida Campus, Oldsmar, Florida * 2001 The Planning Commission of Hillsborough County Outstanding Contribution Award - Urban Planning Centro Ybor - Ybor City/Tampa, Florida * 2001 The Planning Commission of Hillsborough County Outstanding Contribution Award - Historic Preservation/Restoration Centro Español - Ybor City/Tampa, Florida * 1999 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Awards - Built Projects Tampa Police Department District Offices * 1998 American Institute of Architects, Tampa Bay Chapter Design Merit Award Jones Residence - Lake Tahoe, California * 1997 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Awards - Unbuilt Projects Tampa Police Department District Offices * 1997 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Awards - Unbuilt Projects Hillsborough Community College, Public Service Technology Building, Ybor City Campus * 1997 American Institute of Architects, Tampa Bay Chapter H. Dean Rowe, FAIA Award of Design Excellence Tampa Police Department District Substation Prototype * 1997 American Institute of Architects, Tampa Bay Chapter Design Awards Unbuilt Projects Honorable Mention Hillsborough Community College, Public Service Technology Building at the Ybor City Campus * 1996 American Institute of Architects, Tampa Chapter Design Awards - Built Projects - Honorable Mention Polypack Manufacturing Facility * 1996 Best of 1996 - Best New Architecture Weekly Planet, Special Edition Polypack Manufacturing Facility * 1995 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Awards - Built Projects

Tampa Museum of Art The Tampa Museum of Art is located in downtown Tampa, Florida. It exhibits modern and contemporary art, as well as Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities. The museum was founded in 1979 and debuted an award-winning new building in 2010 just north ...

- Addition, Remodeling and Forecourt * 1995 Young Architect's Design Award University of Florida, College of Architecture Carlos J. Alfonso and Albert E. Alfonso * 1994 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Awards - Built Projects The Petrick House - Residential Division * 1994 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Awards - Unbuilt Projects Tampa Museum of Art - Addition, Remodeling and Forecourt * 1994 American Institute of Architects, State of Florida Design Awards - Built Projects Ybor Office Building Renovation - Commercial Division * 1987 American Institute of Architects, Florida Central Chapter Eduardo Garcia Award - Excellence in Architectural Design Albert E. Alfonso, AIA

References

External links

Alfonso Architects

Morean Arts Center

Tampa Covenant Church

Cortona, Italy

Eye on Italy Podcast: Tuscan Sun Festival with Alberto Alfonso and Edward Mayes

Tampa, Florida
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfonso, Alberto 1958 births Living people Architects from Florida Cuban emigrants to the United States University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning alumni People from Tampa, Florida