The University of South Florida Polytechnic has named Alberto Alfonso to a courtesy faculty appointment as executive in residence and interim program development director, architecture and design. This appointment runs from April 15, 2011, to June 30, 2015.
Alfonso is a founding principal and president of Alfonso Architects, Inc. of Tampa. The award-winning firm is working in partnership with Santiago Calatrava on the new campus for USF Polytechnic at the eastern end of Interstate 4 and the Polk Parkway in Lakeland.
In his role at USF Poly, Alfonso’s responsibilities will include developing the curriculum for an 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 Le Corbusier, and developing national and international relationships with other Polytechnic programs.
Tentatively scheduled to begin in 2013, the bachelor’s program in architecture and design is part of USF Polytechnic’s strategic plan to expand its programs as it prepares for the opening of its new campus.
Cuban born, Alfonso received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Florida. Alfonso’s love of architecture developed at an early age as he was raised in the house of an architect, his father. Carlos E. Alfonso Sr. began his career in Havana, Cuba, and fled the country with his family in 1960 to begin a successful practice in Tampa. Greatly inspired by his father, Alfonso and his brother Carlos, along with their partner Angel del Monte, founded Alfonso Architects, Inc. in 1988.
Alfonso received the Eduardo Garcia Award for Young Architects in 1987 and under his leadership Alfonso Architects, Inc. received the American Institute of Architects 2003 Florida Firm of the Year award and the American Institute of Architects 2007 Tampa Bay Firm of the Year award. Most recently, Alfonso has been awarded the prestigious American Institute of Architects State of Florida 2008 Design Honor. This award is given an individual architect, who has, by the high quality and originality of one’s design and body of work over 10 or more years, advanced the cause and public value of good architecture in the state of Florida, and, by one’s leadership, provided an inspiration to colleagues.