University of San Diego Magazine 75th Anniversary 2024

“ It’s about respecting where we’ve come from and understanding our mission and our vision. ”

[Q] What advice did Whitcomb pass along that still resonates with you? A: Details matter. Looking at design, good design doesn’t have to break the bank. You can spend just as much money doing something poorly as something that is good design. Invest in materials that last. What is front and center is that what our students and faculty experience should be timeless. The other takeaway from Mother Hill — we don’t follow current trends. We really should be looking at timeless design. Trends age quickly. You look at other institutions and there are a lot of trends that come and go. [Q] Describe USD’s design processes to maintain the same style across campus? A: The 16th century Spanish Renaissance is a melding of styles — Gothic, classical and Moorish — and unique. Our buildings aren’t cookie cutter. If you go to Spain, they’re not cookie cutter, either. Each has unique qualities. Each building is unique because it speaks to whom it serves. The design consistency when working with architects we bring on board is one of the fun things for me. When we’re interviewing architects, we let them know these buildings have to be 16th century Spanish Renaissance on the exterior. We can play a little with the interior. If you look at our campus, there’s formal and informal and that really depends on the building’s use. Formal is the academic buildings, but Hahn University Center has a red tile roof, arcade in front and it is more of a stripped-down look than what Spanish Renaissance is. It was very purposeful because it is supposed to be the students’ living room. The Degheri Alumni Center is a hybrid. We put a tile roof on that, but you don’t see it on the west side of campus so much because that’s where our academic buildings are. The Donald P. Shiley Center for Science and Technology was one I worked on to infuse both a Moorish and Arabic sense of design. [Q] Did Mother Hill ever consider another kind of architectural style? A: I’ve never read anything that Mother Hill would have considered another architectural style. If you think about the timeframe, post-World War II, midcentury modern was really the style. New building materials were coming out. Mother Hill convinced Bishop Buddy that the Spanish Renaissance was a timeless architectural style and she felt it gave the university a presence and a look that it was older than it really was.

[Q] How does USD’s architectural style contribute to its Catholic identity? A: It really resonates with Mother Hill’s quote, “Beauty will attract them, goodness will lead them, but the truth will hold them.” I fall back on that. I have those words stenciled on the wall in my office because I think it is part of my job to maintain that, which leads into our mission, vision and values. The architectural style is part of who we are. [Q] Describe what it’s like to preserve a cam pus established 75 years ago. A: This role has great responsibility. It is a chance to work for the greater good of the university. It’s about respecting where we’ve come from and understanding our mission and our vision. There are decisions we make today that will influence what comes tomorrow and I really do take that to heart. It is one of the most unique aspects of this position. So much of what we do is cross divisional. We touch on every aspect, one way or another, whether it is a chair, artwork for the library, something outdoors or a new building. [Q] Have you been to Spain and brought back ideas for the campus? A: I was very fortunate to have taken two separate trips to Spain. Each time, I’ve taken away something new that helps enrich me as I look at our campus. When you go to our Bishop Buddy Sala in SOLES, as you enter, that’s the dissertation room at Alcalá. I saw it and said, “this is what we’re going to do in this space.” I wouldn’t have known that without the opportunity to go to Spain and see it firsthand. You can look at travel books and see pictures, but to go through the buildings, look and go, “Oh my, look how they did this handrail, look at the tile on the floor,” those types of things. That’s really informative and helps me to inform the campus on our sense of aesthetic. [Q] Do you have a favorite architectural place on campus? A: My favorite is Founders Hall, not just because it is an original building, but the French Parlor and Founders Chapel, to me, are signature spaces.

75th Anniversary 2024 | 13