COLORES

Join us  for COLORES, Latinos in Architecture's fifth annual celebration of Hispanic culture. This year's event takes place October 16-18, 2024 at Architecture Center Houston. Speakers and special guest will be announced soon.

COLORES, Latinos in Architecture’s fifth annual celebration of Hispanic culture will take place October 16-18, 2024 at Architecture Center Houston and Kirksey Architecture featuring Marcus Martinez Assoc. AIA, Partner, with Ultra Barrio; Rafael Longoria, Professor, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, University of Houston; Veronica Avila, Owner, Henderson & Kate; Donkeemom (Sylvia Roman) and Donkeeboy (Alex Roman Jr.), Visual Artists; a tour and conversation with Christopher Salazar at the Alley Theater; and performances by Proyeccion Latina Houston and a Mariachi quartet lead by Julian Corona-Medina.

Tickets:

Symposium Ticket (includes all events) - $75 General Admission / $25 Student
Wednesday - $25 General Admission / $10 Student
Thursday - $50 in advance / $60 at the door / $25 Student in advance
Friday - $15 General and Student Admissions

Symposium Schedule:

Wednesday, October 16, 6pm
An evening with Rafael Longoria, Professor, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, University of Houston and Veronica Avila, Owner, Henderson & Kane.
Refreshments provided by Henderson & Kane.
Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St, Houston, TX 77002

Thursday, October 17, 5:30pm
An evening with Marcus Martinez Assoc. AIA, Partner, with Ultra Barrio; Donkeemom (Sylvia Roman) and Donkeeboy (Alex Roman Jr.), Visual Artists; and performances by Proyeccion Latina Houston and a Mariachi quartet lead by Julian Corona-Medina.
Drinks and dinner included
Kirksey Archtiecture, 6909 Portwest Dr, Houston, TX 77024

Friday, October 18, 4pm
A tour and conversation with actor Christopher Salazar at the Alley Theater
Alley Theater, 615 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002

About our Speakers
Veronica Hernandez Avila is a creative designer, an El Paso native based in Houston, with over a decade of experience in hospitality and commercial design. After moving to Houston to attend the University of Houston’s College of Architecture, Veronica earned multiple scholarships, studied abroad in France, and supported her family while working part-time.

After graduation, Veronica worked on notable projects such as ‘The Reef’ and Hungry’s, before joining Gensler’s Hospitality Design Studio. There she contributed to high-profile luxury hotel projects, including the Parisian on the Cotai Strip in Macao, the Fairmont and The Post Oak Hotel in Houston.

In March 2015, while still working in architecture, Veronica took a bold step toward a new passion by co-founding El Burro & the Bull, marking her transition into the restaurant industry. The restaurant operated for four years, providing her with a valuable introduction to the culinary world. This move signaled a major career shift from architecture to entrepreneurship in the food and beverage industry, where she applied her design expertise to building unique culinary experiences through branding and service.

Building on this, in May 2018, she launched Henderson & Kane General Store, a community-driven barbecue restaurant. Here, Veronica focused on branding, financial management, and marketing for the business while supporting local businesses through retailing locally sourced products like eggs, milk, dairy, and hand-cut steaks. etc.

Her passion for architecture and the built environment has not faded. Veronica has proudly served on the board of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, as they pave the paths into Houston’s East End. More recently, after being courted by Hilton, she has taken a Senior Project Management role on their architecture, design, and construction team.