Victor H. Navarro is a San Diego based Architect and Educator. He holds a License to practice Architecture in the State of California, is certified by the National Council of Architects Registration Board (NCARB) and is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Currently he is a Principal at the legacy firm, Architects Mosher Drew. As a creative thinker, Victor’s philosophical approach to architecture and design is influenced by his diverse life experiences and professional involvement. He engages discussions on social and environmental issues, and evokes a hybrid of research, rationale, and intuition, resulting in unique design solutions. Through a collaborative process he calls Emergent Design and with the versatility of his work, he has developed projects that range from small additions to campus planning and are of diverse construction and structural methods. His accomplishments include publications and awards.
Born in Chile into a military regime, Victor’s family fled to the U.S. when he was 1 year old in the late 70’s. After 10 years, once democracy was reinstated, they returned to their home country where he later began his architecture studies at Universidad Central de Chile. Victor was enamored with architecture and he decided to expand his horizons by returning to the U.S. in 1999 where he would graduate with honors from Lawrence Technological University in Michigan, obtaining a B.Arch. and an M.Arch degree. Victor’s formational years as a young professional began as design intern in the historic firm Albert Kahn Associates in Downtown Detroit. He remained in Michigan until 2005 when he was hired by Carrier Johnson + Culture and relocated to San Diego.
Later, in his pursuit to become a well-rounded architect, he furthered his technical experience while working with Cass Sowatsky Consulting Architects, a practice dedicated federal design-build work. The following years were critical to Victor’s professional development and refinement as a designer. He founded Taller Emergente Design Studio, which was based on the idea that design is an emergent result from a collaborative process. While this became a foundational philosophy that he has carried through in his practice , Victor gained additional benefits from seeking out professional independence. He explored small scale projects of diverse categories, began instruction and training in 3D software to other professionals, provided consulting services to distinguished architects such as Graham Downes Architecture, Luce et Studio and gkkworks, and built relationships with groups of interest that are focused on the environment (Recon Recycling), homelessness (Think Dignity) and human rights (Amnesty International).
Additionally, Victor became active in academia, having joined the adjunct faculty at Newschool of Architecture and Design, where he instructed several design courses, workshops, lectures and co-authored and published a book on housing titled Social, Growing and Expandable Housing in a Border Community.
In 2016, Victor was invited to join Architects Mosher Drew to participate in new projects the firm was pursuing and to additionally stimulate a design culture within the office. He has since proven to be a key member within the firm and a design leader on projects of different magnitudes, leading large architecture teams in addition to engineering consultants. He has had a strong focus on education projects with an involvement in community outreach to design to construction. In recognition to his significant contributions to the firm’s success and evolution, he was promoted to Principal in 2021.
Join us on November 16th, 2022 as we celebrate the achievements and impact of architects in our community at the Lifetime achievement, Legacy, and Young Architect of the Year Awards.
