About

Celia Mendoza, Principal

Celia Mendoza founded ARQUITECTA to pursue her passion for holistic architectural design and planning.  Her approach responds to project needs within the site and cultural context, leading to elegant solutions.  ARQUITECTA’s mission, efficient and essential design, produces beautiful residential and nonresidential spaces that function effortlessly.

Celia previously focused on historic preservation, having worked on The Alamo, a recently designated UNESCO World Heritage site, where she managed the roof stabilization and restoration project during her tenure at Ford, Powell and Carson, one of San Antonio’s oldest architectural firms.  Likewise, she oversaw the restoration and renovation of Galveston’s historic Rosenberg Library following the devastation of Hurricane Ike.  Also while at FPC, she proposed conceptual design for the San Pedro Creek improvements while conducting the City of San Antonio Civic Core analysis of City Hall and surrounding areas.

In addition to her historic preservation experience, Celia’s architectural design is also informed by her art background and extensive travels throughout New Zealand, Mexico, and Europe.  She taught urban design at the Design and Arts College of New Zealand in Christchurch and has curated dozens of art exhibits in New Zealand, California, and Texas.  She founded artWHERE?, San Antonio’s first pop-up gallery, as a way to promote downtown revitalization using underutilized storefronts.

Celia and her family reside in San Antonio where she is committed to civic engagement, volunteering for neighborhood and city organizations.  Currently, she is revising design standards for the Beacon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District and is serving on the District One Arts Advisory Committee.  She is a founding member of Earthen Construction Initiative and a member of the Tier One Neighborhood Coalition.  In her spare time, she enjoys road trips, especially along the back roads of Texas, family gatherings, and hiking.