R D L R S TO R Y
College of the Mainland Public Safety Careers Building
Who We Are Founded in 1982, Rey de la Reza Architects, Inc. (RDLR) is recognized throughout Texas as a community-driven architectural firm providing design excellence and outstanding project management services in the Houston area. With a 40-year history, the firm has been involved in the design of a variety of transit, commercial, educational, urban design, residential, and renovation projects and continues to provide exceptional service to public entities including: City of Houston, Harris County, Fort Bend County, Houston Airport System, METRO, HCTRA, The Harris Center, numerous ISD’s, GSA, USPS and TxDOT. Our firm is certified MBE and SBE.
50+ Awards AIA Houston Firm of the Year Texas Society of Architects Firm Award
From Classroom to Real-World Readiness College of the Mainland’s Public Safety Careers expansion represents an investment in the people who will protect and serve communities throughout the region. Supporting Fire Protection Technology, Emergency Medical Services, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice, the project creates a comprehensive environment where academic instruction and applied training work together. Public safety education demands more than technical knowledge. Students must learn to communicate, make decisions, work as a team, and respond effectively in situations where conditions can change quickly. The expansion was designed around that progression—giving students opportunities to build knowledge in the classroom and apply it through increasingly realistic training experiences. A new classroom building, firing range and vehicle storage facility, fire training tower, and Class A burn building create a purpose-built campus for public safety education—one designed around how these professionals actually learn, train, and prepare to serve.
Building the Academic Foundation At the center of the expansion is a new 33,000-square-foot classroom building that establishes an academic home for College of the Mainland’s public safety programs. Flexible instructional spaces accommodate multiple disciplines while allowing the College to adapt to changing curricula, technology, and workforce needs. Here, students develop the knowledge behind the work— from procedures and safety protocols to communication, coordination, and critical decision-making. The building serves as the academic anchor for the training complex, creating a foundation before students transition into specialized environments where concepts are tested and applied. The result is an educational setting that supports today’s programs and the evolution of public safety education.
Training for the Real World Beyond the classroom, the expansion provides purpose-built environments that replicate public safety careers. A new 26,000-square-foot firing range and vehicle storage facility supports law enforcement training. For fire protection students, a 2,500-square-foot training tower and 2,700-square-foot Class A burn building allow instructors to introduce realistic fire and emergency-response scenarios. These facilities move beyond theory, allowing students to practice procedures, assess conditions, and develop responses. Together, these environments bridge understanding how to respond and being prepared when it matters.
Creating Connections Across Public Safety Disciplines Public safety professionals perform different roles, but their work often intersects. The expansion brings these disciplines together to reflect real-world connections. Students progress from foundational knowledge to specialized training while understanding their role in a broader public safety response. This integrated approach strengthens communication and coordination—preparing graduates for the collaborative demands of serving communities.
Investing in the Region’s Public Safety Workforce Aligned with College of the Mainland’s COMPASS 2025 Master Plan, the Public Safety Careers expansion advances education, workforce development, and community service while preparing students for essential careers. Classrooms build knowledge, specialized facilities develop technical proficiency, and realistic training environments put those skills into practice. More than new facilities, the project strengthens the pathway from education to service—equipping future firefighters, emergency medical professionals, law enforcement officers, and criminal justice professionals to enter their careers ready to serve.
Firm Leadership
RDLR Architects Principals (left to right): Katherine Dominguez, AIA, Silvana Micolich, AIA, Jennifer DaRos, AIA, LEED AP, Shane Wilson, AIA, LEED AP, Sally Diaz, AIA, RID, and Daniel Ortiz, AIA, LEED AP.
Firm Awards Throughout its existence, Architects has received numerous awards from our peers as well as our user groups and clients. The list that follows reflects a portion of the many accomplishments of this firm. 2026
ULI Development of Distinction Award Finalist COH Public Works & Engineering NE Facility
2024
Excellence in Construction Award, ABC of Greater Houston
2024
AIA Houston Design Award COH Public Works & Engineering NE Quadrant Facility
2024
APA Texas Chapter Planning Achievement Winner Houston Resilience Hub NeT.W.ork Master Plan
2024
REDnews Awards Finalist City of Houston City Hall Basement Renovation
2024
Outstanding Diverse Organization Houston Business Journal
2024
Houston Business Journal Landmark Award Finalist, City of Houston City Hall Basement Renovation
2024
ASLA Honor Award: Planning & Analysis; Houston Resiliance Hub Network Master Plan
2023
Outstanding Diverse Organization Houston Business Journal
2022
Award of Merit from ENR Texas & Louisiana UH Graduate College of Social Work
2021
ICE Award, Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Houston (ABC) Excellence in Construction Awards (EIC) UH Graduate College of Social Work
2021
ULI Development of Distinction Award SERJobs for Progress
2020
AIA Houston Design Award HPD Southwest Substation
2020
TPWA Project of the Year Award Fort Bend County Public Transportation Facility
2017
ULI Development of Distiction Award Finalist Carnegie Vanguard High School
2014
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Silver Award Transportation Wellborn Road Grade Separations project.
2014
New Construction Community Improvement Award Houston Museum District Business Alliance Carnegie Vanguard High School
2013
AIA Colorado Award of Citation HPD South Gessner Police Station
2013
AIA Denver Award of Merit HPD South Gessner Police Station
2013
K-12 Best Project Award ENR TX Carnegie Vanguard High School
2013
Urban Land Institute Development of Distinction Award Houston Food Bank
2013
AIA Public Architecture Social Impact Merit Award Houston Food Bank
2012
Urban Land Institute Distinguished Development Houston Food Bank
2012
Texas Society of Architects Design Award Houston Food Bank
2012
Contract Inspiration Award Houston Food Bank
2012
AIA Houston Design Award Houston Food Bank
2011
Texas Society of Architects Design Award Sam Houston Tollway NE Main Plaza
2009
Texas Construction/McGraw Hill Best of 2009 Awards Excellence Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
2009
Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Good Award-Reagan High School
2008
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator’s Award for Excellence
2005
Texas Society of Architects FIRM AWARD
2005
AIA Houston FIRM OF THE YEAR
2004
AIA Houston Design Award - Architectural Merit METRO Texas Medical Center Transit Facility
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2003 Texas Downtown Association - 2003 Awards WINNERS Public Improvement Big City - Cotswold Project Phase I, Houston 2003
Texas Construction/ Mc Graw Hill Best of 2003 Infrastructure George Bush Intercontinental Airport Terminal A/B Parking Garage
2003
Texas Construction/ McGraw Hill Best of 2003Awards of Excellence US 59 Houston Gateway
2003
National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA) Prize Bridge Award - US 59 Houston Gateway
2002
Golden Trowel Awards - Honor In Stone Sheltering Arms Senior Services Center
2001
American Consulting Engineers Council Engineering Excellence Award - Cotswold
2000
Community Award - Museum District Business Alliance - Bridges on US59
2000
AIA Houston Design Award - Architecture Honor Design Award - Cotswold
1999
American Planning Association Highest Honor Award - Cotswold
1999
American Planning Association - Highest Honor Award - University of Houston Campus Development Plan
1999
American Planning Association - Highest Honor Award - Green Ribbon Project
1997
NAHRO Award of Excellence - Cuney Homes
1997
NAHRO Award of Excellence - TSU/HISD Lab School
1995
Hall of Fame - University of Houston Architecture Alumni Outstanding Contributions to Architecture
800 Sampson Street #104 Houston, Texas 77003 | tel 713.868.3121 | www.rdlr.com