About

IDEA is a collaborative team. The decision to structure a professional practice in this unique manner was inspired by business models used by large corporate firms in the United States seeking to do work in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Projects being conceived in those countries are so ambitious that no single firm, regardless of size, has the resources to accomplish all tasks successfully. In addition to technical complexities, world codes vary greatly from the Uniform Building Code of the United States and it would be impossible for even a super-firm to learn all these codes and regulations. The solution is a worldwide collaboration.

The era of the conventional architectural practice has now passed. We are now leading clients into the age of dreamers.

Architect Guillermo Barajas and his always-evolving collaborative team provide the highest level of service possible to clients. Prior to creating IDEA, Mr. Barajas served as a partner with PSRBB Architects. During that time, the firm relied on his skills as a lead designer for some of the most noteworthy projects being built in El Paso today. The decision to leave that practice was inspired by a desire to serve clients at an even higher level, to more quickly respond to the changing needs of clients and to effectively make use of the technologies of tomorrow to bring forth the dreams of clients today. We believe that true problem solving can only come from collaborative team thinking and that the collaborative team must be made up of a diversity of talents. IDEA is an Invention Think Team made up of architects, writers, computer experts, artists, accountants, experts in public policy, etc.

Similarly, in our local market, issues such as economy, technical resources, competition and even brain drain, demand that existing business models be challenged and re-invented to serve changing client needs. In corporate America, being a large firm demands attention to business, which is different from attention to client needs. Huge efforts must always be exhausted to find work rather than produce work. When workload is high, there is a great deal of competition among partners for available staff. When workload is down, financial resources are quickly depleted. Mr. Barajas recognized these shortcomings of a typical corporate business model and changed it.

We now keep a database of individuals and architectural firms who want to collaborate with IDEA. Over the past three years we have collaborated projects with CDA Architects, ARTchitecture, SMS Architects, Carson Franco Architects, MNK Architects, and most recently GA Architecture.

Guillermo Barajas, AIA - Principal - IDEA

Education

  • University of Texas at Arlington – Bachelor of Science in Architecture (1980)
  • Harvard University Graduate School of Design – Advanced Management Program (1995-present)
  • La Paz Language School – Intermediate Level – Mandarin Chinese

Honors and Awards

  • Merit Award – 2009
    Healthy Greens (Dr. Stevenson – Dr. Talamas – Dr. Alvarez) – El Paso, TX
  • Honor Award – 2007
    Esperanza Acosta Moreno Library – El Paso, TX
  • TASB Design Award
    Col. John Ensor Middle School
    Socorro Independent School District – El Paso, Texas
  • Honor Award – 2001
    St. Frances Cabrini Church – El Paso, TX
  • Honor Award – 2001
    Col. John Ensor Middle School
    Socorro Independent School District – El Paso, Texas
  • Honor Award – 2000
    The Pavilions – A medical community for Dr. Larry R. Price – El Paso, Texas
  • Honorable Mention – 1999
    Area Engineers and Maintenance Facility, Texas Department of Transportation – El Paso, Texas
  • Special Award – 1996
    “A Ruin for a family of Six” – A private residence for a family based on historical and astronomical references.
  • Honorable Mention – 1995
    Migrant Farm Workers Center
    Sin Fronteras Organizing Project
  • Merit Award – 1993
    “Wall on the Green” – A condominium project located on the 10th green of the Vista Hills Country Club.

Professional Affiliations

  • American Institute of Architects
  • Texas Society of Architects
  • American Institute of Architects, Past President, El Paso Chapter
  • Texas Society of Architects – Design Awards Committee

Civic Participation

  • Past Chairman of the Board – Boys & Girls Club of El Paso (1997-1998)
  • Design Instructor – El Paso Community College (1993-1996)
  • Pre-Architectural Committee – El Paso County College – from inception (1992)
  • Appointed by City Representative Larry Medina to El Paso Arts Commission (2002)
  • Board of Directors – Better Business Bureau of El Paso
  • Architectural History Instructor – Dona Ana Branch Community College (2007-2009)
  • Introduction to Architecture Instructor – Dona Ana Branch Community College (2007-2009)
  • Associate Professor of Architecture – Texas Tech University (2008-Present)

Registration

Texas Registration #12787

Current and Former IDEA Dreamers

Pattie Barajas - Artist / Designer / Creative Dept. | pattie@enviroidea.com
Laura Garza - Intern Architect and Graphic Designer | laura@enviroidea.com
Roger Martinez - CAD Management | roger@enviroidea.com
Fred Navarro - Finance Director