José Alvarez
AIA, LEED AP
Principal | Architect
A native of Caracas, Venezuela, José has worked with EskewDumezRipple for more than 25 years. A talented architect and leader, José maintains the design and delivery responsibility for the studio’s mixed-use design group. In recent projects, including the Center of Developing Entrepreneurs in Charlottesville, VA, and The Shop at the CAC here in New Orleans, José has reinforced the role of architecture as a catalyzing force for elevating urban life and strengthening communities.
His ability to develop design concepts and visuals aids clients in both decision making and fundraising/marketing efforts. Jose was named an Associate in the studio in 2007, Principal in 2013 and maintains ongoing leadership roles in the training and mentoring of EDR’s youngest designers.
In addition to his architectural design expertise, José leads the EDR MLK Day of Service Program, winner of the 2019 AIA Emerging Professional Exhibit and advocates for diversity and inclusion within the design profession. José has served as AIA State Delegate and as the President of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Louisiana Chapter; as well as Program Coordinator tor for AIA New Orleans Young Architect Forum (YAF), winner of the 2016 AIA Emerging Professionals Exhibit and the AIA LA Emerging Professionals Award. José was the recipient of the 2015 AIA Young Architect Award for showing exceptional leadership and making significant contributions to the profession and was recently featured in the AIA Center for Civic Leadership publication “Living Your Life as a Leader”. Jose is currently serving as Commissioner for the City of New Orleans Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) and serves on the Advisory Board for Tulane School of Architecture and Colloqate Design Studio, a multidisciplinary nonprofit Design Justice practice focused on the design of spaces of racial, social and cultural equity.