TRIBUTES
I met Sandra in some conversations about the Mexican Museum project in San Francisco without knowing that years later, her firm will work as Architect of Record in the project. I invited her to be part of "Spaces through Gender", an exhibition of Latin American women in architecture where she participated with a project from her school students. Later on we both collaborated with LiA in bringing together the show, PERSPECTIVAS, and she was always willing to share her knowledge. She was an agent of culture and liked to be involved in different levels. She was not shy in giving her opinion and pushing things to make them happen, always with a smile. She loved the work of Clara Porset and always understood the difficulties of being a woman in a man-driven entrepreneurship generation. Definitely a person who was always easy to have a good conversion with, a good mentor that I will miss.
Image courtesy of Janice Lee
—NORA ENRIQUEZ
I got to learn more about Sandra through an invitation she extended to us to speak to some of her Latino students. I was impressed to learned that she was a fighter — she came to the US as an emigrant with not that much and over the years she fought for what she believed in. She created her own company and a name for herself which you could tell she was proud of — but mostly she was proud to inspire Latino students. She was sensitive, humble and with huge passion to never quit. It was an honor to know her.
— BEATRIZ MARTINEZ
I met Sandra through the LiA group, and was thrilled when she (after hearing her life story) agreed to appear as a cover story on ByDESIGN Vol. 19, May 2016. She was so exceedingly talented and committed to the Latino community — so positive, gracious, and willing to help wherever possible. By any measure, her career and work were extraordinary. She later honored our CASA Alumni Scholarship event in 2017 as a guest speaker, which had CASA students riveted to her every word. She will be missed by the design profession, in the classroom, and Latino community. ¡Que ejemplo tan tremendo para Latinas!
—ROY R. HERNANDEZ
Sandra took me to Brazil during a summer study abroad program, while I studied architecture at CCA. She led my classmates through vibrant favela alleys and, along one, she unlocked an unmarked door that opened to a concrete platform with a surprising vista. Mesmerized by the view — of endless incidental structures — I developed an admiration for the potential of every urban eddy. She's given so many gifts through her professorship, and I'll always remember her for the gifts she gave me.
—ANAND SHETH, DESIGN DIRECTOR, STUDIO BBA
