Architectural Engineering Advisory Board:

Rodrigo Manríquez

Rodrigo Manríquez, 38, was born and raised in Santiago, Chile. Manríquez joined SmithGroup in 1997 after receiving his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from the University of Kansas and currently serves as a senior lighting designer and a co-leader of SmithGroup's Lighting Design Studio.

In 2006, Manríquez received a prestigious IALD Award of Excellence for his work on the Detroit Athletic Club exterior facade lighting, Detroit, MI. Manríquez's work has also received many IIDA awards, including the 2003 IIDA Award of Distinction for the Northwest Airlines Passenger Tunnel at Metropolitan Airport in Detroit. Recently, Manríquez was honored as a "40 under 40" nominee and recipient by Consulting Specifying Engineer magazine, 2008.

In addition to the awards received, Manríquez's work has been featured in national and international publications. Manríquez has experience on projects of varied size and type, includes significant works such as the Tae-Joon Park Digital Library in Pohang, Korea; Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions professional football team; Discovery Communications, Inc., Corporate Headquarters; New York Law School; the Smithsonian Institution and The National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.; and the Design Dome at the General Motors Tech Center in Warren, Michigan.

His design leadership was instrumental in securing the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) project; a two-phased project that will include Lighting Master Plan and Pilot Demonstration for "improved" lighting levels in the underground WMATA Metro stations, Washington, DC. The new overall lighting plan will improve the visual experience of the underground WMATA rail stations and result in reduced maintenance, improved energy efficiencies and engineering issues while respecting and enhancing the architectural integrity of the stations.

Manríquez recently completed lighting design for The University of Arizona, Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Phoenix, AZ and for the Student Center at IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis), Indianapolis IN; both projects are challenging, using different design criteria. Manríquez provided UA Norton with an exciting exterior rendition of the building, while meeting strict Dark Sky ordinances. Manríquez' use of critical 3-D analysis for IUPUI has aided his team in redefining compliance documentation while bringing credibility to the process.

Manríquez led his team on the new CFI (Center for the Intrepid) and Fisher Houses project in San Antonio, TX. CFI is a rewarding project as it provides a state of the art facility for troops wounded in battle in need for rehabilitation and training. The sequel project- NICoE (The National Intrepid Center of Excellence) recently finished the design phase and it will serve the needs of troops with Traumatic Brain Injury. Construction will begin in Bethesda, MD in 2009.

Currently, Manríquez is leading his team by providing lighting solutions for the Pearl of the Emirates in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The 16-story Hospital Tower will offer an extravagantly elegant healing environment that will also serve as a tribute to the Mother of Emirates, 'Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubar.'

Manríquez is involved in guest-speaking appearances for the International Engineering Society of North America and LightFair International. In addition, Manríquez is an active member of both the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). He also serves as a member of the SmithGroup Michigan Design Committee. Manríquez lives in Harper Woods, MI with his wife and their three children.