About Us

RAFAEL GARCIA, AIA
Creative Director

Education
University of Kansas
Master of Architecture
Bachelor of Science-Architectural Engineering
Bachelor-Environmental Design

License
Missouri (First License)
Multiple States
NCARB Certificate

Certification
LEED™ AP

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS AND EXPERIENCE

Rafael Garcia’s architecture career encompasses more than 30 years. Recognized as a visionary talent, he is keenly focused on urban development and redevelopment and is frequently called upon to lend his expertise in addressing
projects that shape a community’s future.

As Principal of Design he brings hands-on involvement in every project undertaken by the firm. His designs have been honored with local, regional and national awards. Under his leadership, GA provides services to clients in the corporate, institutional, municipal, educational, social service, and public safety sectors.

Rafael has been a business owner for three decades and in that time has consistently positioned his firm to participate in some of the most significant civic and municipal projects in the Kansas City region. In addition, Rafe is an active member of the community donating his time and the resources of his firm to assist countless boards and agencies throughout the region.

PRINCIPAL INVOLVEMENT

Throughout his career, Rafael Garcia has been a hands-on principal, actively engaged in the design work undertaken in the firm that bears his name. It is evidenced in the title ‘Design Director’ that adorns his business cards. Without question, it is uncommon for the owner and person most responsible for the financial stability of the firm to devote so much of his time to seeking better design solutions for his clients. Most firm principals are limited by other firm responsibilities to only having a glancing oversight on daily project design and activities.

Rafael was drawn to the profession of architecture out of a love for shaping our built environment. That love has never wavered, and he is just as passionate about it today as he was at the beginning of his career. It is this passion for design that drives Rafael to actively engage in the design process of every project that passes through the office. Often this forces him to stay up into the wee hours of the morning working on administrative tasks and dealing with the more mundane business workflow that keeps a firm running.

What this means for our clients is this. Rafael Garcia will be engaged not as a figurehead of the firm, but as a design
leader. Working with trace paper and pencil Rafael will continue to study and refine design options right alongside the designers and architects engaged in your process, right up to the point where design objectives align with the project budget to the mutual benefit of both.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Rafael Garcia’s affinity for community involvement started as a youth in the family restaurant business. The family would provide food from the restaurant to underprivileged families and Rafael and his siblings would provide entertainment in the form of music and dance. As a college student, Rafael began to pursue his own community service opportunities and in so doing, he also created volunteer activities for other students, and then display their learning to the University.

Throughout his professional career, Rafael has volunteered in the community – thousands of hours of volunteer
services. He has focused on children’s education causes, the disadvantaged youth (and adults), and those less fortunate (in all environmental living conditions).

Garcia Architecture, under the guidance of Principal and Owner Rafael Garcia, is firmly grounded in these same
community service and outreach activities that have been a hallmark of the founder’s life. Rafael has consciously built GA and GCM with the intent of community engagement and sought to work with fellow professionals who share in the desire to better the environment in which we live, with a focus on our children and their future.

The project types that GA choses to pursue underscore the commitment to community advocacy on the part of the
senior leadership of the firm. GA is purposely focused on promoting redevelopment of urban areas of our community
where services vanished in recent decades, leaving residents dependent on trips to the suburbs to buy groceries or
access needed health services, job training, or entertainment opportunities.

IN THE COMMUNITY

American Royal – Board of Governors
Community College Foundation – Board of Directors
Business Alliance for a Sustainable Economy-KC – Founding Member
The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation (GKCCF)
Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI), Building and Grounds Chair
Starlight Theatre, Board of Directors, Theatre Plant Chair
Heart of America United Way (HAUW)
The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City, Founding Member
Heart of American Council, Boy Scouts of America
US Bank, Advisory Board of Directors
The University of Kansas School of Architecture, Advisory Board
Arts and Humanities Association of Johnson County
Workforce Investment Board of the Full Employment Council City
Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), Kansas City Advisors, Founding Member
Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Kansas City, Missouri, Board Member
Studio 150, The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City, Chair
Downtown Council (DTC), Member
ICON Advertising Museum, Board Member
KC150, A Celebration of the Heart, Steering Committee (Kansas City Sesquicentennial)
Kansas City Missouri Housing Task Force
Project H.O.P. E. (Hope, Opportunity, Performance, Education through Entrepreneurship)
CUBE – AIA Committee on Understanding the Built Environment
La Strada dell’ Arte Street Painting Festival, Founding Sponsor
VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America), Examination Author & Chair

HISPANIC ADVOCACY

Named one of two US Ambassadors to Acapulco, Mexico (promoting US commerce)
US Senate Republican Task Force on Hispanic Affairs (representing Missouri)
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City (HCC/KC), President and Board Member

INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERISM

North American International Trade Corridor Program (NAITCP) Committee, (NAFTA legislation)
Sister Cities Committee and Delegation between Kansas City and Guadalajara, Mexico (Mayor appointed)
The Greater Kansas City People to People International (GKCPTP), Member of Greater Kansas City (HCC/KC), President and Board Member

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

University of Kansas, School of Architecture & Urban Design
Instructor, Architectural Design
El Centro College, School of Architecture, Dallas, Texas
Director of Design and Architectural Advisory Chair

VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS

Peer design review of Starlight Theatre’s new stage
Designer, Kansas City Art Institute Masterplan
Peer design review of KCAI projects: Jannes Library, Artspace Art Gallery, Student Housing, Commons Area
Designer, Brush Creek Cultural Corridor Masterplan
Designer, Rotary Camp Nature Trail for Disabled Children
FOCUS/Odyssey 2000 Westside Facilitator
Peer design review of Rotary Camp Masterplan Facilities
Designer/Benefactor for KCAI Sculpture Project for “Hidden Valley Park”

Awards and Honors

2008 Community Treasure
Community Christian Church
Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates

“Last Will” (2009)
Selected by Producers as the Law Office for Upcoming Movie
Levy & Craig Law Offices

2008 Gold Design Excellence Award for Architecture Interior Space
Commercial Journal Kansas City & KC Home Design
Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates

2008 Capstone Awards for Architectural Design & Community Impact
Kansas City Business Journal
Sprint Center Arena

2006 Honor Award for Design
(As a Member of the Downtown Arena Design Team)
American Institute of Architect-KC
Sprint Center Arena

2005 Firm of the Year
American Institute of Architects-KC
Sprint Center Arena

2004 Design Award of Merit, Renovation/Adaptive Reuse
American Institute of Architects-KC
Lenexa Conference Center/Thompson Barn Rehabilitation

2004 Project of the Year, Historical Restoration/Preservation $2-$10 Million
American Public Works Association
Lenexa Conference Center/Thompson Barn Rehabilitation

2003 Best International Commercial Project
The Provincial Association of Quarriers and Fabricators of the Marbles of Almeria, XIX Awards, Macael, Spain
Sprint Experience

2003 Merit Award
American Institute of Architects—Central States Region
Lenexa Conference Center/Thompson Barn Rehabilitation

2003 Preservation Award, Rehabilitation
Historic Kansas City Foundation
Lenexa Conference Center/Thompson Barn Rehabilitation

2003 Public Works Project of the Year – Structures
American Public Works Association – Kansas City
North KC Public Library Addition & Renovation

2001 Outstanding Facility
Arizona Parks & Recreation Association
Hamilton Aquatic Center

2001 Brick in Architecture Award
Brick Industry Association & Architecture Magazine
Southwest Boulevard Pump Station

2000 Design Award of Honor, New Construction Category
American Institute of Architects-KC
Fred Allenbrand Criminal Justice Complex

2000 Design Award of Honor, Unbuilt Category
American Institute of Architects-KC
New Life Church of the Seventh-Day Adventists

2000 Design Award of Merit, Renovation Category
American Institute of Architects-KC
Midwest Research Institute Category

2000 Design Award of Merit, Small Project Category
American Institute of Architects-KC
Kansas State, International Student Center Addition

2000 Design Citation – Unbuilt Category
American Institute of Architects-KC
Child Development Center – Lawrence, Kansas

2000 Urban Design “Infrastructure” Award
City of Kansas City, Missouri – Municipal Art Commission
Southwest Boulevard Pump Station

2000 Urban Design “Expansion to a Historic Building” Award
City of Kansas City, Missouri – Municipal Art Commission
Science City at Union Station

1999 Central States Design Award of Honor
American Institute of Architects—Central States Region
Fred Allendbrand Criminal Justice Complex

1999 Central States Design Award of Merit
American Institute of Architects—Central States Region
Midwest Research Institute Renovation

1999 Design Competition
City of Lenexa, Kansas
Lenexa Conference Center/Thompson Barn Rehabilitation

1997-1998 National AIA Architecture for Justice Design Citation
Justice Facilities Review – American Institute of Architects
Fred Allenbrand Criminal Justice Complex

1998 Design Award of Honor
American Institute of Architects-KC
Southwest Boulevard Pump Station

1997 National Honor Award
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Historical New York Life Building Restoration
(Aquila World Headquarters)

1997 Allied Arts & Craftsmanship Award
American Institute of Architects-KC
RAI 2001 Corporate Headquarters Lobby

1997 Urban Design Award
City of Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Art Commission
Historical New York Life Building Restoration
(Aquila World Headquarters)

1997 Modernization Award – Grand Prize Winner
Buildings Magazine
Historical New York Life Building Restoration
(Aquila World Headquarters)

1997 Engineering Team of the Year Award
Engineering Systems Magazine
Menorah Medical Park-Phase II

1996 Design Award of Merit, Unbuilt Category
American Institute of Architects-KC
Fred Allenbrand Criminal Justice Complex

1994 Design Award of Merit
American Institute of Architects-KC
Drew’s Playhouse (Garcia Residence)

1993 Allied Arts & Craftsmanship Award
American Institute of Architects-KC
Missouri Public Service Belton Customer Service Center

1993 Urban Design Award of Excellence
City of Kansas City, Missouri – Municipal Art Commission
Westport Communications Magnet School Addition

1993 Urban Design Award of Excellence
City of Kansas City, Missouri – Municipal Art Commission
Kansas City Downtown Airport Renovation

1993 Allied Arts & Craftsmanship Award
American Institute of Architects-KC
Berkley Model Child & Family Development Center