The School of Architecture and Planning recently honored its first group of Golden Graduates, individuals who matriculated from UNM 50 years ago. Dean Roger Schluntz hosted a luncheon for Lou Weller, Patrick Gates and Donald “Rusty” Shaffer at George Pearl Hall. Other special guests included emeritus professors Ed Norris, Paul Lusk, Edie Cherry, Dick Nordhaus and emeritus dean Don Schlegel.
Photo (l. to r.): Ed Norris, professor emeritus; Geraldine Forbes Isais, director, architecture program; Dick Nordhaus, professor emeritus; Edie Cherry; professor emerita; Lou Weller; Rusty Shaffer; Don Schlegel, dean emeritus; and Roger Schlutz, dean. Also honored Paul Lusk, professor emeritus, and Patrick Gates (not pictured).
Weller, of Weller Architects, was the school’s Distinguished Alumni in 2000 and served as a UNM Foundation Board member. He worked on the Museum for the American Indian in Washington, D.C. and has done a great deal of architectural work in Indian Country, particularly in schools and health care facilities.
Gates worked for Sandia Labs before he even graduated from UNM. Since, he’s been self-employed. During the course of his career he’s had a staff of six or seven and thinks of himself as a nuts and bolts guy. Not too unusual since he also holds a contractor’s license. In addition to architecture and contracting, he holds a real estate license. He worked with the builders of Winrock Center and has developed several Albuquerque subdivisions.
Shaffer was a named partner in Flatow, Moore, Shaffer, McCabe, Inc. - Architects, Engineers, Planners of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for 33 years where served as principal in charge of the Church and Education Studios. After leaving the firm in 1998, Shaffer directed his efforts toward architectural consulting, focusing primarily on church facilities programming, master planning and design and construction. Shaffer participated in planning and design workshops for church facilities across the country since 1975.