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Who We Are
Date Established: 1981
TYPE III Center Director: Tina Gurucharri
Associate Directors: Gail Hansen and Laura Namm
Background
TROPARC was established in 1981 to provide an interdisciplinary
research center in the College of Architecture focusing on issues
relating to design, planning and construction in tropical and subtropical
regions. TROPARC capitalized on the University of Florida's unique
geographical location, climate, cultural orientation, and teaching
and research experience, linking closely to many of the nations
of the of the Caribbean Basin and Central American region. TROPARC's
major purposes has been to understand and address the problems of
the built environment of these countries and to develop close relations
with other universities and professional organizations outside the
United States who share interests and concerns.
In pursuit of these objectives, TROPARC has organized several international
conferences and research projects on a variety of topics such as
remote sensing of historic sites, architectural preservation and
low-cost housing. Exchange programs were established between the
University of Florida and four schools of architecture in the Dominican
Republic, Guatemala, and Mexico. In 1983, TROPARC initiated the
"Preservation Institute: Caribbean" (PI:C), a professional
summer program in architectural preservation for participants from
countries in the Caribbean region and the United States.
These activities have been supported by both private and public
organizations, including Organization of American States, United
States Information Agency, National Endowments for the Arts, National
Trust for Historic Preservation, Dean Steel Corporation, Partners
for Livable Places, National Aeronautics & Space Administration
and World Fund. The first director was George Schaffer followed
by Mark T. Jaroszewicz (founder of TROPARC and Dean of the College
of Architecture), Raul Garcia and most recently Terry Schnadelbach
and Bill Tilson as co-directors. The new director is Tina Gurucharri
and the Associate Directors are Gail Hansen and Laura Namm.
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