Career
Mendoza began his career in Miami at the design studio of Carlos Zapata. [8]
Morphosis
Mendoza worked at Morphosis Architects under Thom Mayne. He is credited on the project team for the San Francisco Federal Building (completed 2007), which won the AIA Honor Award and the GSA Design Excellence Award. [6] [10] [11] He also worked on the Wayne Lyman Morse United States Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon (completed 2006), which was included in the 8th Venice Architecture Biennale (2002), [7] [12] and the Hypo-Alpe-Adria Bank Headquarters in Udine, Italy. [13]
Gehry Partners
Mendoza joined Gehry Partners and was part of the project team for the New World Center in Miami Beach (completed 2011), designed for the New World Symphony. [5] [14] He subsequently served as Managing Director of Gehry Technologies, the technology subsidiary of Frank Gehry's practice, a role documented in the firm's publication on the Museo Soumaya facade project. [15] [16]
In a 2006 article in The Architect's Newspaper on BIM and the "modern-day master builders," Mendoza, then a 3D coordinator at Gehry Technologies, discussed how BIM was changing architectural practice: "We are trying to blur the distinction between design architects and technical architects... What you begin to see [working in BIM] is the architect fusing those two roles into one, where they are designing and problem-solving simultaneously." [17] During his tenure as Managing Director, Gehry Technologies worked on projects including the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Fondation Louis Vuitton, and Museo Soumaya. [18] [16]
Walt Disney Imagineering
Mendoza joined Walt Disney Imagineering as Executive of Project Integration on the Shanghai Disney Resort project. [15] A Dodge Data & Analytics industry report identifies him as "director of project integration" at Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai in the context of BIM delivery requirements for Shanghai Disneyland Resort. [19] His group also led integration efforts on Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom and the Star Wars and Marvel initiatives. [18]
The Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disneyland received an AIA Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) BIM Award citation for Delivery Process Innovation, credited to Walt Disney Imagineering with Gehry Technologies. The jury commented: "They are doing what all architects should be doing." [4] Trade press described the castle as designed entirely in 3D using a BIM process with cloud collaboration. [20]
Mortenson
By 2018, Mendoza had joined Mortenson as Company Director of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), where his work included Allegiant Stadium for the Las Vegas Raiders and Chase Center for the Golden State Warriors. [15] [8] [18] [21] Under his direction, Mortenson implemented construction robotics partnerships including autonomous excavation equipment with Built Robotics, robotic layout systems with Dusty Robotics, and site documentation using Boston Dynamics' Spot robot. [22] In 2020, he presented these industry applications at Stanford University's AI4AEC Colloquium alongside Stanford PhD candidates, addressing topics including AI-driven scheduling, machine learning for safety assessment, and the integration of robotics into construction workflows. [22] [23] In an Autodesk case study, he discussed Mortenson's implementation of BIM 360 and integrated project delivery methods. [24]
Gensler
By 2022, Mendoza had joined Gensler as Design Technology Director, where he oversaw technology integration across the firm's design studios. [25] In a two-part interview with the International Interior Design Association, he discussed the firm's adoption of virtual reality and augmented reality tools, noting that "most offices have VR rigs" and that designers routinely use Oculus Quest headsets alongside traditional monitors. [25] [26] He described augmented reality being used in construction to overlay digital files onto physical environments for wall framing and electrical coordination. [26] On the emerging Metaverse, he noted that Gensler had received client requests to design buildings and environments for virtual platforms, stating: "The future of design is digital, there is no question about it." [26]
Bermello Ajamil
As of 2024 [update] , Mendoza serves as Director of Design at Bermello Ajamil & Partners, a Miami-based interdisciplinary architecture, engineering, and planning firm which works in maritime and aviation infrastructure. [3] [27] The firm's recent portfolio includes cruise terminals at PortMiami and Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport Terminal 5, and the new Terminal 1 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in association with Gensler. [27] [28] In January 2024, the firm was acquired by Woolpert, an Ohio-based architecture and engineering firm. [27]
In September 2024, Mendoza participated in a panel discussion on artificial intelligence in construction at Lawrence Technological University, alongside Brian Ringley of Boston Dynamics and Dr. Niloufar Emami of the Illinois School of Architecture. The university, in promoting the event, described Mendoza as "a visionary Design & Construction leader." [8] [29]