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Bristol R.I. – Daniel Romero Rodriguez’s architectural philosophy embraces memory, community, and meaning. 

An international student from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, who moved to Orlando, Fla., as a teenager in 2015, Romero Rodriguez received his Bachelor’s in Architecture in 2023 and will complete his Master of Architecture degree this May from ��ܽ����Ƶ. His master’s thesis, Transforming Residual Urban Spaces Using Traces of Memory, reflects his core mission as an aspiring architect: designing spaces that honor history while building sustainable futures.

Romero Rodriguez’s first connected with ��ܽ����Ƶ during a college fair in Orlando, where he was drawn to the university’s strong focus on sustainability and hands-on learning. “��ܽ����Ƶ stood out because it cared about sustainability – not just the environment, but the social part of sustainability, too,” he said.

Through his thesis research, Romero Rodriguez explored real-world questions on how overlooked and underused spaces could be revitalized, by weaving new community needs into the existing fabric and history of the area. “My thesis is about finding value in what’s already there –  about telling stories through the spaces we often ignore,” he said, noting that the project challenged him to think beyond aesthetics and engage with the social and historical layers that shape the built environment. “It’s easy to think of cities as blank canvases, but they’re layered places, full of stories. I wanted my work to honor that.”

Romero Rodriguez secured a paid internship at DiLeonardo International in Warwick, R.I., through the Cummings School of Architecture’s&�Բ�����;Career Investment Program. He worked on a range of commercial architecture projects, gaining firsthand insights into sustainable design practices in the professional world. It was an incredible opportunity to apply the knowledge he’d learned in his classes and studio work to gain professional skills.

“That real-world experience helped me connect studio ideas to actual projects,” he said. 

He also took advantage of ��ܽ����Ƶ’s&�Բ�����;study abroad program, spending a semester studying architecture in Barcelona, Spain, home to famous architects like Antoni Gaudi and several UNESCO World Heritage sites. He immersed himself into a city that embraces the intersection and coexistence of sustainability and cultural heritage in a dense urban cityscape, a trip that he said expanded both his cultural and design perspective. “Barcelona showed me that density doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty. It taught me how cities can tell layered stories.”

Beyond the architectural studio, Romero Rodriguez found a sense of belonging through ��ܽ����Ƶ’s&�Բ�����; (HALSA). When he joined the club, he said, “It gave me a little home at ��ܽ����Ƶ” – a place where he felt supported while he adjusted to college life, and affirmed the value of cultural perspective. “It helped a lot being around others who understood what it was like coming from different places,” he said.

In a full-circle moment, Romero Rodriguez was able to take his knowledge back to the Dominican Republic, where he completed an independent work experience with a Mexican architecture firm in Santo Domingo. He dreams to one day have his own architectural firm, and to contribute to sustainable urban development initiatives in the Dominican Republic. “Being able to bring ��ܽ����Ƶ lessons home was incredible – it made all the years here feel even more meaningful,” he said. "There’s a lot of opportunity to do good work there.”

For now, Romero Rodriguez plans to pursue his professional licensure while gaining career experience somewhere in New England, once he receives his master’s degree in May. His advice to future architecture students: “Architecture isn’t just about buildings – it’s about the stories you want your spaces to tell. Don’t lose that.”