Jose G. Jimenez-Buquor

A prominent figure in architecture and urban design, Jose G. Jimenez-Buquor retired in 2013 after several decades as the owner, principal architect, and urban designer of Jimenez Architects, a Texas-based business founded in 1980. Within his roles there, he designed and constructed everything from private homes and public housing to medical facilities and schools, restored historic buildings, and oversaw numerous projects. Amid this productive career, he excelled as a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Washington University in St. Louis, and California Polytechnic State University between 1992 and 2012. In addition, Mr. Jimenez-Buquot has found success running a private architecture practice, serving within the United States Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, out of Paris, France for eight years, and working at CH2M Hill, a leading engineering, construction, and operations firm in Saudi Arabia—an “unforgettable” experience for him that involved creating a city plan in this country he was not familiar with.

Outside of his primary roles and endeavors, Mr. Jimenez-Buquor has been a proud and active member of the Bexar County Historical Commission and previously contributed articles on Hispanic-American architecture in the United States for the Oxford University Press. He was long affiliated with the American Institute of Architecture and the Knights of Columbus. Over the course of his accomplished working life, he accrued many recognitions, including an award for historic park restoration by the city of San Antonio.

Growing up in a minority community in San Antonio, Mr. Jimenez-Buquor braved a challenging childhood in the 1940s; his mother passed away when he was only five years old, after which his grandparents raised him. He sought refuge in education, which he considers the foundation of his success, and ultimately became one of the few in his graduating class to pursue higher education. He became the first in his family to graduate college after obtaining a master’s degree in architecture and urban design from Washington University in St. Louis—his achievement inspired his brother, who ended up graduating and becoming a physician. Equipped with a degree, he also cherished the enlightening experience that came with a scholarship to study in Greece for two years under the tutelage of a world-famous city planner, Constantinos A. Doxiadis, who ran a school consisting of eight international students, Mr. Jimenez-Buquor among them. A natural enthusiast in history, he became an aficionado of Greek architecture there.

Enjoying retirement in his 80s, Mr. Jimenez-Nuquor spends his time with his grandnephews, traveling, and painting. From a young age, he gravitated toward art and since retiring, he has been able to explore a passion for water coloring. He recently went to France with a group of painters and hopes to add a few more destinations to his travel list in the future.