Elizabeth Alford

In her design and research work, Elizabeth Alford seeks to link physical, cultural and natural realms as a way to enrich experience. She is a founding principal of Pollen Architecture and Design, a collective of designers with diverse backgrounds and skillsets, engaged in a collaborative design process. Pollen is currently at work on a Chapel Remodel and New Campus Ministry Building for St. Edward’s University (the sacred) and an office for an advertising agency, Vendor, Inc (the profane), as well as several residential projects.Pollen’s Balcones House won the Austin AIA Honor Award for 2012, and was featured on the 2011 AIA Austin Homes Tour, and on the cover of Tribeza Magazine; it will be in the October issue of Dwell Magazine. Their 12 Street Studios project received the AIA Austin Honor Award in 2009, and the UT Austin 2007 Student Architecture Award. The project was published in Architectural Record Magazine in July 2007 and Detail Magazine in 2010. Elizabeth studied and practiced in New York City for 15 years, gaining experience at leading firms including Smith-Miller+Hawkinson Architects, Architecture Research Office (ARO), Polshek and Partners, and the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA).Elizabeth returned to Austin 10 years ago with her husband and partner Michael Young, founding an independent architecture practice before forming Pollen.

Elizabeth has taught design studios at UT for nine years. She was a faculty advisor for two UT Solar Decathlon teams, and is at work on a book titled “Site: Offsite, Architecture and the Factory Built House” which is supported by the Graham Foundation.