ABOUT US

h+uo architects team

ARTISTS, CREATORS, STUDENTS, PARENTS, NEIGHBORS, CITIZENS

The work is what unites us, but we have individual talents, values, and interests that help to shape us as a group. All of our designs build on these layers of experience, drawing from a vocabulary that reflects the rich history of our firm, our staff, and our clients.
MEET THE PARTNERS  >>
Kristine Abuhamdan, Project Designer + Project Manager

Kristine Abuhamdan, Project Designer + Project Manager

Kristine’s diverse background plays an important role in her Architectural career. Originally Lebanese, Kristine was born in Wisconsin, and lived in different parts of the world including the States, Jordan, and Lebanon. Having the opportunity to experience many cultures, this has encouraged her to discover how people utilize spaces, and how these cultures are reflected in the Architecture around them. She moved to Austin in 2018, after graduating with a BA in Architecture from Notre Dame University in Beirut, Lebanon. She began her career in the residential sector, designing and project managing a mix of custom and spec homes, further expanding her curiosity on people’s different perspectives when thinking of their project, and what defines a home. She is currently pursuing her Architectural license in Texas, and continues her research on the relation between human and Architecture, and how a space is transformed into a “place”.
Kristie Cantu, Associate + Business Manager

Kristie Cantu, Associate + Business Manager

Originally from Oklahoma, Kristie attended the University of Iowa and later transferred to Marycrest University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology. Kristie attended graduate school at the University of New Orleans, working on her Master of Education and then moved to Austin, continued her education and received her secondary Teaching Certificate at Texas State University. After teaching math for approximately ten years, Kristie switched gears (and industries) and became the Business Manager at an architecture firm. Kristie went on to become an Executive Assistant at a financial services firm. Over time her role shifted and she became the Director of Communications, where her primary responsibilities included event coordinating and marketing.

Since hired at h+uo in April 2013, Kristie has been responsible for accounting and marketing direction, as well as all things in maintaining the office. Kristie’s diverse background makes her a valuable asset as Business Manager.

In her spare time, Kristie enjoys cooking and loves spending time with her kids (19 and 16 years old) and parents.
Jason Haskins, Senior Associate + Director of Architecture

Jason Haskins, Senior Associate + Director of Architecture

Jason grew up in Austin and has moved back to Austin three separate times. He holds a B.S. in Architectural Studies and an M.Arch from the University of Texas with additional coursework at Columbia University. He is a registered architect in Texas and a LEED professional.

Jason’s professional practice focuses on enacting and embodying solidarity, subsidiarity, and human dignity in the built environment. He brings a wide range of experience in socially and/or technically complex projects to his work. Jason’s expertise includes multi-family, mixed-use, workplace, and institutional place-making. Participatory design, multi-disciplinary planning, emerging technologies, and data-driven design play a significant role in his process.

Jason has a special emphasis on the history, theory, and practice of liturgical (religious) architecture. As an independent researcher, historian, and photographer, he writes about liturgy, architecture, and history on the blog Locus Iste (http://locusiste.org). Jason’s research centers on the architecture of the 19th- and 20th-century liturgical movements across Christian denominations. His teaching experience includes architectural studios, continuing education, symposia and conferences, and adult religious formation. Recent publications include an essay on Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin” for Texas Architect and "Eugene Wukasch & Mid-century Lutheran Architecture in Texas” in Modernism and American Mid-20th Century Sacred Architecture, edited by Anat Geva.

Jason has also worked as a development analyst for mixed-use, family-friendly, and deeply-affordable housing. He has also been a digital asset librarian, computer programmer, and noise-musician.
Sang Nguyen, Project Designer + Project Manager

Sang Nguyen, Project Designer + Project Manager

Born and raised in Biloxi, MS, Sang came to Austin, TX after graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Mississippi State University. He has had the opportunity to work on multiple commercial projects ranging from multi-million dollar office buildings to small scale coffee shops since his move to Austin and is currently on the path of becoming a licensed architect. His interests in architecture deal more with the technical aspects of design and construction and how all the integral parts work cohesively to become great works of architecture - big or small.

Outside of work, Sang immerses himself in many hobbies. He takes advantage of Austin’s outdoor scene by going hiking on weekends, relaxing on Barton Creek Greenbelt, and occasionally camping. He is heavily involved in photography with photos that range mostly from various cityscapes, to all parts of nature, and portraits. He also enjoys traveling to different parts of the world to gain new experiences and explore new environments, but more importantly, to visit and spend time with his family back home.
Raul Rodriguez, Project Designer + Project Manager

Raul Rodriguez, Project Designer + Project Manager

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Raul moved to Austin to attend school at the University of Texas at Austin where he would later graduate and received his Bachelor or Architecture. No stranger to the construction field, he was raised in the family business, where his father exposed him to the process and labor required to make all the parts of a building come together and become a reality.

It is no coincidence that while in school, both is education and previous experience working with his father, would steer him toward looking for community outreach in design and construction. Out of all his experiences in community outreach, the one nearest to his heart is the United Saints Recovery Project, which is a non-profit relief organization in New Orleans, Louisiana. While in service at USRP, Raul was able to help remodel residences of Hurricane Katrina victims and ensuing natural disaster damage in the greater New Orleans area.

The people and their stories has had a lasting impact on Raul and now focuses his interest in architecture to gear toward meaningful design and it's over-arching reach toward the community. He believes that design should not only be beautiful but also create impact in the welfare of the people who surround it.
Jeff Zajicek, Associate + Project Architect + Project Manager

Jeff Zajicek, Associate + Project Architect + Project Manager

Originally from New Orleans and after living all across the country Jeff returned to his ancestral home in Central Texas and has lived here most of his life. He received his Bachelors of Architecture from the University of Houston and has pursued architecture in the Austin area since 2004. Jeff is a registered architect with experience in commercial, educational, multi-family and small residential projects.

When away from work, he spends his time on personal construction and remodeling projects and travel, both of which he finds as sources of inspiration for architecture. He enjoys architecture that deals with the integration of structure and design and the interplay between interior and exterior space.
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