Sonsoles Vela and Ruben García Rubio’s Work  Shortlisted Among Top Five in Architectural Competition

September 12, 2025

BY Emily Capdeville

Assistant Professor of Architecture Sonsoles Vela and Associate Professor of Architecture and Urbanism Rubén García Rubio, in collaboration with architect Miguel Martes Cativiela, have been recognized with a fifth-place ranking in the design competition for the Vocational Training Building at the Aragonese Technology District (DAT) in Zaragoza, Spain.

Professors Vela and García Rubio’s proposal was commended by the jury for its “remarkable aesthetic,” standing out in a highly competitive field of renowned architectural firms. This recognition underscores their ongoing commitment to innovative and context-responsive design within their architectural education. Their work, teaching, and research consistently incorporates carbon-conscious practices, using them as the foundation for everything they produce as they consider how to marry innovation with conservation and sustainability. 

Through careful planning and robust investment, the DAT is rapidly evolving into an epicenter in Spain for technological ideation and innovation, and is also well known for its pioneering integration of nature into an industrial landscape. The zone is located in an 80-hectare area on the northern edge of Zaragoza, a city defined by the Ebro River, Spain's largest. Home to a vibrant university, the development of the area will engender intellectual collaboration while respecting its surrounding environment. Widely supported by the Vice President of the Government of Aragon, Mar Vaquero, the DAT will include a linear forest, transforming the space through the introduction of parks, recreational areas, and improved parking and traffic circulation. The goals of the Aragonese Technology District (DAT) Alierta match the ethos of Professors Vela and García Rubio, driving technology forward while respecting the fragility of the natural environment. 

Read more about the DAT Alierta here.