Dear CCA Community,

It is with great sorrow that I’m writing to share the sad news that Sandra Vivanco, associate professor of Architecture and Diversity Studies, passed away March 31 after an extended battle with cancer. Sandra was a consummate educator who cared deeply about her students and colleagues, an accomplished professional whose practice epitomized her values, and a tireless advocate for diversity and equity in her community and her field. Those of us who had the good fortune to work and study with her will miss her greatly. 

A memorial event will be planned to celebrate Sandra’s life and work, and I will share information when details are known. In the meantime, it is my honor to share the following remembrance from Sandra’s friend and close colleague Mitchell Schwarzer, professor in the Visual Studies program:

“Sandra Vivanco’s pedagogy in the studio and seminar emphasized exposing students to the ideology of architectural modernism in light of social justice and community collaboration. She was especially passionate about engaging diverse societies, as evidenced by her summer abroad travel studios to places like Peru, Brazil, and Mexico.

Her architectural practice, A+D Architecture, focused on inclusive, affordable design. She saw herself as someone who could translate ideas from the world of high architecture to the particular needs of immigrant communities. This approach is illustrated by a house she designed in San Francisco for a multi-generational family from El Salvador, where she created culturally sensitive spaces of separation alongside community. A+D also received commissions from organizations like the Mission Economic Development Agency. At Plaza Adelante, she redesigned a former furniture store on Mission Street into a community center providing services to low- and moderate-income Latino families.

Similarly, Sandra’s tireless advocacy for architecture that incorporates the perspectives of underserved communities, women, and people of color led to her active involvement with organizations like Latinos in Architecture, the National Organization of Minority Architects, and the Organization of Women Architects. During her illness, she was working on a book on key female architects in Latin America, among them Lina Bo Bardi, about whom she had earlier written a scholarly article and organized an exhibition.

Sandra was born and raised in Peru. She came to the United States in the late 1970s, studied architecture as an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, and later received a MArch from Columbia University. She loved to dance and had worked as a samba instructor in Japan. Anyone who met Sandra remembered her, her commanding presence, her effervescence, and her ceaseless energy. Sandra was one of those people who brought others together, who created community among her colleagues, clients, and students; her many friends; and her family. She is survived by her loving husband Glen and adored daughters Sofia and Yma.”