10 Questions With… Libby Ramirez, university architect and executive director of Capital Planning and Resources
What originally drew you to Oregon State?
My firm was hired for consulting work on campus in 2013, so I commuted from Portland weekly to work on space planning and project management, first once a week, then up to four days a week. I grew to look forward to my time in Corvallis and working with my colleagues here, so when a position was posted in July 2015, I jumped at the chance to join OSU.
Where did your interest in architecture stem from?
I started my education in mechanical engineering while on a volleyball scholarship (a long time ago). I found I really enjoyed the spatial thinking involved in drawing machine parts, but other aspects of the discipline didn't resonate with me. My advisor suggested I consider architecture, knowing my university did not offer a degree in that field, so I transferred to Washington State. I later wrote a note thanking him for his guidance — it's been an amazing career path for me.
What makes you passionate about higher education?
Even when I was in private practice, most of my work was in health care and higher education. I remember running into a former client years after designing a nursing lab for a community college. She told me the design for that lab impacted the pedagogy of their program in such a positive way that it changed how they taught. That was such a rewarding conversation. I think all of us here in Facilities Planning and Management just want to make a difference in how the built environment of our campus supports teaching and research.
What was the first project you worked on at OSU, and what did you learn about campus and the community in those early days?
My first project was the Peavy Forest Science Complex and Emmerson Advanced Wood Products Laboratory, which I started working on in 2014 and where the College of Forestry moved into during the first few months of the pandemic in 2020. I learned about how much there is to learn in delivering a project at OSU. So many people are involved in the success of a project, from contracting, to fundraising, to budgeting, planning for long-term maintenance, keeping it clean and building it. I also learned how passionate our community is about their work at OSU, whether delivering a project or working in the final product.
What advice would you give the younger version of yourself who was just starting college?
Be open to change. There was a study abroad I didn't take because I thought I needed to finish my education within a certain timeline (and budget). I advise students to take chances and be open to possibilities, whether in school or early in their career. I had no idea the role of University Architect even existed. I'm glad I asked questions that led me to new opportunities.
How does the OSU campus being designated a national historic district affect the work you do?
Well, it's certainly a challenge, but one with great meaning. I have so much respect for the work of the Olmsted Brothers, whoplanned the OSU campus (and many others) and John Bennes who is responsible for more than 35 buildings on our campus. I was fortunate to share our campus with over 100 of my colleagues in the Association of University Architects in June, and everyone was blown away by the beauty of our campus — the architecture, the landscape, the campus plan. It is imperative that we honor our heritage, so this beauty is here for future generations of Beavers.
What was your favorite course in college?
The engineer in me loved all of my structures classes, so I was a teaching assistant and my advisor had to create a few new classes for me to take. The other side of my brain loved all of my fine arts classes, so I took a lot of figure drawing and watercolor classes, which I'm working on revisiting.
What architectural challenges have come up during the building of the Jen-Hsun Huang and Lori Mills Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex?
It's a unique project that follows no norms. The mass timber structure is innovative, the labs meet needs we don't have on campus, the heat recovery system, a supercomputer... the list is long. One thing I'm really proud of though is how this building on the northern edge of campus is designed to be welcoming, with entrances on all four sides and setbacks from the street that provide relief to what can seem like a campus “boundary.”
Is there an OSU project on the horizon that is particularly exciting or challenging?
Our 10-year forecast is focused mostly on renewal work, which will breathe new life into older buildings that need attention — I find that exciting. The cost of construction for these types of projects is what I find challenging. We really want to give them the attention they deserve.
What is your favorite non-academic pursuit or passion?
I have a lot. I restore with my yoga practice. I am passionate about the arts and can be seen at PRAx a lot, especially when the Corvallis-OSU Symphony is playing, which is my main volunteer activity. I also love Beaver Athletics and am a regular at women's volleyball and gymnastics.
