Preservation Austin and Architexas Announce the JuanRaymon Rubio Preservation Fellowship for Young Preservationists
AUSTIN, TX (November 19, 2025) – Preservation Austin and Architexas announce the JuanRaymon Rubio Preservation Fellowship, established in honor of JuanRaymon Rubio (1992-2024), our beloved friend, colleague, and board member, who passed away unexpectedly on December 15, 2024. JuanRaymon began his architectural career with Architexas in 2017 and served on Preservation Austin’s Board of Directors from 2022 to 2024. His passion for advocacy and magnetic presence left an indelible mark on the Austin preservation community. This fellowship was created to nurture the next generation of preservationists and carry forward his legacy of fierce commitment to historic places.
“We’re honored to partner with Architexas on this incredible, and potentially transformative, opportunity for future preservation leaders,” said Lindsey Derrington, Preservation Austin’s Executive Director. “The Fellowship embodies so much of what JuanRaymon stood for: protecting underrepresented heritage, supporting young people, and elevating the history and voices of people of color.”
“Over the seven-and-a-half years JuanRaymon spent at Architexas as an invaluable colleague and friend, he will forever be remembered for his easy-going nature, amazing sense of humor, and his love of history, research, and old buildings,” said Susan Frocheur, Architexas Principal. “He was ready to thrive as a preservation professional, meeting his goals of building greater community connections and greater visibility for Architexas within the community.”
The JuanRaymon Rubio Preservation Fellowship is generously funded for two years by Architexas. This paid, year-long opportunity is open for an Austin-based undergraduate or graduate student planning a career in historic preservation.
Applications are due on Monday, December 15. Learn more and apply at the link below.
JuanRaymon at Preservation Austin’s McFarland-McBee House
(Photo: Preservation Austin)
JuanRaymon at Architexas offices (Photo: Architexas)
JuanRaymon with fellow advocates at City Hall following City Council’s designation of East Austin’s Eisenbeiser Building as a City of Austin Landmark (Photo: Preservation Austin)
JuanRaymon with Architexas colleagues at their offices (Photo: Architexas)
About the Rubio Fellowship
Preservation Austin and Architexas have partnered to establish this year-long Fellowship in memory of our colleague and collaborator, JuanRaymon Rubio. This unique opportunity is intended for an Austin-based undergraduate or graduate student who is seriously considering a career working with historic places.
The Rubio Fellow will advance the preservation and interpretation of underrepresented heritage in Austin. Underrepresented heritage includes places of meaning to the African American, Mexican American, Indigenous, Asian American, and LGBTQ+ communities, and women.
The Rubio Fellow will build strong professional skills and industry connections, working closely with the teams at Preservation Austin and Architexas. Each month, the Rubio Fellow will also shadow a professional from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to gain firsthand knowledge about their career options within the wide-ranging historic preservation field, from regulatory agencies to craftsmen and affordable housing developers.
Preservation Austin dedicated the JuanRaymon Rubio Community Room at its offices in the historic McFarland-McBee House last year, and this fall created a new JuanRaymon Rubio Emerging Leaders Award to celebrate young professionals making their mark on historic preservation in Austin, be it through advocacy or scholarship.
About JuanRaymon Rubio
Born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, JuanRaymon Rubio earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from Texas Tech University before joining Architexas as an associate architect in 2017. His portfolio included major preservation projects for public and educational institutions across Texas. JuanRaymon pursued volunteer work that reflected his passion both for advocacy and for mentoring youth, including with Preservation Austin, AIA Austin, and the ACE Mentor Program of Austin.
JuanRaymon served on Preservation Austin’s Board of Directors from 2022 to 2024, where his passion for community advocacy and magnetic presence left an indelible mark. Grounded in his technical expertise as a preservation architect, JuanRaymon was a powerful force for building coalitions, inspiring change, and infusing his work with Preservation Austin and Architexas with humor and joy. His impact far surpasses his brief time with us.
JuanRaymon fiercely believed in giving historic places a voice, especially in communities of color. He confronted the oftentimes exclusionary history of historic preservation, transforming it into energy and momentum to shape a new future. He guided the Mexican American legacy business Green and White Grocery to historic landmark status; fought to save the former University Junior High on the University of Texas at Austin campus; and championed saving East Austin’s historic Eisenbeiser Building on E. 12th Street.
JuanRaymon devoted himself to places of significance to Austin’s Black and Mexican communities, sharing his time, skill, and support to build deep connections and trust. His leadership as Preservation Austin’s vice president and as a member of Austin’s Historic Landmark Commission changed those who knew him forever.