Marcos Escamilla-Guerrero

Marcos Escamilla-Guerrero is a Mexican architect, designer, and researcher whose work investigates the role of design in addressing societal challenges. Through his practice, MEAL (Making Experimental Architecture Lab), he operates at the intersection of architecture, urbanism, geospatial analysis, and social justice. Marcos has a particular focus on Latin American representation and alternative spatial practices related to migration and displacement. His work and research have been included in various publications, including Critical Productive, Cornell Journal of Architecture, and Patio Magazine.

He holds a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design (MS.AAD, research track) from Cornell AAP, where he was a recipient of multiple awards and grants, including the Community Engagement Impact Grant — Research and Creative Work and the M.S. AAD Design Award for outstanding academic achievement. He received his Bachelor of Architecture with academic excellence distinction from Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM-MTY). Prior to his academic work, Escamilla-Guerrero practiced as a Design Architect at FGP Atelier based in Chicago, collaborating on multiple projects, including the new Mexico City airport AIFA and the Guangzhou International Cultural Center.

Academic Research/Specialty Areas

  • Architectural design
  • Housing
  • Participatory and collaborative planning
  • Social policy
  • Urbanism

Related Links

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Classes (Selected)

  • ARCH 1101 Design I
  • ARCH 4101/4102/5101 Combined Design VII, VIII, IX

  • ARCH 5116/7112 Combined Vertical Design Option Studio II and Design B: Topic Studio — Edible Homes

Awards, Grants, and Fellowships (Selected)

  • M.S. AAD Design Award for outstanding academic achievement, Cornell University, College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, 2025
  • Engagement Impact Grant — Research and Creative Work, Cornell University, College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, 2024
  • Academic Excellence Scholarship, Fund for Human Resources Development, The Bank of Mexico, 2023

Exhibitions and Presentations (Selected)

  • Data/Migration/Design, Bibliowicz Gallery, Ithaca, New York, 2025.
  • "Mapping Shelter, Modeling Care: Participatory Spatial Data from Migrants in Transit" paper presented at the Information Plus Conference, Cambridge, MA, 2025.

Publications (Selected)

  • Escamilla-Guerrero, Marcos, "The P.C.P. — A Vision to Redefine Migration in the Americas," Critical Productive, no. 2, "Currents and Flows" (forthcoming winter 2025).
  • Escamilla-Guerrero, Marcos, "Soy Migrante," Patio Magazine, no. 3, "Identities," 2025: 48–53.
  • Escamilla-Guerrero, Marcos, "What is Missing for Those Missing?," Cornell Journal of Architecture, no. 13, "Missing" (forthcoming winter 2025).

Selected Work

  • childrens hands sorting cards and making 3d models

    Monarca Play, playroom dedicated for migrant children, 2024.

  • an aerial image of an isoceles triangle shaped building

    Migrants in transit participating in design workshop, 2024.

  • a collection of 3d models of buildings and architectural tools

    Tepoz House (under development). Models by Lydia Knecht, 2025.

  • a map showing migration routes and death rates in the Americas

    Americas Migration, analytical composite drawing for migration dynamics, 2025.

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