Spotlight On: Robyn Popa, Managing Principal, Pfluger Architects
August 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Robyn Popa, managing principal of Pfluger Architects, highlighted the completion of major school projects in San Antonio. She emphasized the firm’s role in the Educare San Antonio project and underscored how AI and technology are accelerating design workflows. “At the heart of it all is our passion for creating spaces that inspire learning and growth,” she said.
What were some of the most notable achievements for Pfluger Architects in San Antonio over the past year?
2024 was a fantastic year for us. We completed several major projects, including a new elementary school and two new middle schools, along with numerous additions and renovations. It felt rewarding to see these projects reach completion because many were planned before the pandemic but were delayed due to COVID and labor shortages. Seeing students finally occupy those spaces was truly fulfilling — it’s always about the kids at the end of the day. We’ve also experienced a steady increase in project volume throughout 2024, bouncing back from the COVID slump. It’s been a fast-paced year, but an incredibly rewarding one.
What makes the Greater San Antonio region an ideal location for businesses to operate?
We joke that San Antonio is known for its great food and margaritas, but there’s so much more. Our climate is stable — hot, yes, but without the hurricanes, blizzards, or wildfires that impact other regions. This consistency is a draw for businesses and residents alike. The cost of living remains reasonable, especially compared to cities like Austin. San Antonio is still a great place for first-time homebuyers and families looking to settle down. Despite rapid growth, it retains a small-town feel. We say it’s like a small pond, everyone knows everyone, no matter the industry. It’s a unique combination: a large city with a strong sense of community.
How is Pfluger Architects contributing to the Educare San Antonio project, and what impact do you anticipate on early childhood education?
Educare San Antonio, developed through Texas A&M University-San Antonio, is a landmark project for early childhood education in our region. It complements the city’s successful Pre-K 4 SA initiative, highlighting a growing understanding of how crucial early childhood education is to long-term success.
When we invest in 3- and 4-year-olds — teaching them foundational skills in reading, math, and communication — it strengthens the entire educational pipeline and, ultimately, our workforce and economy. There is tremendous focus right now on doing right by our youngest learners, and it’s exciting to be part of that momentum.
What trends are you seeing in school design, and how are they influencing your approach to functionality and innovation?
With rising costs, districts are asking us to create multi-use, highly flexible spaces. Schools are looking for designs that maximize their investment — spaces that can accommodate two, three, or even four different programs instead of being dedicated to a single purpose. It’s about spending wisely, stretching every dollar, and ensuring the biggest impact. Flexibility is key, allowing schools to adapt spaces for different uses without constant renovations.
How is technology, including artificial intelligence, shaping your work and school design?
AI is becoming a tool we leverage to work smarter, not harder. It’s particularly useful for repetitive or dimensionally prescribed tasks. For instance, AI can handle some aspects of drafting and documentation, allowing our teams to focus on more creative and complex problem-solving. However, we’re also learning where AI isn’t appropriate. We’ve all seen the viral memes of AI-designed homes with pools in the living room. The critical thinking and nuance required for architectural design still rely heavily on human expertise.
AI’s greatest value for us is in speeding up workflows and reducing errors, which is especially helpful as clients push for faster project completion. Rising costs mean every month spent in design adds expense, so clients want projects out the door quickly. AI helps us balance speed with quality, expediting routine tasks so we can focus on detailed coordination and documentation.
Additionally, technology is transforming how we document and design projects. For example, 360-degree cameras allow us to fully document existing buildings in a day. That used to take a week with tape measures and sketches. Laser scanning now delivers measurements accurate to an eighth of an inch, eliminating human error and speeding up the design process. I’ve been in this industry long enough to remember when everything was done manually, and the advancements are incredible. Technology lets us work faster, smarter, and more accurately, which ultimately benefits our clients by saving time and reducing costs.
How do you incorporate San Antonio’s rich cultural and historical identity into your designs?
We’re fortunate to work in a culturally rich region with deep historical roots. Our designs take their cues from the surrounding environment, whether it’s a new campus that reflects the local landscape or an addition that thoughtfully integrates with an existing campus. One project that stands out was an early childhood facility we designed in partnership with the city of San Antonio and a private company. Instead of using the typical bright colors and blocky shapes often seen in early childhood centers, we drew inspiration from the San Antonio Missions and the nearby river. We created a sophisticated design palette that felt authentic to the area while remaining inviting and accessible for young children. For us, it’s about more than replicating what’s already there; it’s about interpreting local aesthetics in a way that respects the past while looking toward the future.
How would you describe the local labor pool for architectural projects, and how are you helping develop the next generation of architects?
Like many industries, we’re facing a shortage of qualified labor. We approach workforce development on two fronts: immediate needs and long-term solutions. In the short term, we partner with local colleges and community colleges, engaging with their architectural programs to ensure their curricula align with industry needs. We host student interns, providing real-world experience while scouting potential future employees. It’s a win-win.
Long-term, we’re deeply involved in K–12 education. Architecture is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway in Texas public schools, and we partner with districts to support their CTE programs. We serve on advisory boards, mentor students, and host job shadowing days. We love showing high-school students that a career in architecture is within reach, regardless of whether they think they’re “good at drawing” or not. It’s about igniting their passion and helping them see that with dedication, they can build a rewarding career in this field.
What are your top priorities for Pfluger Architects over the next two to three years?
One major focus is helping our school district clients navigate the growing challenges of bond elections. Our work is primarily with public schools, and their projects depend on successfully passing bonds. But bond approvals are no longer guaranteed. Post-pandemic, we’re seeing increased public scrutiny over bond measures, and many failed in the last election cycle.
We support our clients with smart planning, accurate budgeting, and long-range forecasting, often well before a bond reaches the ballot. We help them communicate clearly with their communities, ensuring voters understand the value and necessity of proposed projects.
We anticipate a wave of bond elections in 2025, as many districts whose bonds failed in 2024 will try again. With multiple districts going out at the same time, we’re also working to ensure the local construction market isn’t overwhelmed, because when the market is overstressed, costs rise, and timelines suffer. Our goal is to be a true partner to our clients before, during, and after their bonds, helping them succeed while delivering high-quality educational spaces for their students.
I’m excited about where the industry is headed. Innovation in technology and design is accelerating, and we’re committed to staying at the forefront, both for our clients and our team. At the heart of it all is our passion for creating spaces that inspire learning and growth. It’s why we do what we do, and it’s what keeps us moving forward.
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