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Miguel Rosales

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Miguel A. Rosales
Born
Miguel Ángel Rosales Izás

1961
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Alma materMassachusetts Institute of Technology (SM 1987)
Universidad Francisco Marroquin
OccupationArchitect
PracticeRosales + Partners
ProjectsLeonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge
Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy
Puente Centenario
George Washington Carver Bridge
Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge
Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Bridge
Christina and John Markey Memorial Pedestrian Bridge
Frances Appleton Bridge
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rosales and the second or maternal family name is Izás.

Miguel Ángel Rosales Izás (born 1961 in Guatemala) is an American architect specializing in bridge aesthetics and design. He is the president and principal designer of Rosales+, an architecture and engineering firm based in Boston, Massachusetts specializing in the development of design, engineering and architecture projects for bridges, highways, landscape and urban accessibility.[1] Rosales has designed multiple bridges in the United States and internationally. Some examples of these bridges include Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Bridge,[2] Christina and John Markey Memorial Pedestrian Bridge,[3] and Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy River.[4]

Early life and education

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Rosales was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, in 1961, the eldest of four sons of Marco Antonio Rosales, a pharmacist, and Lidia Izás, a homemaker. He earned a degree in architecture at the Universidad Francisco Marroquín in 1984.[1] In 1985 he enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)[5] to study Urban and Environmental Design, completing a Master of Science in Architecture Studies (SMArchS) degree in 1987.[6] While at MIT, Rosales specialized in urban design and planning, elements that later informed his work in bridge design and aesthetics.[7]

Career

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Rosales initially worked with Swiss engineer and bridge designer Christian Menn,[5] and from 1988 to 1996, Rosales served as the lead architect and urban designer for the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge over the Charles River.[8] This structure is part of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, informally called "The Big Dig".[9] During his tenure at this project, he mainly focused in improving the appearance of the highways and bridges as part of the project that helped transform downtown Boston by removing an elevated highway and by opening access to the harbor.[5]

In 1997, he started his own independent architecture and engineering professional practice, Rosales + Partners, in Boston.[6] He was involved in the design of three bridge projects: Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy[4] in Greenville, South Carolina, completed in 2004, Puente Centenario, over the Panama Canal, Panama, completed in 2004 and Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge[10] over the Potomac River in Washington DC, completed in 2008. This latter bridge was granted the Gustav Lindenthal award.[11][12]

Other projects include the Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Bridge over the Trinity River in Fort Worth, Texas, completed in 2012, the Christina and John Markey Memorial Pedestrian Bridge,[3] completed in 2013, the Moody Pedestrian Bridge, completed in 2016 in Austin, Texas[13] and the Frances Appleton Pedestrian Bridge[14] and Longfellow Bridge Restoration completed in 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.[15]

In 2001 he instituted the Miguel Rosales Award for the Universidad Francisco Mallorquín School of Architecture student with the highest grade point average in his class.[1]

Design philosophy

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Rosales’s design philosophy centers on creating cost-effective, architecturally distinctive, and visually engaging structures that contribute to their surroundings. He combines architectural considerations with engineering innovation to realize designs that are both functional and compatible with their context. Born in Guatemala, a country where the general public can not express their opinion about urban projects, when he went to live and work in Boston he realized the importance of prioritizing user experience,[7] with an emphasis on designs that accommodate pedestrians and cyclists and incorporate public spaces when appropriate.[16]

Some projects met initial initial resistance from local residents, such as the Fore River Bridge. Rosales emphasized that the conceived vertical-lift bridge had technical advantages, and that a huge effort had been made to avoid immense costs and to improve the appearance. It incorporated elements of the 1936 Art Deco-style bridge, including also features like colored lighting at night and stainless steel screening of the towers at either end to make it more attractive.[17]

Rosales' work is making communities aware of preserving their historic architecture, thus propelling the future of traditional design.[18]

Personal life

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Rosales lives on Mount Vernon Street in the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston.[19] Rosales also served for five years on the Beacon Hill Architectural Commission.[20]

Completed projects

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Other projects

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Awards and honors

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  • 2009 Gustav Lindenthal Medal: Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge[11][12]
  • 2013 Engineering Excellence Awards: Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Bridge[31]
    • ACEC National Recognition Award,
    • ACEC Texas Eminent Conceptor,
    • ACEC Texas Structural Systems Gold
  • 2014 Bridge Awards, category Special Purpose: Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Bridge[2]
  • 2018 Lighting Design Award – Heritage Lighting LIT: Longfellow Bridge[15]
  • 2021 Commercial Palladio Winner: Longfellow Bridge[32]
  • 2025 Landezine International Landscape Award: 54th Street Bridge and East Midtown Greenway[21]
  • 2025: the City of Boston officially declares July 9 ‘Miguel Rosales Day’ in honor of the transformative and indelible impact made on the city’s infrastructure and skyline[20]

Further reading

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  • Rosales, Miguel (2024). Bridges as Structural Art. Novato, California: Oro Editions. ISBN 978-1-961856-15-8.
  • Rosales, Miguel; Gottemoeller, Frederick (2000). "Contextual and Urban Design Considerations in Design of Major Bridges". Transportation Research Record. 1696 (1). doi:10.3141/1696-03.
  • van Uffelen, Chris (2009). Masterpieces: Bridge Architecture + Design. Braun Publishing. ISBN 978-3-03768-025-4.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Arq. Miguel Ángel Rosales". Universidad Francisco Marroquín (in Spanish). Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "NSBA 2014 Prize Bridge Awards - Special Purpose: Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Pedestrian Bridge, Fort Worth, Texas" (PDF). aisc.org. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "The Christina and John Markey Memorial Pedestrian Bridge". American Galvanizers Association. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Daniel, Seth (October 25, 2013). "Bridge Termed 'successful result'". Revere Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e Murphy, Dan (April 11, 2012). "Miguel Rosales: Building a better bridge". Beacon Hill Times. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Rosales + Partners". Rosalespartners.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "An interview with Miguel Rosales AIA". Boston Society for Architecture. October 13, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  8. ^ "Lawrence model bridge builders meet their role model". The Boston Globe. May 31, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  9. ^ "BUILDING BIG: Who Builds Big?: Interview Miguel Rosales". PBS. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "A replacement bridge over the Potomac" (PDF). Alexandria Times. March 5, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project Wins Prestigious Gustav Lindenthal Medal". thomasnet.com. June 18, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Jim Peipert (August 27, 2012). "A pretty new link on the Trinity Trails". Thomasnet.com. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "A New Landmark: Moody College celebrates pedestrian bridge uniting the communication complex". Moody College, University of Texas. May 16, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Frances Appleton Bridge". The Lawrence & Lillian Solomon Foundation. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c Murphy, Dan (November 21, 2019). "Longfellow Bridge Receives International Accolade for Its Unique Lighting Design". Beacon Hill Times. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  16. ^ Sosin, Kate (September 15, 2023). "Through his transformative designs, Miguel Rosales is building bridges — literally". The 19th News(letter). Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Schiavone, Christian (February 9, 2012). "Residents sound off against Fore River Bridge proposal at Weymouth meeting". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  18. ^ a b Ruhling, Nancy A. (September 10, 2022). "The 25 - Miguel Rosales". Traditional Building. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  19. ^ Besser, Suzanne (June 9, 2015). "Corey and Rosales watch over the tree pits". Beacon Hill Times. The Independent Newspaper Group. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  20. ^ a b c Murphy, Dan (July 17, 2025). "July 9 Officially Declared 'Miguel Rosales Day'". Charlestown Patriot Bridge. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  21. ^ a b "54th Street Bridge and East Midtown Greenway by Rosales+". Landezine Award. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  22. ^ Hanna, Bill (April 23, 2012). "Pedestrian bridge rises along Trinity River near downtown". Star-Telegram. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  23. ^ "I-235 Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Bridge (Fort Worth)". Structurae.net. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  24. ^ Janberg, Nicolas. "Columbus Airport Bridges". Structurae.net. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  25. ^ Janberg, Nicolas. "George Washington Carver Bridge (Des Moines, 2004)". Structurae.net. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  26. ^ Janberg, Nicolas (July 29, 2014). "I-235 Pedestrian Bridges (Des Moines)". Structurae.net. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  27. ^ Janberg, Nicolas. "Puente Centenario (Panama, 2004)". Structurae.net. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  28. ^ Rivera, Dylan (March 4, 2009). "Portland has designs on a new bridge". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  29. ^ Litt, Stephen (June 18, 2011). "A trio of pedestrian bridges proposed by Boston architect Miguel Rosales could change the face of Cleveland". Cleveland.com. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  30. ^ a b "The Bridges of Suffolk County". North End Regional Review. October 14, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  31. ^ "Phyllis Tilley Memorial Bridge". World Architects. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  32. ^ "Palladio Awards" (PDF). US Modernist. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
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