Sara Topelson de Grinberg facts for kids

Sara Topelson de Grinberg (born in 1945) is a famous Polish-born Mexican architect. She has designed many buildings and held important leadership roles in the world of architecture.

Biography

Sara Topelson was born in Poland. Her father was Russian and her mother was Polish. When she was only three months old, her family moved to Mexico to escape Nazism.

She studied architecture at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). She also learned about architectural theory at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Later, she studied history of art at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (INBA).

Sara and her husband, José Grinberg, started their own architecture company. It was called Grinberg & Topelson Arquitectos. Together, they designed many different types of buildings. These included homes, schools, factories, shops, and cultural centers. They also created fun places like recreation centers.

Sara Topelson also taught at universities. She was a professor of art history at the Universidad Anáhuac. She also taught urban planning architecture there. She is still a professor at the International Academy of Architecture (IAA).

Since 1982, Sara has been involved in international architecture. She worked for the Federation of National Colleges of Architects of the Republic of Mexico. In 1990, she joined the council of the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA). She became vice-president in 1993. From 1996 to 1999, she was the president of the UIA. Sara Topelson was the first woman ever to be president of this important international group. In 1998, she was honored with the title of Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

She also worked for the Mexican government. She was in charge of architecture and art conservation at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. She also directed urban planning in the Miguel Hidalgo area of Mexico City. In 2007, President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa appointed her as an undersecretary. Her role was in Urban Development and Territory Planning. This was part of the Secretaría de Desarrollo Social (SEDESOL).

Sara Topelson is a respected member of many architecture groups. She is an honored member of the Academia Nacional de Arquitectura (ANA). She is also part of the American Institute of Architects. She is an honorary member of the Royal Institute of British Architects since 2002.

Awards and Honors

Sara Topelson has received many awards for her work and studies:

• 1972: "Excelencia Académica" (Academic Excellence) from Universidad Anáhuac.
• 1996: "Woman of the Year" award.
• 1998: Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
• 1988: "Bene Merentibus" medal from the Polish architecture association.
• Silver decoration from the Colegio de Arquitectos in Cataluña.
• 25-year "Excelencia Académica" medal for her teaching at Universidad Anáhuac.
• 2003: "Mario Pani" medal from the Colegio de Arquitectos de la Ciudad de México.