HOMETOWN HERO INTERVIEW: MALISSA ARRAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TEXAS

TROST SOCIETY

1. What can you tell me about yourself?

My name is Malissa Arras, and I am the founder and director of the Texas
Trost Society, a not-for-profit that promotes historic preservation and
educates the public about the iconic architect Henry C. Trost. As Executive
Director, I develop all programming and awareness campaigns, identify and
cultivate supporters, organize fundraisers, and help local policymakers with
preservationist reforms. I believe wholeheartedly that by preserving our most
valuable historic assets, particularly those designed by Trost & Trost, we can
improve the quality of life here in El Paso, Texas. I have lived in El Paso for
most of my life, other than when I traveled to go to school. Between 2010
and 2014, I received my Bachelor of Arts from the American University of
Rome in Art History and Master of Arts in Arts Management from Claremont
Graduate University.
2. Why did you become interested in the architect Henry Trost?
I didnt become interested in the work of Trost & Trost until I came back from
living in Rome, Italy for two years. There, I studied Art History and
Management of Cultural Heritage, and really learned how historic
architecture - even buildings constructed in the 1960s - were a huge part of
Romes thriving tourist economy. When I came back to El Paso and walked
around downtown for the first time and really looked, I realized that our
historic architecture is of a quality that could bring in a large tourist economy
- if we were willing to fix it up, that is! Of all the buildings downtown and in
our historic neighborhoods, I saw example after example of Henry Trosts
incredible ability to combine different architectural styles and native motifs
to come up with a typology all his own. That kind of creativity and ingenuity
only happens once a lifetime, and I felt that Henry Trost deserved more
respect than he was receiving at the time (2012).
3. Which Trost building (In El Paso) were you most interested in?
Right now we are focusing on his commercial buildings in downtown because
they seem to be most in danger of demolition due to neglect. We love all his
buildings, however, and work with several other groups to try and promote
historic preservation in different areas of town.
4. In your opinion, what was it that made Trost and Trosts buildings stand
out?
Details! The closer you look at a Trost building, the more you find particularly when it comes to design and engineering. He incorporated so
much of the southwest into buildings that were Neoclassical or Chicago Style,
but the details are revealed only if you really look for them.
5. Do you own any Trost buildings?

HOMETOWN HERO INTERVIEW: MALISSA ARRAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TEXAS

TROST SOCIETY

Sadly, no. We are a tiny organization with a tiny budget. But we hope to
lease an office in a Trost building very soon!
6. Do you think that Trost and Trosts buildings have an impact in our
community today?
Why yes! Even though many of the buildings have fallen into disrepair or
have been demolished, many more have been renovated or adapted for a
new use. They offer unique spaces for new business, homes with warm and
inviting characteristics, or bright areas for offices. More than that, they are a
source of pride for many El Pasoans, who take out-of-town friends on tours of
our downtown. They are physical reminders of El Pasos important history showing the places where John F. Kennedy stayed overnight or where
Francisco Madero planned the Mexican Revolution, for example. Without
those buildings, we only have a few pictures and stories to recall our place in
U.S. and Mexican history.
7. Did he ever win any awards for his architecture?
Hm, not sure about that one, Ill have to ask!
8. Was he part of an architecture movement at the time?
Lets just say he was part of many movements! He designed in so many
different styles, it is hard to pin him down. He studied in Chicago at the time
Adler and Sullivan were making huge strides in the fields of architectural
design and engineering, so we can say that he was certainly influenced by
them. He was also very interested in our native architectural vernacular particularly mission and adobe styles.
9. What do you think his design philosophy was?
Hmmm, I havent thought about that. I suppose it might be to let the
character of place guide the design. He was very conscious of a buildings
physical environment and tried very hard to let the elements shine through
in the design.
10. Were most of his buildings in El Paso?
Yes! Trost designed some 600 buildings all across the southwest, but most of
them were located in El Paso. At the time, the city was very well connected
due to the railroad and proximity to Mexico. Materials and labor would have
been cheaper, making it much more cost effective to commission a building
here. The city was also growing at an extraordinary rate due to the
manufacturing and textile businesses that had settled here.
11. Does El Paso have the most Trost buildings in existence?

HOMETOWN HERO INTERVIEW: MALISSA ARRAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TEXAS

TROST SOCIETY

I believe so. Of the 600, there were over 300 in El Paso. While we dont know
the status of all of them, we do know that many of them are still around.
That makes us pretty lucky!