University of Houston

Overview

University of Houston is a major public research university in Houston, Texas, part of the University of Houston System. John Louis-Chan (Louis) attended University of Houston with a scholarship for his undergraduate degree before pursuing a master’s degree in architecture at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan.

Louis Chan’s Connection

Educational Path

• Born: 1965 (Manila or Taiwan)
• Childhood: Taipei, Taiwan
• High School: Taipei American School
• Undergraduate: University of Houston (1983-1987 approximate, scholarship)
• Graduate: Cranbrook Academy (Architecture, Master’s degree)
• Career: Architect

Third Child Success

• Rose → Stanford → NYU Law
• Meg → Stanford (Economics)
• Louis → University of Houston → Cranbrook Academy
• Michelle → Whittier College

Scholarship Achievement:

• Third of four children to receive scholarship
• Continued family’s perfect record
• Different path: Architecture vs. siblings

Architecture Path

UH to Cranbrook

Undergraduate Foundation:

• University of Houston provided foundation
• Likely studied architecture or related field
• Prepared for graduate architecture program

Graduate Specialization:

• Cranbrook Academy of Art (Michigan)
• Master’s degree in Architecture
• Prestigious graduate program
• Specialized professional training

Career Outcome:

• Architect (profession to be documented)
• Technical and creative field
• Different from sisters’ paths (law, economics)

Why Houston?

Distance from Family:

• Family in Taiwan until 1990
• Houston, Texas far from California (where sisters went)
• Independent path
• Different region of USA

Quality and Affordability:

• Major research university
• Strong programs
• Public university (vs. private like Stanford, Whittier)
• Scholarship made it accessible
• Good value for education

Architecture Opportunities:

• Houston major city with significant architecture
• Construction and real estate booming in Texas 1980s
• Exposure to urban development
• Relevant for architecture student

Comparison to Siblings’ Paths

Geographic Diversity:

• Rose & Meg: California (Stanford)
• Louis: Texas (Houston) → Michigan (Cranbrook)
• Michelle: California (Whittier)

Field Diversity:

• Rose: Law (NYU Law)
• Meg: Economics (Stanford)
• Louis: Architecture (UH → Cranbrook)
• Michelle: Liberal arts (Whittier)

Degree Levels:

• Rose: BA + JD (highest credentials)
• Meg: BA
• Louis: BA + Master’s (graduate architecture)
• Michelle: BA

Jesse and Betty’s Perspective

Different Type of Success

Not Just Academic:

• Louis pursued professional degree (architecture)
• Creative and technical field
• Practical profession
• Different from sisters but equally valuable

Geographic Diversity:

• Children spread across USA
• Texas, California, New York (during school)
• Broadening family horizons
• American experience across regions

Still Scholarship:

• Third scholarship in a row
• Educational investment paying off
• No financial burden on family
• Jesse and Betty’s hard work validated

1980s Texas

University of Houston in 1980s:

• Growing institution
• Houston booming city (oil, construction)
• International student population
• Architecture relevant field for Houston

Louis’s Experience:

• International student from Taiwan
• Asian-American in Texas (different from California)
• Architecture student in major developing city
• Foundation for career

Connection to Jesse’s Real Estate

Potential Influence:

• Jesse was successful real estate developer in Taiwan
• Built Cherry Hill Development Taiwan and Houses on the Hill Taiwan
• Louis visited construction sites with Rose (though Rose remembered)
• Architecture as professional version of Jesse’s building?
• Following father’s footsteps but with formal training?

Architecture vs. Development:

• Jesse: Self-taught developer (“real estate is really simple”)
• Louis: Formally trained architect (UH → Cranbrook)
• Professional credentials vs. practical experience
• Next generation professionalizing family skills

Research Questions

• Louis’s exact years at University of Houston?
• What did he major in?
• Did scholarship cover full tuition?
• Why Houston specifically?
• Architecture career details?
• Where does Louis live now?
• Married? Children?
• Still practicing architecture?
• Connection between Jesse’s development and Louis’s architecture?
• Did Louis visit Jesse’s Taiwan properties?
• How did Louis choose architecture as field?