Office of External Services – DESE
The Office of External Services serves as FADEU’s interdisciplinary unit connecting academic knowledge, research, and teaching initiatives with societal needs. Since 2009, nearly 500 professionals have collaborated with the office, completing more than 130 studies and projects. These initiatives encompass fields such as architecture, design, and urban and territorial planning, with the objective of generating a positive, tangible, and sustainable impact on communities and national development.
The office plays a crucial role in fulfilling UC’s “third mission” by facilitating the transfer of applied knowledge generated by the faculty to address social, economic, and well-being challenges in Chile. The studies conducted have enhanced the understanding of urban processes by incorporating regulations, policies, and economic resources, thereby enriching the research and academic contributions of the participating specialists. Employing theoretical approaches to meet the needs of sectoral and municipal public actors has resulted in a valuable body of knowledge and practical experience.
The FADEU Office for External Services has undoubtedly been a key driver in disseminating UC’s academic expertise and talent throughout the country, strengthening Chile’s urban, cultural, and social development. It is recognized as a benchmark in community engagement and knowledge transfer at both national and international levels.
Team
The Office of External Services comprises a multidisciplinary team of professionals with extensive experience across various fields. This team enriches each project with a comprehensive perspective that combines technical rigor, creativity, and innovation, enabling the unit to successfully undertake high-impact initiatives for different communities and territories across the country.
Faculty Members and Heads of Projects
Beyond the core team, a group of faculty members with recognized track records collaborate with the office. They come from diverse disciplines and have extensive experience in developing strategic projects, including experts in territorial planning and management, mobility and transport, socio-natural risks, urban design, urban regulations and morphology, as well as theory and history of architecture and design.
Umberto Bonomo
Director
Architect, Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia, Italy, and PhD in Architecture and Urban Studies from UC, Chile; he is an academic and administrator with an outstanding track record in social housing, urban development, and cultural heritage. As Director of the Office of External Services, he promotes collaboration between academia and society, driving innovative and sustainable solutions to urban and territorial challenges. He has served as a consultant for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Director of the UC Cultural Heritage Center (2018-2024) and of the Documentary Heritage and Digital Humanities Laboratory, as well as a founding member of Our World Heritage (OWH) and the Heritópolis Consortium, consolidating his national and international leadership in heritage management and urban planning.
Daniela Zaviezo
Associate Director of Development
Engineer in Renewable Natural Resources, Universidad de Chile, and Master in Human Settlements and Environment, UC, Chile; she leads innovation processes, connecting the Office of External Services with the industry through the transfer of knowledge and technologies. She is a lecturer at the Institute of Urban and Territorial Studies (IEUT), where she teaches the course “Urban Explorations: Sustainable Territories.” Her career focuses on urban and territorial planning, environmental management, sustainable development, and citizen participation, excelling in initiatives such as the Transfer for Innovation in Collaborative Management for Territorial Resilience, the CAPCA software, the demographic carrying capacity model for Easter Island, and the Tourist Destination Saturation Index.
Felipe Morales
Deputy Director
Geographer and Master in Urban Development, UC, Chile; he has over 25 years of experience in urban planning, territorial development, and environmental management. An expert in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), he has led multidisciplinary projects for master plan development, strategic diagnostics, and risk assessments. Since 2011, he has served as Deputy Director of the Office of External Services, strengthening the connection between academia and the public sector by managing teams and resources for high-impact sustainable urban and territorial initiatives.
Paulina García
Head of Urban Territory
Architect, UC, Chile; she has been part of the Office of External Services team since 2013, contributing strategic vision, experience, and a strong commitment to collaborative work. Throughout these years, she has led various urban planning and territorial development projects, including: Target Image of the Metropolitan Regulatory Plan of Concepción (PRMC); the Community Development Plan (PLADECO) of San Pedro de Atacama 2023-2027; Las Quintas Master Plan, Iquique, framed by the United Nations Development Program and Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning of Chile initiative (UNPD-MINVU); the Community Development Plan (PLADECO) of Vitacura 2016-2030. She currently leads the Chinchorro Neighborhood Master Plan in Arica, promoted by the Neighborhood Recovery Program, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning and the Community Development Plan (PLADECO) of the Municipality of Las Condes.
Daniela Lobos
Head of Social Studies and Citizen Participation
Sociologist, Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano, Chile; she specializes in citizen participation and a human rights approach to childhood and has led and collaborated on various urban and territorial projects throughout the country, such as the master plans for the Chinchorro, Olivarera de Azapa, Umbral Norte, Lautaro, and Casa de Máquinas neighborhoods, the risk studies in El Noviciado, and the development of the vision image for the Metropolitan Regulatory Plan of Concepción. She also participates in the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) National Infrastructure Plan 2025-2055 and the Communal Development Plans (PLADECO) for Putaendo and San Pedro de Atacama.
Simón Guzmán
Head of Planning
Architect and Master in Urban Development, UC, Chile; he is currently pursuing a PhD in Architecture, Design. and Urban Studies at FADEU. His background and experience focus on key topics in sustainable urban development, and his research areas include urban form, urban-territorial planning, disaster risk, and climate change. Among the projects he has participated in are the vision image for the Metropolitan Regulatory Plan of Concepción, the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) National Infrastructure Plan 2025-2055, and the Regional Energy Strategic Plan (PEER) for the Magallanes Region.
Daniel Moreno
Head of Quantitative Studies
Economist, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Master in Urban Development and PhD in Architecture and Urban Studies, UC, Chile. With over ten years of experience in consulting, research, and teaching in territorial planning, he has participated in projects at communal, regional, and national levels. His career includes the formulation of public policies such as the National Territorial Planning Policy (PNOT), the Urban Development Indicators System (SIEDU), and the Rural Quality of Life System (SICVIR). At the Office of External Services, he specializes in quantitative methodologies, socio-economic assessment of urban projects, neighborhood revitalization studies, and construction price analysis. His work seeks to articulate data, models, and policies to strengthen urban and territorial management in Chile.
Carolina Moya
Head of Communications
Journalist and graduate in Social Sciences and Information, Universidad Gabriela Mistral, Chile; she specializes in corporate and external communications, as well as book editing, event production, and media management. Throughout her career, she has edited and produced books, among them: 2012-2024. Tres períodos. Trece años de gestión. Decanato de Mario Ubilla. FADEU (2026) and Suspensiones: Iniciativas y proyectos en pandemia FADEU 2020-2022 (Ediciones UC, 2023). Additionally, she is co-author of the book Jardín de Chile, published by Hueders in 2016, which reflects her commitment to the dissemination and promotion of culture.
Luis Lucero
Head of Architecture
Architect, UC, Chile; he has developed his career at the institution since 1998. Throughout these years, he has participated in various projects across the urban, education, service, and healthcare sectors, in collaboration with various FADEU faculty members. He also served as Architecture Coordinator at the UC Unit of External Services (SEREX), the predecessor of the Office of External Services, and also worked as an independent architect and collaborator on university and private projects. In 2025, he became Head of Architecture at the Office of External Services, focusing on developing innovative, accessible architectural solutions and articulating space and environment to promote social well-being.
Lilian Bastías
Head of Bids and Tenders
A professional with extensive experience in academic management and strategic operations, she leads the development of strategic proposals and the administration of tenders at the Office of External Services, ensuring quality and regulatory compliance throughout the processes. Her career includes a role as Head of Continuing Education at the UC School of Design, where she managed the planning, execution, and promotion of professional certificates and courses. Her experience includes implementing regulations, quality management (ISO 2728), budgeting, and team supervision, positioning her as a key asset for directing complex initiatives and ensuring operational efficiency and documentary rigor.
Betsy Solis
Executive Assistant
She has a solid track record of over 15 years, specializing in administrative management and project coordination, with notable experience at the UC. Her profile combines strong expertise in administrative and financial management, project coordination and support, and institutional liaison. She has worked in multiple roles as Executive Assistant in the UC Continuing Education and the UC Center for Innovation in Wood (CIM), in addition to her role as assistant to the faculty in different academic units. She holds a technical qualification in Business Administration and has assisted in several research projects. Her education includes various courses in time management, problem-solving, service quality, and teamwork.