Refugio Reyes Rivas

José Refugio Reyes Rivas (September 2, 1862 - February 3, 1943) was a Mexican architect, author of some of the most representative buildings of the city of Aguascalientes, where his work is considered part of the historical and architectural heritage. Reyes did not have professional architectural studies, so he is called "empirical architect". In 1985 he received the post mortem title of architect, granted by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes. Reyes completed more than 200 buildings in the states of Zacatecas, Jalisco and Aguascalientes. He was characterized by his use of diverse decorative styles, from neoclassical to Art Nouveau, as well as construction innovations of the first half of the 20th century.

Among his most outstanding works are the Templo de San Antonio, the renovation of the Templo de Guadalupe, the Templo de la Purísima Concepción, the construction of several hotels, such as the París, Francia, Regis and Washington, and the current Museo de Aguascalientes. Several of these buildings are currently museums or are part of the governmental institutions of the state and the city of Aguascalientes.