Designing with heritage, community, and nature in mind

Each September 15 through October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. 

To celebrate this month, we spoke with architect, author, and advocate Alicia Ponce, AIA. She is founder and principal of Chicago-based firm APMonarch; founder and president of Arquitina, a nonprofit expanding licensure access for Latina architects; and creator of the Latinas in Architecture book series. Her work and advocacy efforts fuse sustainability, community-centered practice, and cultural storytelling. 

Answers have been edited for clarity and concision.

AIA Architect: How did your early life and identity shape your path into architecture?

Alicia: I chose architecture when I was about six years old, well before I even knew the name of the profession. I was mesmerized by construction sites and already loved drawing, building, and creating things.

I grew up in Chicago’s southwest suburbs in a working-class immigrant neighborhood. My parents are from Mexico, and every summer we traveled to rural Michoacán. In Chicago, my environment consisted of rail lines, manufacturing plants, and industrial facilities. In Mexico, it was the opposite—nature was all around me, adobe houses were made of the earth, and we had a freedom to move about and breathe fresh air. Those contrasts shaped my respect for nature and my belief that healthy built environments are for everyone.

Despite my passion, I wasn’t encouraged by my high school counselor to pursue architecture, which was confusing and discouraging. But a teacher noticed I was upset, asked what happened, and immediately stepped in. His wife was an architect, so he knew how to help me. I applied to several architecture schools, got into all of them, and ultimately chose the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign.

After graduating, I stumbled a bit through professional work and the licensure process. I didn’t know what I didn’t know about accredited versus non-accredited degrees. I navigated through licensure without much mentorship or guidance, which felt lonely. This became one of the seeds that eventually led me to start Arquitina years later.

What experiences or turning points most shaped the architect you’ve become?

Alicia: Entering the profession in the late 1990s was eye-opening. Women who had been practicing for 15 or 20 years told me directly that architecture wasn’t a career where women could advance. I remember a colleague who hid the fact that she had a child because she feared it would jeopardize her promotion. Those moments stayed with me.

I also noticed that my male counterparts were receiving mentorship and professional development support that I wasn’t. I loved architecture deeply, but I didn’t see a clear path for myself within the traditional firm structure.

The biggest turning point came during the recession. I was laid off from a small residential firm in late 2007. Instead of panicking, I called a developer I had met months earlier about a LEED-certified mid-rise project. They hired me, and that became my first client as an entrepreneur. I had no capital and no business plan, but I had the grit to pursue the kind of sustainable design I believed in.

That experience, combined with partnerships from former employers who trusted my work, gave me the confidence to build APMonarch.

Tell us more about APMonarch and your practice.

Alicia: APMonarch grew out of my desire to create architecture that is sustainable, regenerative, and rooted in passive principles. I believe architects can be the superheroes of climate change. If we design intentionally, we can do a lot of good.

The name comes from the butterflies that migrate annually to Michoacán, where my family is from. The butterfly symbolizes transformation, resilience, and migration—values that resonate with my identity and my practice.

Today, we’re a team of seven. Our work often focuses on Chicago communities where resources and investment have historically been limited. We design clinics, retail spaces, cafés, and community‑serving buildings that help residents feel rooted in their neighborhoods. And we educate clients about energy efficiency and green building—not as a luxury but as a long‑term benefit.

Partnering with larger firms has also been a great joy of ours. We’ve worked on exciting projects, including the University of Chicago’s Keller Center, a 125,000‑square‑foot adaptive reuse project that achieved LEED Platinum and the Living Building Challenge Materials Petal. That project was a milestone for us. We learned together, taught each other, and proved that ambitious sustainability goals are achievable.

How do different aspects of your identity shape the way you lead, mentor, and advocate within architecture?

Alicia: Being a Latina, a woman, and a firm founder shapes how I lead. As a minority- and woman-owned business, APMonarch’s certifications create opportunities. But I’m intentional about ensuring that our values are aligned and that my team’s expertise is what brings us to the table. Our identity may create the opportunity, but our results demonstrate why we belong. 

I’ll never forget learning that women of color made up less than 1% of licensed architects, a nearly invisible statistic. Suddenly, everything about my tougher experiences made sense, including the loneliness and lack of mentorship.

When someone acknowledges you and recognizes the value you add, it changes everything. That’s why mentorship and advocacy are central to my work. I want to create the support systems I didn’t have.

What inspired you to establish Arquitina, and what change are you pushing for?

Alicia: Arquitina started because several fellow Latinas in the profession in Chicago felt the same way I did. We understood that licensure is the legal right to call yourself an architect, but it is also validation. Without it, you can’t advance to higher points in the profession.

We created a cohort model to mentor women through the licensure process. In six years, we’ve supported 12 cohorts and helped move the percentage of licensed Latina architects from 1% to 3%. 

Aquitina was founded on the ethos to “lift as you climb.”  We reject the notion that says, “I dealt with challenges, so now it’s your turn.”  We’re building community, visibility, and support. 

The Latinas in Architecture book series has become a powerful storytelling platform. What do you hope readers take away from it?

Alicia: The importance of family and our rich cultural diversity are threads through all three volumes of Latinas in Architecture. The series is about the power of voice and vulnerability. Each author shares her story with courage: her challenges, her triumphs, her contributions to the built environment. I’m proud to note that in addition to sharing our cultural perspectives and perspectives as women, we also talk about the incredible architecture and cultural landscape we’re helping to create.

Latinas and Latinos are not a monolith. We are a vibrant tapestry spanning dozens of countries. What unites us in this profession is our love for architecture. The books show who’s behind the buildings, and they remind readers not to give up on pursuing their passions and making a difference.

Kathleen M. O'Donnell is a freelance writer, editor, and communications strategist based in Washington, D.C. She is committed to telling stories that provide useful insights to architects and designers and highlight the impact of their work.