Asa Santa Cruz, Assoc. AIA
Few emerging professionals are as deeply engaged as Asa Santa Cruz, Assoc. AIA, whose leadership has profoundly impacted the pipeline for future architects. Since establishing herself in the profession, Santa Cruz’s has distinguished herself as a true citizen architect on the front line of diversifying the profession. The accomplishments Santa Cruz has already marked in her young career as a program manager in BDG Architects’ Charlotte office are only matched by her ceaseless volunteer efforts since joining AIA in 2016.
Asa Santa Cruz, Assoc. AIA
Before relocating to Charlotte, North Carolina, Santa Cruz served as AIA Tampa Bay’s associate director, where she supported aspiring architects by providing study materials to members during the transition from ARE 4.0 to ARE 5.0. Her commitment to the chapter’s associate members was recognized with its Kelley Emerging Professional Award in 2017. Santa Cruz’s service also extended to AIA Florida, where she served on the Convention and Professional Development Committee and collaborated with the chapter’s associate director at large to bolster communications and event organization.
Santa Cruz’s dedication has continued in North Carolina, where she has served on several critical committees for AIA Charlotte and AIA North Carolina. In Charlotte, she created a thriving Women in Architecture group and has been a constant contributor to its growth. Throughout 2021, while serving as the group’s co-chair, she proposed creative solutions for members to maintain connections despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Santa Cruz was also instrumental in organizing numerous Mimosa Breakfast committees, which have raised more than $30,000 to support scholarships, leadership seminars, and events for University of North Carolina Charlotte students.
Due in large part to her tireless commitment to pursuing innovative professional development opportunities for her colleagues, Santa Cruz received a resounding endorsement to serve as AIA North Carolina’s 2023–2024 associate director. In that role, she quickly instituted quarterly meetings with the state’s seven chapters to focus on issues pertaining to emerging professionals, women in architecture, and K-12 programs. In addition, she played a pivotal role in organizing the Emerging Professionals Exchange Fellow event at the 2023 ASPIRE conference, held in Asheville, North Carolina, in September.
Beyond AIA, Santa Cruz has been a valuable asset to Wayfinders, a Charlotte-based nonprofit that offers camp experiences, enrichment programs, and mentorship for underserved students. Last summer, she connected the North Carolina Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects’ Project Pipeline program with Wayfinders.
After attending A’18, Santa Cruz connected with Michael Ford and encouraged him to bring his innovative summer camp, Hip Hop Architecture, to Tampa. After Santa Cruz gave a presentation about it in Charlotte, AIA Charlotte contributed $4,000 to bring the camp to the city. Many of the chapter’s members also volunteered their time and expertise to support scholars enrolled in the camp’s 2019 and 2020 iterations.
Through her potent combination of enthusiasm and vision, Santa Cruz encourages architects to pursue deeper engagement. She inspires both her colleagues and a tremendous number of young people to envision new ways to serve their communities and strive for an ideal profession.
Yanitza Brongers-Marrero, FAIA, Chair, Moody Nolan, Columbus, OH
Imani Day, AIA, RVSN Studios, Ithaca, N.Y.
Christopher Elcock, AIA, GWWO Architects, Baltimore
Petrina Gooch, Assoc. AIA, HED, Los Angeles
Rusty Smith, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
This award recognizes Associate AIA members who are outstanding leaders, creative thinkers, and who have made significant contributions to their communities and the architecture profession.
Explore the 2024 recipients recognized for their significant contributions to their communities and the architecture profession.