Nine Hispanic and Latinx architects you should know

Despite being the second-largest ethnic group in the United States, Hispanic and Latinx individuals only account for about 5% of AIA’s total membership, according to the most recent AIA demographics report. 

In 2020, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) published a research study titled Where Are My People? Hispanic & Latinx in Architecture, which uncovered the systemic challenges and underrepresentation that have historically obscured the work  of Hispanic architects and designers. Fortunately, the profession is making strides to address these disparities, including increased visibility and support for Hispanic voices in the architectural community.

Hispanic culture is incredibly diverse, spanning from Mexico to Central and South America and the Caribbean. Each region has its own unique history, language, and traditions. This diversity is reflected in Hispanic architects’ practices and design philosophies, which draw from a rich tapestry of cultural influences. 

These deep cultural narratives, historical contexts, and vibrant traditions influence the innovative approaches Hispanic and Latin American architects bring to their work. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of Hispanic architects and designers across the United States. We are excited to spotlight the work of emerging and established leaders who are making significant strides in design, practice, and community advocacy. Their work not only enriches the field of architecture but also inspires future generations to envision and create with a sense of cultural pride and innovation.

Alicia Ponce, AIA

Chicago, Illinois

Alicia Ponce is an architect, firm owner, and "happy mom." Celebrated for her work in architecture, sustainability, and advocacy, she is the founder and design principal of APMonarch, a Chicago-based architecture firm. Ponce’s expertise and passion for designing healthier buildings and equitable communities creates architecture that is healthy and thoughtful. Through her leadership, APMonarch serves a diverse group of sectors, including commercial, higher-education, civic, healthcare, and retail. Notable projects include the Field Museum, the University of Chicago Keller Center, and Midway International Airport concessions. Ponce has led her practice to complete highly efficient projects for new construction, adaptive reuse, and tenant improvement.

APMonarch designs with the belief that everyone has the right to a space that brings them joy. Ponce refers to APMonarch as the pollinator of the built environment, designing healthy buildings that look good, feel good, and perform well. The firm is currently working with Chicago-based nonprofits Growing Home and Beyond the Ball. 

Ponce has over 25 years of architecture experience. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and studied at the E’cole d’Architecture in Versailles. Recognizing her own challenges in the architecture profession, she founded Arquitina in 2020, a national 501(c)3 organization with a mission to increase the number of licensed Latina architects in the U.S. (currently 1% of all licensed architects) while creating equitable and inclusive opportunities. Arquitina runs two cohorts a year which guide and mentor Latinas undergoing the examination process to become licensed architects in the U.S. The process is rigorous, lengthy, and costly to many, but with Arquitina’s support, the architectural candidates receive the lift they need to earn their professional license.

In 2023, Ponce received the Breaking Glass award from the Chicago Women in Architecture Foundation and the 2023 Crain’s Chicago Business recognition for Notable Leaders in Sustainability. In 2022, she received the Influencer Award from Landmarks Illinois.

Ponce has published two books, Latinas in Architecture and Latinas in Architecture and Allies, Vol. II, anthologies sharing diverse perspectives. 

Ponce currently serves as a board member at Arquitina, United Way Metro Chicago, Professional Women in Construction, and the Climate Action Museum. She is also a member of the AIA National Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence and is an appointed Chicago Landmarks Commissioner.

Armando Rigau, AIA

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Armando Rigau, AIA, has been practicing and teaching architecture for over a decade. He co-founded D-LOGIC STUDIO in San Juan, Puerto Rico, an architecture firm specializing in residential, commercial, and institutional projects, and Tándem Concreto, a joint artistic project with architect Silvana Herrera. Since 2023, he has represented AIA Puerto Rico in the Young Architects Forum. 

Rigau approaches design as a dialogic medium to rethink and cultivate meaningful relationships between people and their environments. He embraces a dynamic process with his collaborators and clients alike to discover unique connections between conceptual frameworks and their material expressions. His creative process explores the intersection of theory and practice, drawing insights from continental philosophy, art history, film, and Latin American literature. 

Rigau holds a Master of Architecture I from Cornell University, where he received the Alpha Rho Chi Bronze Medal, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with minors in History and Hispanic Literature from Georgetown University. After graduate school, he practiced architecture at Perkins+Will Miami, where over the course of four years he contributed to local and international projects across diverse sectors, including academic buildings, research facilities, and mixed-use developments. In 2016, he was recognized firm-wide as a Next-Generation Emerging Designer.

From 2017-20, Armando was a visiting assistant professor at Texas Tech University’s College of Architecture. He taught undergraduate and graduate courses in design, theory, and construction and co-led study-abroad programs in Berlin, Germany, and the inaugural semester in Seville, Spain. Armando additionally served as the faculty editor and advisor to revamp the college's architectural journal CROP. 

Other experiences include work with Jorge Rigau Arquitectos PSC in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Capella García Arquitectura in Barcelona, Spain, and an editorial internship at Log in New York City. He has also taught design studios at Florida International University, the University of Puerto Rico, and the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.
In his time off, Rigau enjoys reading philosophy at the beach, making pizza from scratch, and traveling to places with good food. He is currently awaiting his first child.

Gloria Kloter, AIA

Tampa, Florida

Gloria Kloter, AIA, is an award-winning architect, founder and CEO of Glow Architects, and a bestselling author. Gloria has been a practicing architect both in her home country of the Dominican Republic and in the United States since 2004. She is an advocate for immigrant architects, women in architecture, and motherhood.

In her book The Architecture of Motherhood, Kloter shares her journey to becoming a worldwide renowned architect and business owner while being a new mom. Kloter is also a co-author of City Shapers: Stories of Immigrant Designers and Prospering In The U.S.: A Handbook For Immigrant Architects. 

Kloter has dedicated her career to helping other young architects grow. She is the founder of Foreign Architects, a private online community where she mentors young and aspiring immigrant architects on how to obtain their architect license in the U.S.

​​Kloter currently serves as the Architect Licensing Advisor of the State of Florida through AIA Florida. She is a part of the Board of Directors of the AIA Tampa Bay, where she is the founder and chairperson of the Women In Architecture committee.

Among her awards and recognitions, Kloter is a recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award 2022 by Realty 2.0 and the AIA Tampa Bay 2020 Kelley Emerging Professional Award. She was also honored with the 2019 Sho-Ping Ching Women’s Leadership Summit Scholarship, a recognition for mid-career women architects who are advancing toward leadership roles and making a positive impact within their communities. Gloria was also honored in the Sho-Ping Chin: Legacy Of Leaders exhibition at the 2023 Women’s Leadership Summit and at AIA24 in Washington, D.C.

Patricia G. Alarcón, AIA

San Francisco, California

Patricia Alarcón is a principal at Ratcliff Architects, an East Bay, Calif.-based firm where she leads the  higher education practice. Central to her practice is creating student-centered environments that elevate and transform the learning experience and build community. Raised in Lima, Perú, she brings a multicultural perspective to her work and is dedicated to building bridges and lasting partnerships.

With a career spanning 25+ years, Alarcón has worked on both new facilities and renovations on academic campuses. With an eye toward successful outcomes, she believes in engaging broadly and listening deeply. She is committed to designing for inclusion, with the goal of fostering a sense of welcoming and belonging in the environments she helps to realize. Because of their pledge to make education accessible to all students, she appreciates working with public institutions and local California Community College districts, with recent projects at Foothill College, Los Medanos College, and Berkeley City College.

As a leader committed to a more equitable and just practice, Alarcón established her firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion group, which champions initiatives that foster diverse representation and inclusive design. To expand and broaden the pipeline to the profession, she was instrumental in developing her firm’s summer program for local high school students. Now in its fifth year, the program includes a six-week introduction to architecture and a scholarship for each participant. 

Throughout her career, she has been actively engaged in her community— as a teacher to young students through the LEAP Architects-in-Schools program; studio instructor at CCA; board member of the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco; and member of the Design Review Committee for UC Merced. Most recently and for the past several years, she has co-chaired AIA San Francisco’s Latinx in Architecture (LiA) Knowledge Community. 

Through her work with LiA, she advocates for Latinx designers and architects, both for students just entering the field and more experienced professionals. Her efforts are focused on showcasing the work of Latinx designers, often underrepresented or unrecognized, to a broader audience and building a national coalition of Latinx designers and architects with the goal of celebrating and amplifying their impact.

Alarcón received her B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and her M.Arch from UC Berkeley. She has been living in Oakland for nearly 20 years, and is the proud mami to her daughter Lucia (20) and her son Marco (17). When she’s not working, she loves to hike and explore the natural beauty of Northern California.

Graciela Carrillo, AIA

Long Island, New York

Graciela Carrillo’s journey in architecture highlights her dedication to advancing the profession and its societal impact. Originally from Bogota, Colombia, she faced significant challenges after emigrating to the United States, including adapting to a new culture and navigating a male-dominated field. These experiences fueled her commitment to creating opportunities for others, particularly underrepresented groups. Carrillo is a senior manager at Nassau BOCES Facilities Services, coordinating the school’s capital and operational projects serving Nassau County school districts.

Over the past decade, Carrillo has made significant contributions at the local, state, and national levels. As a first-generation immigrant, she is passionate about mentoring young professionals, women, and immigrants, advocating for a more diverse and inclusive architectural community. Her personal experiences have driven her to uplift others in the profession and take on leadership roles within the AIA. 

After arriving on Long Island in 2003 to start her career as an intern architect, Carrillo quickly became one of AIA Long Island’s most influential leaders. Since becoming the chapter’s associate director in 2011, she has held various leadership roles, eventually serving as president in 2020. Carrillo was the chapter’s first Latina president and only the third woman to hold the position in its 75-year history. Her commitment to the chapter’s success led her to co-found the Emerging Professionals Committee in 2015 and the Women in Architecture Committee in 2018. Both committees have since thrived, offering mentorship and resources for members. 

As the AIA Young Architect Regional Director at the state level, Carrillo played a key role in developing resources for emerging professionals, including the How to Facilitate the Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Program toolkit and the Firms Fostering Emerging Professionals award. She also helped restructure the AIA New York State board to better support young architects, adding a vice president of emerging professionals position and launching the NYS Young Architect Award.

Nationally, Carrillo contributed to the AIA Global Practice Committee, revising the Global Primer and working on a guide to help local chapters establish their own Global Practice committees. Her role on the AIA Strategic Council and as the current council moderator has given her a deep understanding of the profession’s challenges.

Carrillo’s advocacy for immigrants gained national attention after she participated in a panel at the A’19 Conference in Las Vegas. This led to her co-founding the non-profit organization Immigrant Architects Coalition, supporting immigrant architects in their career pursuits. 

Carrillo is a national speaker, podcast host, and co-author of published books City Shapers: Stories of Immigrant Designers and Prospering in the U.S: A Handbook for Immigrant Architects. Carrillo is a featured author in the book Latinas in Architecture. In 2022, Carrillo was the recipient of the AIA Young Architects Award and the 2023 AIA NYS President’s Honor Award.
 

Carlos Augusto Garcia, AIA

Los Angeles, California

Carlos Augusto Garcia is an architect, designer, and artist. His focus lies primarily in design research, master planning, sustainability, wellness, and strategies for reducing carbon in the built environment as a response to the climate crisis. He is currently associate principal and studio director of the Los Angeles office of Brooks + Scarpa.

His career began in disaster recovery in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, after completing both Bachelor and Master of Architecture degrees from Tulane University. He has competed in international design competitions, bolstered by volunteer work with the UIA World Congress of Architects and the New Buildings Institute. His involvement with the National Endowment for the Arts Mayors’ Institute on City Design allowed him to share a wide range of design tools and best practices for jurisdictions around the country.

A career commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship has shaped his affiliations with AIA, including his appointment to its national Committee on the Environment (COTE) Leadership Group, helping architects transform their practices for climate action. Ever an advocate for the Framework for Design Excellence—a brainchild of COTE—he has presented on its implementation at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design.

His work around public policy and climate justice have allowed him to develop skills to communicate globally and act locally. His seat on the AIA Committee on Design’s Nominating Committee gives him the honor of elevating architects for AIA’s highest awards. 

He currently serves as a member of the AIA Los Angeles Board of Directors, guiding their strategic plan and chairing their Government Outreach Committee. His passion for equity in the design industry has led to ongoing relationships with NCARB through the Education Committee and Experience Committee, removing barriers and revising pathways to architectural licensure. As an NCARB Licensing Advisor, he's been an AXP supervisor for dozens of architectural licensure candidates, in addition to his role as a content contributor to NCARB’s Continuum Education series. His position on the Futures Collaborative sees him exploring trends that are shaping the future of architecture and licensing.

Recently, Garcia has been enlisted to contribute to the development of an international joint greenhouse gas evaluation standard, co-sponsored by ASHRAE and ICC, as a new model for adoption by regulatory authorities. This follows his years of service on ICC’s Building Code Interpretation Committee, where he continues to offer guidance on model code interpretation to a global audience.

Darguin Fortuna, AIA

Boston, Massachusetts 

Darguin Fortuna is a trailblazing Dominican-born architect. As a founding principal of Flow Design Architects, Fortuna has established a culturally diverse and inclusive firm known for its commitment to equity and innovation. His firm, headquartered in Salem, Mass., has gained a reputation for creating thoughtful, community-centered designs that reflect the diverse voices and experiences of its team.

Fortuna’s journey from his roots in the Dominican Republic to becoming the first Dominican-born architect to win the prestigious AIA Young Architects Award is a testament to his resilience and vision. His work extends beyond traditional architectural practice, focusing on inspiring the next generation of architects through teaching, mentorship, and advocacy. A Summa Cum Laude graduate of Boston Architectural College, Fortuna now serves as an adjunct professor, where he encourages students to think critically and creatively about the built environment.

Through Flow Design Architects, Fortuna has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of affordable housing, winning accolades such as the AIA Film Challenge People's Choice Award for his film The Change We Seek, which highlights the need for diversity and mentorship in the profession. His commitment to DEI initiatives has made a significant impact on the architectural community, ensuring that underrepresented voices are heard and valued. Fortuna’s work not only shapes the physical landscape but also paves the way for a more inclusive and equitable future in architecture.

Omar Calderon, AIA

Baltimore, Maryland

Omar Calderon, AIA, was born and raised in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, where he first developed his creative sensibilities through music. Although he attended a performing arts high school and studied piano, he recognized that his true talent lay in his ear for harmony and structure rather than performance. This sensitivity ultimately led him to pursue a career in architecture.

Calderon initially enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico, where he studied physics for two years. It was during this time that his fascination with the scientific process and his admiration for the built environment intersected, prompting him to shift his focus to architecture. Growing up, Omar was influenced by the German modernist Henry Klumb’s work in Puerto Rico. Klumb, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, made efforts to adapt modernist architecture to the tropical climate. His designs impressed Omar and inspired him to explore how architecture could respond to diverse environmental and cultural contexts.

After transferring to Iowa State University, Omar earned his Bachelor of Architecture, a five-year degree that deepened his understanding of the discipline. His studies also took him to Rome, Italy, where he immersed himself in the classical architecture of antiquity and the modernist movements of Europe. Rome was a formative experience for Calderon, not only shaping his design sensibility and passion for drawing, but also introducing him to his future wife, with whom he has now shared 31 years of marriage.

Omar went on to earn a Master of Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. At Columbia, he studied under renowned architects Hani Rashid, Jesse Reiser, and Nanako Umemoto, who instilled in him a deep curiosity about both the built and imagined worlds.

For the past 26 years, Omar has been a design principal at Perkins Eastman, where he leads high-performance, resilient school design commissions. His work is making a lasting impact not only in Washington, D.C., where he works, but internationally, with projects in China, Côte d’Ivoire, Germany, Guatemala, Peru, India, and Thailand. Omar’s designs have been widely published, and he frequently speaks on the power of architecture, particularly in  schools, to shape the lives of young people for the better.

When Omar is not working he spends his time cycling, swimming, and when time permits, enjoying the national parks and traveling with his family. Omar lives with his wife in historic downtown Baltimore and is father to three young men that have chosen STEM areas of study as careers. 

Connie Rivera AIA

Corpus Christi, Texas

Connie Rivera, AIA is currently a managing principal with Texas-based Pfluger Architects. Her current work revolves around the long-range planning and design of educational facilities. Her professional history has been multifaceted, including teaching at the Department of Architectural/Drafting Technology at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas, working with an architectural graphics design company, and managing the operations of AIA Corpus Christi as their executive director. Her past work in historic preservation received awards from AIA Corpus Christi and Preservation Texas for excellence in design, and she has had a crucial role in the fulfillment of Del Mar College’s vision for their campuses.

In 2006, Rivera took a leave of absence to start a family but returned to the field in 2008, when she assumed the role of executive director for AIA Corpus Christi (AIACC). As a licensed architect, she functioned as an especially knowledgeable and effective advocate for members. Her talent, drive, and vision are credited for the success of AIACC’s transition from a volunteer-led chapter to a staffed one, and for strengthening the organization as a resource for members and the community.

Rivera served on the Texas Society of Architects (TxA) Board of Directors as vice president of professional development and vice president of advocacy, and led TxA as president in 2020. However, she is most recognized for her leadership in TxA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Taskforce, taking and developing directives and targets to expand inclusion and mobilizing leaders from around the state to meet those targets. Through these efforts, the taskforce has grown to a standing committee and continues to expand pathways to the architecture profession, architectural leadership, and service to communities.

Rivera studied at the University of Texas at Austin, obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture, with a specialization in historic preservation. Her work has garnered her many awards, including the Y Women in Careers Award from YWCA in Corpus Christi in 2019, the Outstanding Member Award from AIA Corpus Christi in 2016, and the Award for Young Professional Achievement in honor of William Caudill from the Texas Society of Architects in 2018.  She continues to serve her community through her work with AIA Corpus Christi, the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, and the TexPREP program in conjunction with Del Mar College, which introduces architecture and STEM to middle school students. She's a proud mom to her 17-year-old son who aspires to enter the law profession.

Gabriella Bermea, AIA, is a senior associate and architect working at Perkins Eastman in Austin, Texas. She is the 2023-2024 Communications Director for the AIA Young Architects Forum Advisory Committee.