Latinas in Architecture Vol III: Stories of Raising the 1% One Latina at a Time

As of 2025, there were approximately 116,005 registered architects in the United States. Women represent approximately 20% of licensed architects, while Latinas represent 2%, a rise from 1.7% in 2023 and less than 1% in 2021.To create change, Alicia Ponce founded Arquitina - a first of its kind national 501(c)3 organization designed to go above and beyond the fewer than one percent of licensed Latina architects in the US while creating equitable and inclusive opportunities in the industry.The success of the award-winning Latinas in Architecture Volume I, beckoned the stories in Volume II and now Volume III. Latinas in Architecture offers a glimpse of the Latina experience in the architectural profession.The stories in this collection have roots in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panamá, and Puerto Rico. They reveal a remarkable truth: Latinas possess a unique and unwavering grit. Some are daughters of immigrants; others arrived in the U.S. by choice, or driven by necessity in the face of natural disasters or civil unrest. Yet, across borders and circumstances, we carry ourselves with pride and determination—building architecture that is by everyone and for everyone. Read more