079: Alicia Ponce: Building APMonarch and Arquitina to Reshape the AEC Industry

Mar 2

Alicia Ponce, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, is the Founder and Design Principal of APMonarch, an award-winning Chicago based architecture firm celebrated for its leadership in sustainable design and adaptive reuse architecture. Guided by her ethos of “Lift as you Climb,” Alicia is the founder of Arquitina, a national nonprofit with a mission to go above and beyond the 1% of licensed Latina architects in the U.S.

She has published 3 books: Latinas in Architecture Volume I, II, and III which feature the inspiring stories of 60 architects. Her honors include the 2025 AIA Chicago Distinguished Service Award for her work with Arquitina, 2023 Breaking Glass Award from the Chicago Women in Architecture Foundation, Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability, and the 2022 Landmarks Illinois Influencer Award. Alicia serves on the boards of Arquitina, United Way Metro Chicago, Professional Women in Construction, and is a Chicago Landmarks Commissioner.

We talk about:

- The mentors who encouraged Alicia to attend architecture school, the formative experience of studying abroad in Versailles, and how global travel reshaped her understanding of culture, history, and architectural potential.

- The dynamics of working directly with Santiago Calatrava on the Chicago O’Hare International Airport competition and how her knowledge of Spanish and sustainable building practices gave her an edge during the collaboration process.

- Alicia recounts the story of founding her firm after being laid off, finding her first client, and building a practice rooted in sustainability.

- The origins of Arquitina and how Alicia’s experiences during entrepreneurship, licensure, and motherhood helped her create a program that encourages participants to release shame, embrace their heritage, and achieve their goals in the profession.

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Connect with Alicia:

https://apmonarch.com/

https://www.arquitina.org/

@alicia_ponce_architect

@arquitina

@apmonarch

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