Episode Description

This episode of Beyond the Surface features Alicia Ponce, founder and principal of APMonarch, a Chicago-based architecture firm focused on design, community engagement, and sustainability across the Midwest and Latin America. A registered architect in Illinois and Wisconsin with over 25 years of experience, Alicia is also a Commissioner on the Chicago Landmarks Commission, a Board Member of United Way Metro Chicago, and the founder of Arquitina, a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing the number of licensed Latina architects in the United States. Her work has been widely recognized, including honors such as the 2022 Landmarks Illinois Influencer Award, the Latino Leaders Maestro of Professional Achievement Award, and the 2023 Chicago Women in Architecture Breaking Glass Award.

Alicia’s connection to architecture began early, shaped by her upbringing in the United States and formative summers spent in Mexico. These experiences fostered a deep appreciation for culture, nature, and the built environment. Encouraged by a high school teacher at a pivotal moment when she questioned her path, she pursued architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, setting the foundation for a career rooted in both purpose and impact.

Throughout her career, Alicia has been driven by a commitment to sustainability and a belief in the architect’s responsibility to the environment and society. This led her to establish APMonarch as a platform to pursue more intentional, community-centered, and environmentally responsive work. At the same time, she became increasingly aware of the lack of representation and mentorship for Latina architects, an absence that inspired her to take action.

“Embrace where you came from because that’s the value that you add, that nobody else can.”

That response took shape through Arquitina, a nonprofit organization she founded in 2020 to support, uplift, and increase the number of licensed Latina architects. What began as an effort to build community grew into a broader movement, including her authorship of Latinas in Architecture, a series that documents and celebrates the stories of Latina professionals in the field. “Embrace where you came from because that’s the value that you add, that nobody else can,” she shares. Arquitina has become a space of belonging and authenticity, offering support for women navigating the profession while balancing identities, careers, and motherhood.

“That experience that you’ve lived, that has tremendous value.”

At its core, Alicia’s story is about embracing identity as a source of strength and leadership. “That experience that you’ve lived, that has tremendous value.” Through her work, advocacy, and mentorship, she continues to expand what is possible in architecture, creating pathways for others while redefining the impact of the profession itself.