The practice of architecture as a profession spans thousands of years, with ongoing debate about the identity of the earliest architects. Some sources claim the first architect was Imhotep, who designed the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara. Other sources will say the way Imhotep practiced architecture wasn’t like it is today, but the closest is Vitruvius (1st century BCE, Rome), who wrote a book entitled De Architectura ("Ten Books on Architecture"). The book had a profound influence on the Renaissance and contemporary architects, emphasizing the importance of the principles of firmitas, utilitas, and venustas (strength, utility, and beauty).
The History of American Women in Architecture: Then and Now
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) was founded in 1857 in New York City by a group of thirteen male architects. Louise Blanchard Bethune (1856–1913) of Buffalo, New York, is widely recognized as the first American woman to practice architecture professionally. She opened her firm in 1881, partnering with her husband. She became the first female member of the AIA in 1888 and a fellow in the organization in 1889.
As of July 2024, the NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) reported on its blog that out of all licensed architects in America, only 27% are women; however, when examining the pool of new architects who have recently become licensed, the percentage is much higher (43%). When they observed this statistic over the past five years, the representation of women in the new architect population increased from 38% to 43%.
Regarding this increase, Belinda Sanchez, Managing Director of AIA San Antonio, relayed to MiSA that women with goals of both motherhood and licensure are being realistic about their bandwidth for achieving those goals. They are identifying the potential obstacles that come with motherhood and are removing those challenges ahead of time by becoming licensed sooner than previous generations.
Women in Architecture Exhibition(s) for Women's History Month
In a recent exhibition entitled "HERstory: A Path to Progress", located at the AIA Center for Architecture in San Antonio, the Women in Architecture (WiA) Network celebrated 10 years of influence in the city. As stated on their website,
"The AIA San Antonio Women in Architecture Network supports our local communities by participating in volunteer opportunities, investing in community issues, strengthening relationships between professionals in the field of architecture and design and promoting professional and student work. We aim to positively influence women aspiring to become architects and designers by providing guidance and expertise."
The 2025 Chair of WiA San Antonio is Allison Lerma, AIA of Overland Partners Architects and the Chair-Elect is Amber Perry, AIA with the firm Open Studios.
For the exhibition, members of WiA student chapter at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) designed nine fabric panels. Each panel represented how the AIA San Antonio - WiA Network honored women in architecture every year during Women’s History Month.
The themes of the fabric panels included:
2017 - "Celebrate women in ARTchitecture," which focused on the transformative power that emerges when architecture and art converge through intentional collaboration. The panel showcased projects where artists and architects combined their skills to create work rich in meaning and cultural significance. Whether through site-specific installations, sculptural furniture, or carefully curated artwork selections, this dialogue between architect and artist created spaces that were ideal for placemaking.
2018 - "Shaping the Future of San Antonio," focused on female architects who are transforming downtown San Antonio with projects that blend innovation, community focus, and respect for the city's rich cultural heritage. Through architecture and design, they reimagined the urban landscape to create more inclusive, sustainable, and livable spaces for future generations.
2019 - "Who is SHE (Sustain, Honor, and Empower)" was a powerful tribute to the women architects shaping San Antonio, highlighting how their work is both professionally impactful and personally transformative for them. The exhibit showed how architecture can empower by shaping cities, strengthening family connections, and affirming the value of women’s contributions to the built environment.
2020 - "Women's History Month" recognized female architects who have made significant contributions in historic preservation, both in San Antonio and nationwide. It featured their efforts to restore aging buildings, maintain cultural landmarks, and thoughtfully adapt historic structures for modern use. Their work helps ensure that the architectural character and stories of the past continue to enrich communities today.
2021 - "Say It Loud" depicted the WiA San Antonio's involvement in a national movement with the same title, which was initiated by African American female architecture trailblazer Pascale Sablan, FAIA, currently CEO of Adjaye Associates (architects of Ruby City in San Antonio) based in New York City. Sablan is the youngest person to have been inducted into the AIA College of Fellows, an honor bestowed upon an architect for their career contributions, accompanied by the appellation FAIA. Sablan also served as the former President of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).
The "Say It Loud" exhibition traveled across the United States. It was on display in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in 2021 during the Texas Society of Architects (TxA) Convention, hosted in San Antonio. Each letter was overlaid with project images that involved women’s contributions to architecture. After the convention, the exhibition was moved to a temporary exhibit at the AIA Center for Architecture in San Antonio.
2022 - "Designing for Health" featured innovative work by UTSA female architecture students who explored the intersection of design and well-being through healthcare-focused projects. Drawing from real-world challenges, the students created thoughtful solutions aimed at improving patient experiences, supporting medical staff, and enhancing community health environments.
2023 - "The Art of Architecture" celebrated the aesthetic and creative side of architecture, highlighting projects where form, material, and composition came together as works of art. The work featured emphasized beauty, craftsmanship, and expression, demonstrating that architecture is not only functional but also an art form.
2024 - "Masterpiece" was born from a desire to celebrate the most meaningful work in women architects’ careers. Participants were encouraged to reflect on work that held personal significance—projects they were proud of, that made a difference in their communities, and that had a lasting impact on their own lives and families. The result was a powerful collection of deeply valued and transformative projects.
Included in "HERstory: A Path to Progress" was an interactive station titled "You Are HERstory in the Making." Participants would cut a segment of yarn color-coded to their current age demographic. They would then loop the string around the pegs that represented their career path over the years.
On the right side of the gallery were posters and images depicting the Fall discussion panels hosted by AIA San Antonio WiA since its inception. These panel discussions focused on the topics and challenges that female members face in the architecture field. They have involved speakers who were female architects, principals of firms, as well as male leaders who support them. The committee did receive some pushback for including male panelists. The Founder/Past Chair of WiA San Antonio, Aline Yoldi, stated to MiSA,
“Including men shows that they are also advocates. And for other men and women to see men saying ‘Yes. I support women, and we promote women to leadership positions.”
In the center of the space was an interactive "Growing Tree" designed and constructed by the committee, which was cut from plywood with transparent strings and clips. Viewers were encouraged to visit an adjacent station, equipped with pieces of paper and art supplies, to create a “leaf” for the tree. Many left behind supportive quotes, sentiments, and sketches. Some of the most touching leaves were created by the architect’s children.
"HERstory: A Path to Progress" is currently closed, but you can expect a similar rendition to surface when the TxA Convention comes to San Antonio in October 2026!