There are over 121,000 licensed architects in the United States, yet only 1 in 4 are women. Despite these daunting proportions, the latest statistics reveal that 46% of candidates pursuing their license are women, and that they consistently earn their licenses faster than men. For this once male-dominated field, it looks like it’s time to go back to the drafting table.
Aryana Leland
Association for Women in Architecture + Design
With a legacy dating back to 1915, the Association for Women in Architecture and Design (AWA+D) continues to uplift the next generation of architects and design professionals by bridging the gender gap through mentorship, professional development, and student outreach. Originally founded by four female architecture students at Washington University in St. Louis, AWA+D continues this legacy through opportunities for design students and professionals.
I was first introduced to AWA+D as a first-generation college student at Cal Poly Pomona. Now, early in my career and studying to become a licensed architect, AWA+D has abundantly supported my growth through networking events, lectures, study groups, and scholarship opportunities. These resources and meaningful connections to women across the industry have had a direct impact on my journey to licensure and completing the architect registration examinations. Once unfamiliar territory, I am now halfway there!
Creating meaningful connections by design
With members across the United States, AWA+D is creating lasting, productive connections between students and professionals in practice. With the deliberate goal of creating an inclusive and supportive community, these connections have promoted personal and professional development through all career stages. While professional opportunities for women have improved since AWA+D’s founding, social and cultural constraints still result in a gender gap in career advancement — also known as the glass ceiling, at risk of favoring an architectural term. Today, a notable gap exists in women’s leadership opportunities within design disciplines, damaging career retention and fulfillment. A network for women by women enhances visibility, resources, and diversity within male-dominated fields, such as architecture, art, engineering, and urban planning.
In the early summer, AWA+D members gather for the annual Symposium held in the Herald Examiner building in Downtown Los Angeles. Designed by Julia Morgan — notably, the first licensed female architect in California — this has become the perfect setting to highlight voices in the community through workshops, keynote speakers, and networking opportunities. At the 2025 Symposium, AWA+D announced its first student chapter in partnership with private architecture university SCI-Arc, with another soon to follow at Cal Poly Pomona. Speaking from experience, these blossoming connections with students throughout Los Angeles will uplift the next generation of female architects and designers through dialogue and programming that centers women’s achievements and expertise. Women-led networks, such as AWA+D, seek to improve representation and reflect the contributions of women more accurately in the design profession. Less is a bore.
