ALICIA “ARACELY” GONZALES
Portrait courtesy of Alicia Gonzales.
Design Project Manager at CSNA Architects
Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Colorado Boulder
Alicia “Aracely” Gonzales is a Design Project Manager with CSNA Architects in Colorado Springs, CO. She graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and a certificate in lighting design (2017). She focuses on video renders, as-built renovation projects, and BIM management. When she is not working, she spends a lot of her energy volunteering with local community groups. She enjoys spending time with her husband, french bulldog, and family. She is also currently pregnant and looking forward to life as a mother and architect.
What inspired you to pursue architecture?
I think growing up I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I was always “inventing” as my parents used to say all the time. It wasn’t until I visited my family’s home country of El Salvador that I started to seriously consider architecture.
On-site at Design-Build Cabin. Photo courtesy of Alicia Gonzales.
What is the most important thing that you learned in the past year?
Being productive 100% of the time is not only setting yourself up to feel like you’ve failed but also is extremely unrealistic. Be kind to yourself when you just can’t get as motivated/productive as you are some days.
Remote working in March. Photo courtesy of Alicia Gonzales.
Remote working in December. Photo courtesy of Alicia Gonzales.
What are some architectural organizations (or specific person/role model) that helped you learn to overcome an obstacle? How did they?
A group at CU-Boulder called Designers Without Boundaries, it was nice to see and be around other students/counselors who were similar to me and understood my obstacles. I truly believe they are the reason I did not drop out of school.
NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects)– I recently found them and I have never felt so at home with a group of like-minded architects who are trying to accomplish similar things to me. I think finding them made me feel more empowered to continue doing the work that I am doing and connecting more.
Christopher Kelley Leadership Program in Denver. Photo courtesy of Alicia Gonzales.
AIA Women in Architecture. Photo courtesy of Alicia Gonzales.
2020 NOMA convention. Photo courtesy of Alicia Gonzales.
If you were given the opportunity to repeat the year, what is one thing you’d do differently?
Be more outspoken on family leave within architecture. It is one of many issues within the field that doesn’t get talked about much.
Pregnant in Architecture. Photo courtesy of Alicia Gonzales.
As you reflect on the past year, what did you discover as your biggest strengths?
My ability to be a good listener as well as a connector. I really enjoy making connections within my community as well as being a resource.
On-site at Design-Build Cabin. Photo courtesy of Alicia Gonzales.
Design-Build Cabin. Photo courtesy of Alicia Gonzales.
In terms of rising concerns and problems (in the architectural profession) over the past year, what is one change that you wished would happen and it did not? This can be in an educational or work atmosphere.
I think that’s absolutely diversity within architecture. I am hoping that this is an issue that moving forward we can actually fix instead of just continuing to talk about it. I hope that others can learn to understand that this comes from several obstacles to enter the field. From being exposed to architecture at a young age, to representation, and financial obstacles of course. I think in the workspace it is very tough for people with diverse backgrounds to understand how to navigate office culture (which typically feels fairly white). So often we feel left out, tokenized, or just overall unsatisfied with the field of architecture.
