Ana Alleguez
Ana Alleguez, RA, AIA, LEED AP, is the Owner and Principal Architect of Alleguez Architecture, Inc., a woman-owned firm with more than 30 years of experience delivering thoughtful, efficient, and high-quality design solutions. A graduate of the University of Miami, Ana brings a hands-on leadership style and a deep commitment to innovation, sustainability, and professional excellence. Her work is guided by a clear mission: to provide enduring value to clients through designs that solve problems economically while exceeding expectations for service, quality, and performance.
Under Ana’s leadership, Alleguez Architecture, Inc. has built a strong reputation for its organized, systematic approach to project management and quality assurance. The firm advocates Early Problem Seeking and Early Problem Solving (EPS), ensuring challenges are identified and addressed early in the design process. Ana is actively involved in all phases of work, overseeing financial management, strategic planning, quality control, and client relations, while serving as a trusted liaison between clients, consultants, and project teams.
The firm offers in-house architecture, interior design, and construction management services, with project experience spanning citywide planning, historic preservation, educational facilities from K–12 through university levels, low-income multifamily housing, airport facilities, retail and food service spaces, parks, and public infrastructure. Licensed in Florida, North Carolina, and Alabama, Ana Alleguez continues to shape communities through sustainable, well-executed design that reflects both technical rigor and a genuine commitment to the people and neighborhoods it serves.
• University of Miami
• University of Florida
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to architecture being both my profession and my calling for more than four decades, shaped by mentorship, perseverance, and a deep commitment to community. Early guidance from my mentor, Thorne Grafton, gave me the confidence to found my own firm, which has now been serving clients for over 30 years. My work has always focused on people-centered, community-based projects, and my dedication to service—both professionally and through organizations like the YMCA—continues to guide everything I do.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was the importance of having someone invest in your growth. My mentor and former partner, Thorne Grafton—a third-generation architect—was generous with his time, guidance, and encouragement, and gave me the confidence to step out and start my own firm. His belief in me shaped my career, and it instilled a responsibility I carry forward by supporting and mentoring the next generation.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be honest with yourself and with others—integrity builds trust, and trust is the foundation of any lasting career. Perseverance matters; there will be moments when the path feels uncertain, but staying the course is what ultimately defines success.
Shoot for the stars and never let go of your vision for your life and goals. Find a mentor—and when the time comes, become one—because no one advances alone, and guidance can change the direction of a life. Don’t wait for permission to lead; step into your expertise, believe in your voice, and let your work speak for itself. Build a career that serves more than yourself, knowing that work rooted in community and education creates impact that lasts far beyond you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Architecture, like many industries today, faces significant challenges, including staffing shortages and gaps in educational preparation. At the same time, these challenges create opportunities—especially through mentorship, which I see as a vital bridge forward for developing the next generation of architects and leaders.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value integrity, trust, and hands-on engagement—principles that guide both my professional and personal life. In my firm, I stay closely involved in every project, working alongside a core team that has shared in our successes and challenges from the very beginning. At home, caring for my 96-year-old mother reminds me daily of the importance of compassion, balance, and staying grounded.