Denise Torres
Denise Torres is a seasoned architecture professional based in Torrance, California, with approximately 24 years of experience in commercial architecture. She began her career through a summer job at her father’s architectural firm after high school and ultimately chose to remain in the field, transitioning from her initial studies in international business. Her early exposure to the profession and strong family influence helped shape her long-term commitment to the industry and to the continued growth of the family business.
She currently serves as Principal at Torres Architects, where she oversees day-to-day operations, manages client relationships, and leads project execution across both East and West Coast developments. Denise plays a key role in coordinating design and engineering teams, launching new client projects, and ensuring successful delivery of commercial architecture work at a national scale. Her leadership has been instrumental in expanding the firm’s reach from a primarily local practice to a nationwide operation.
Denise studied at Loyola Marymount University and continues to build on her hands-on industry expertise through professional affiliations and certifications, including her recent MBE Certification from NMSDC. She is actively engaged in professional and advocacy communities supporting small business and minority-owned enterprises. Known for her practical, solutions-driven approach, Denise specializes in commercial architecture with a strong emphasis on technical problem-solving, collaboration, and delivering functional, high-quality built environments.
• MBE Certification
• NCARB (National Council for Architects)
• U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Women's Chamber of Commerce
What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute my success to both my dad for taking the chance on me, and also to our clients for giving us the opportunity to do the work for them. My dad, who is a licensed architect and contractor, has been somebody that has guided me through all this. He's the one who started the firm, and when I came in for a summer job after high school, he gave me the opportunity to stay and continue the family business, even though I had studied for international business. Without his guidance and the trust our clients have placed in us over the years, I wouldn't be where I am today.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to listen and be a sponge. We don't know everything, so people have a tendency to kind of shut down, but you always want to learn from whoever is out there. You can't assume you have all the answers - staying open and absorbing knowledge from others around you is crucial to growth and success in any field.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to not be afraid. The industry has a lot of barriers because this is an industry that's more kind of male-dominated, and I would say just don't be afraid, and just to kind of get in there, and you'll forge your own path. There are restrictions and challenges you'll face, but you can't let that stop you. You have to push through those barriers and create your own opportunities, because the path is there if you're willing to take it.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges right now are really with the economy and budgeting. It's hurting a lot of clients on getting loans or getting the money to be able to build, especially in California. This is restricting a lot of the design and the potential that a building can have, and we're being forced to design within more stricter parameters. So I would just say right now, it's the state of the economy with everything going on that's creating the most significant obstacles for our clients and our work.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say transparency is the main one, and then honesty. Because dealing a lot with design with clients, we need to know what it is that they want, what their goals are, and sometimes people feel a little hesitant, or they don't want to share everything, whether it's personal or business. I think transparency and honesty is always the best thing for everybody, and it shows through our design as well. Without that openness and truthfulness, we can't deliver the best results for our clients or maintain authentic relationships.