El Simposio

¡Latinas in Design Technology!

The symposium will bring together leading Latina voices in the fields of Architecture & Design Technology.

Event Schedule

4:00pm – 6:30pm Check-in & Registration

4:30pm – 5:30pm Mingle – Exhibit

5:30pm – 6:30pm Speakers’ Presentations

6:30pm – 7:15pm Panel Discussion + Q&A

7:15pm – 8:30pm Jangueito – Networking, Food & Drinks

8:30pm Event Close

Speakers

Dr. Karla Saldaña Ochoa

Dr. Karla is an Ecuadorian architect, coder, and academic who serves as a Tenured Track Assistant Professor for AI in Architecture at the University of Florida’s School of Architecture. She is the director of the SHARE Lab (Synergetic Human-Artificial Intelligence Research & Design Laboratory) and leads the AI in Architecture Graduate Certificate program

GIOVANNA PILLACA MOROTE

Giovanna is a Peruvian architect, academic, and researcher working at the cutting-edge intersection of computational design, artificial intelligence (AI), digital fabrication, and immersive technologies (VR/AR). Born in Lima in 1992, her work heavily explores how living systems, biological processes, and cultural heritage can inform futuristic architectural spaces.

ELSA PONCE

Elsa is a Mexican-born registered architect, interdisciplinary designer, and educator based in Brooklyn, New York. She is the founder and principal of Studio Elsa Ponce, an architecture and design practice primarily focused on spatial justice, community access, and public environments. She teaches professional architectural practice at the Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York.

Dinorah Martínez Schulte

Dinorah is a Mexican architect, professor, and researcher celebrated for pioneering work that blends digital fabrication, robotics, and sustainable material culture. Based between Mexico and the United States, her research addresses the tension between global technological progress and highly localized, sustainable construction application. She is the Founder and CEO of Manufactura, an experimental lab based in Mexico City.

Moderadoras

Diana Franco

Lead Event Curator, Technical Designer, SOM | Arquitectos President

Diana is a Designer at SOM New York Studio and the representative for SketchPro.AI x SOM partnership for the integration for architectural documentation AI workflows inside Revit. Diana drives artificial intelligence at SOM, and is a key leader in digital design technology and BIM documentation. She co-created SOM’s first global SketchPro.AI resource deck and serves as a member of the SketchPro.AI champions group.