Ashley Heeren
Principal | Founder
Ashley works to celebrate communities and places with resilient, inclusive design. She believes that powerful connections made through the design of shared architectural spaces can inspire both individual and societal wellness.
Ashley's strengths have been recognized most recently with an AIA Austin Honor Award for Emerging Professional Achievement and as an Austin Under 40 Finalist. With over 15 years of experience, her professional expertise focuses on benefiting communities and ecosystems across diverse scales and typologies, including award-winning development, hospitality, and educational projects.
Alongside practice, Ashley teaches Advanced Studios at the UT School of Architecture, where her pedagogy engages adaptive systems, material experimentation, and urban narratives — most recently through projects in third-city contexts. She has been a featured speaker at AIA and ASLA events across the U.S., locally, and on international media. In addition, Ashley serves on committees for The Trail Conservancy, ULI Austin, and other local groups working to improve the Austin community. She ardently promotes education and mentorship, especially efforts to amplify female voices.
Ashley received her BA from Yale and her M.Arch from Harvard GSD. She previously worked at Low Design Office and Lake Flato, leading projects that aim to prioritize societal equity and sustainability.
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Advanced Studio / Studio Instructor
UT Austin 2024, 2025
Urban Future Lab / Studio Co-Instructor
UT San Antonio 2017
Career Discovery / Instructor
Harvard GSD 2009
Invited Design Critic
UT Austin / UT San Antonio / TAMU / Trinity / Penn State / UC Berkeley / California College of the Arts / UH Manoa / Harvard GSD -
“Everything Is a Prototype” co-presenter
Texas A&M University Lecture Series. 2023
“Innovative Fabrication and Construction Technologies” presenter
AIA Houston CK Leadership Development Program. 2023
“Inventing Architecture: Designing with New Construction Technologies” presenter
AIA Austin Design Excellence Conference. 2022
“House Zero: Inventing Architecture” keynote presentation co-presenter
AIA Ohio Technology Summit. 2022“Why is it so hot and how can we adapt?” panelist
Nexus TRT World . 2022“Disruptive hotels: how hotels contribute to the health of development in Austin” moderator
Austin Design Week. 2019“Culture of Comfort: Designing for Extreme Heat” co-presenter
ASLA National Conference. 2019“Design for Community” presenter
AIA Austin COTE Top Ten Series. 2019 -
“Midcentury Meets Modern Technology” design project feature
Austin Home Magazine. 2022
“SAY IT LOUD” with Beyond the Built Environment + AIA San Antonio Women in Architecture
Texas Society of Architects Conference. 2021
“Provocations: Exploring Urban Green Spaces in Austin-San Antonio” co-author
Lake|Flato R&D program. 2016
“Get Low” design project feature
Austin Monthly Magazine. 2013“Blankets for Hope” TEDx SA set design and installation using blankets later donated to local shelter
TEDx San Antonio. 2012