Daily Inspiration: Meet Asia Allen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Asia Allen.

Hi Asia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been a creative. As a child, I would often draw pictures for my mother to keep in her office at work. In school, art and math were my two favorite classes, and in high school I decided to enroll in Advanced Placement Art. The final assignment for AP Art my senior year was creating a portfolio of a collection of artwork that shared a theme. It wasn’t until I realized that most of my artwork incorporated some form of the built environment that I became interested in architecture. Up until that moment, I had never considered studying architecture or being an architect because I had never been introduced to the possibility.

I went on to study Architecture at The University of Tennessee Knoxville and graduated in 2011. So many people told me how hard it would be, but I never doubted my ability to succeed. During my time at The University of Tennessee I won the Diversity Scholarship and Internship from Gensler that would mark the beginning of my professional career. Having the opportunity to gain professional experience with an architecture firm of that caliber prior to graduation was hard to come by.

After graduating, I did not want to move back to Nashville. At the time, Atlanta was the place to be and tried hard to land a job there. To my disappointment, after multiple interviews, the job offer came from a firm in Nashville. The country was in a recession at the time, so I was lucky to even find a job when a lot of my classmates were not able to. This would mark the beginning of my career as a healthcare architectural designer.

Soon after joining my current company, Gresham Smith, I completed my licensing exams and became a licensed architect in the state of Tennessee in 2016. To this day, this is one of my biggest life accomplishments. The journey to licensure is difficult. The stress of studying and testing on top of everyday responsibilities can really take its toll on you physically and mentally. Once I was done, I felt like I got a huge part of my life back.

Not only was I finally licensed, but I became the 4th African American female architect in the state of Tennessee and one of the first 400 in the country. Only 0.4% of licensed architects in the country are African American women. I do not take these statistics lightly. These numbers mean there is still a lot of work to be done to increase equity and diversity in the profession. I am proud to serve on the board of two local organizations, NOMA (The National Organization of Minority Architects) and the Civic Design Center, that prioritize equity and diversity in educating the youth in Nashville on the built environment and how they can make a difference in their own communities.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. My mom died only a few months after starting my first job out of college. I was a young adult, still trying to get a grasp on adulthood and starting my career. And now, I suddenly had to face all of that without my biggest supporter. Losing her at this significant time in my life felt like a chair had been pulled right out from under me. This was one of the biggest struggles I had to face and it has played a significant role in how I have pushed forward from there.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work at Gresham Smith as a project architect in the Healthcare Studio. I oversee project design and delivery throughout each phase of design and construction. I work closely with our clients to understand their needs and to set project goals and expectations. I lead the design team through the development and delivery of construction documents by coordinating with consultants and engineers, making sure deadlines are met, and ensuring client satisfaction. When projects are in construction, I work closely with the contractor to review product submittals, complete job observations and solve any unexpected issues.

Architecture is only half of the story. In 2020, I started my own blog, www.asianatasha.com. I had been struggling for a few years to find a creative outlet outside of architecture. As a result of the pandemic, my life slowed down a bit and I was forced to really address that emptiness I was feeling. The struggle was pinpointing one thing to focus on. Until I realized I didn’t have to do that. I’m interested in exploring so many things and a blog is the best way to create and share my ideas!

On my blog and on social media I share ideas, projects and experiences related to wellness, home decor and organization, floral design and event design. I’m not a professional on any of these topics, but I’m just enjoying the process of learning and interacting with those that are interested in following along!

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert is one of the best books I’ve read (and re-read) that has helped me in my journey as a professional and a creative. The way Elizabeth Gilbert describes the dynamic between fear and the creative journey has helped me understand and be at peace with the fact that fear will be present along the way, but the key is not letting it dictate my decisions.

Contact Info:

• Email: adixon1087@gmail.com
• Website: www.asianatasha.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asia.natasha/