The Real Life of An Architect 2026 series- Episode 2
Doug Ashe
June 17
As founding principal, Doug Ashe, FAIA, began the firm with the goal of creating thoughtful architecture, sensitive to its time and place, and tailored to the individual client. Now, over 43 years later, Doug’s leadership of the firm has led to a long list of award-winning projects and a reputation for design excellence that is well known, both locally and throughout the Gulf South region. A New Orleans native, Doug received his Bachelor of Architecture, with honors, from Georgia Tech and went on to receive his Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University.
The results of Doug’s recent collaborations within the office can be seen in a wide range of designs including the Living Learning Commons at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Lambright Intramural Sport Center at Louisiana Tech University, the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center in Opelousas, Louisiana, and the Vidalia Landing Riverfront Park in Vidalia, Louisiana.
In 2000, during his term as the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) Louisiana President, Doug created the Celebrate Architecture design symposium, a one-day event that brings together internationally recognized architects to present their work to more than 300 architects and students. For 20 consecutive years, Doug organized and moderated the event, which has become recognized as one of the premier design symposiums in the nation. After the 2019 event, Doug passed on leadership of the event to others.
Doug has also served on the National AIA Board of Directors, Chair of the National AIA Gold Medal and Architecture Firm Awards Jury, and Chair of the AIA/ALA National Library Honor Awards Jury. He was elevated to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects in 2007 and named a Richard Upjohn Fellow in 2005. In 2018, Doug was awarded the prestigious AIA Louisiana Medal of Honor, the highest award given by AIA Louisiana “in recognition of an individual architect who has significantly advanced the profession of architecture and who, by his/her leadership, has provided an inspiration to his/her fellow architects.”
Check out our events page below for details on future events in this series.