The Á•SQUARED method: translating stories into architecture

The Sun Devil 100 Class of 2025 features six exceptional alumni-led businesses based in California that collectively generated $615.1 million in revenue during the 2023 fiscal year.

Meet Jessie Whitesides and Tony Garcia, two of the outstanding alumni recognized in this year’s class.

Á•SQUARED is a California-based architecture studio founded by alumni of Arizona State University who share a visionary mission: to integrate collaboration, continuity and consciousness into the art of building – while keeping the process deeply rooted in the human experience.

With projects spanning residential, commercial, hospitality, wineries and more, Á•SQUARED's contemporary designs are informed by the environments and communities they serve, prioritizing a collaborative process that places the client at the center.

Á•SQUARED's dedication to excellence has earned it recognition for eight consecutive years in the ASU Alumni Association’s Sun Devil 100 program, an honor recognizing alumni-led businesses from around the world. The studio operates from two California studios, located in Santa Rosa and La Mesa, and is professionally licensed in California, Washington, Utah and New York.

Tony Garcia and Jessie Whitesides met as students at The Design School at ASU, and they both graduated in 1995 with Bachelor of Science in Design degrees.

For Garcia, the program was pivotal in developing critical thinking, adaptability and the capacity to see the correlation between architecture and entrepreneurship. Along with learning technical skills, he gained access to a vast network of peers and mentors that he continues to leverage.

“Whether in the classroom, studio or broader campus community, I built relationships that continue to shape my personal and professional life today,” Garcia says.

Whitesides attributes the scale of ASU’s main campus with instilling independence and resourcefulness, empowering her with cross-disciplinary curiosity. In addition to the strong foundation The Design School built, she garnered knowledge and tools that enhanced her creativity.

“That mindset stuck with me. It taught me to think outside the box and not wait for someone else to provide the solution – which has been a huge part of how I approach running Á•SQUARED today.”

After graduating, Garcia and Whitesides took different professional paths. Garcia entered the workforce, gravitating toward smaller firms that offered a broad view of the profession, while Whitesides pursued graduate studies, exploring architecture as a vehicle for storytelling. Despite the distance, they maintained a close friendship, even working together at one point in the same Seattle-based architecture office.

It was during those years that the seeds of Á•SQUARED were planted. In 2003, they conceived the idea of creating a practice that would allow them to collaborate from different parts of the country – hence the name “Asquared Studios,” a nod to the concept of Architecture Anywhere.

A year later, that idea became a reality. In 2004, they formally incorporated Asquared Studios, a studio founded on the principles of collaboration, flexibility and the belief that great design can happen across distance when shared values and vision are strong.

Today, after 20 years in business, the studio has rebranded to simply be Á•SQUARED.

“While the structure and dynamics of our studio have evolved over the past two decades, the spirit of collaboration and continuous growth remains central to our work. As a co-founder, I’m proud of how we’ve grown and excited for what’s next,” Garcia says.

For more than two decades, Á•SQUARED has challenged the traditional view of architecture. Rather than just designing buildings, the team crafts experiences rooted in trust, responsiveness and creativity.

“Architecture is often misunderstood. The process itself is not necessarily complicated, but it is deeply complex,” he says.

That complexity can lead to skepticism around timelines, costs or value. But Á•SQUARED tackles this by shifting the narrative and prioritizing education, clarity and transparency.

One standout example: following the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, the studio created Disaster Recovery Flashcards and an accompanying companion guide – the Architectural Process Guide – to demystify the architectural process from start to finish.

“These tools are designed to empower individuals navigating rebuilding efforts, especially those doing so for the first time under unimaginable stress,” Garcia says.

Whitesides adds that the studio is now launching The Imprint Collective, a regenerative rebuilding initiative that offers bespoke design with a unique shared investment opportunity, significantly reducing the typical soft costs of a custom architectural project.

So, beyond the planning, designing and building, what’s the deeper purpose behind this kind of work?

“In a word: inspiration,” Garcia says.

Inspiration is a quiet force that shapes work such as art, writing and design, he describes. It serves as a state of being that fuels vision and possibility – two things vital to entrepreneurship.

For Whitesides, the magic happens when that inspiration becomes tangible. Turning a client’s story into something palpable is the most rewarding part of the work.

“Translating a client’s narrative into built form is where architecture becomes personal and powerful,” she says.

For eight consecutive years, Á•SQUARED has been named to the Sun Devil 100. ASU gave Whitesides a chance to explore what kind of designer and entrepreneur she wanted to be, and now, she views the recognition as a full-circle way to reflect on her journey.

“To now be recognized alongside so many other driven alumni who are out there making things happen, it’s both humbling and energizing,” she says. “It makes me proud to represent not just our studio, but also the mindset that ASU instilled in me.”

And, as Garcia notes, the Sun Devil 100 offers a chance to be part of an inspiring community of alumni who embody entrepreneurial success and so seamlessly exemplify the ASU Charter.

“ASU laid the foundation for an entrepreneurial path rooted in service, innovation and responsibility,” he says. “These values have become a cornerstone of how we lead and grow our practice.”

To learn more about the Sun Devil 100 or view the Class of 2025 official revenue rankings, click here.