Natalie Ramirez Architecture + Impact Collaborative

08/01/2026

Excited to share that Natalie Ramirez Architecture + Impact Collaborative has been selected to join the City of Iowa City's on-call list for Residential Development design services.

This means when the city has residential projects come up through 2028, mine is one of the firms they can call on. It's a meaningful step for a firm that just opened in 2024, and it means more opportunity to shape housing and community spaces right here in the city I call home.

Grateful for the trust, and looking forward to what's to come.

04/22/2026

Another throwback to my time with A Complete Unknown non-profit architecture firm, working alongside the non-profit Heart for Africa on a project that still means a lot to me. On their 2,500 acre campus in Eswatini, we helped create a library for over 300 children, many of them orphans, who rely on this space for learning and growth. For these kids, education is a lifeline, and this library became a launchpad for their future.

We designed reading nooks for every age, a computer lab for digital skills, and open stacks to spark curiosity. The climate demanded smart solutions, so we used breeze blocks and a colonnade for natural cooling and light. Every choice was about comfort, sustainability, and making the space truly welcoming.

Partnering with a mission-driven non-profit like Heart for Africa made this project about more than architecture. It was about giving kids a place to dream, learn, and build a better future. You can learn more about their work Heart for Africa

04/19/2026

I’m excited to be speaking at Small Biz in Small Libraries this month at the North Liberty Library 📚

🗓 Wednesday, April 22 at 6pm
📍 North Liberty Library, Meeting Room CD
🎟 Free event!

My session is called All About Property.

It’s designed to help small business owners and organizations choose a space and site that aligns with their vision, so they're not boxed in creatively or financially by surprises later on.

We’ll walk through what to look for before you commit, including:
✔️ What to evaluate before signing a lease or purchasing
✔️ How to identify potential red flags early
✔️ Ways to protect your budget so it supports your goals, not unexpected fixes

With over 15 years of experience as a licensed architect, working across projects that range from the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Education Center to collaborations with nonprofit organizations and local Iowa business owners, I have seen how the right space can shape the success of a business.

If you are considering a new location or rethinking your current one, this event is for you.

👉 Register here: https://northliberty-ia.whofi.com/calendar/event/5643986

Only 15 spots left!

I would love to see you there!

Event Calendar & Space Bookings powered by WhoFi

04/16/2026

This project is a throwback to my time as Studio Director at A Complete Unknown in Washington, DC, where I helped lead the design of the Catholic Charities Education Center.

The new Education Center is a 35,000 square foot facility that brings together a non public day school for children with disabilities up to age 22 and a child development center serving young children, including infants, with and without developmental disabilities.

We partnered closely with their education and leadership teams to design a space that truly serves their youth. The original building was not designed for this student population and was not a place where all students could fully thrive, so we focused on inclusion from the ground up.

The ground floor houses the Child Development Center along with shared spaces, while the non public day school is primarily located on the second floor. A protected inner courtyard anchors the building, filling interior spaces with natural light and offering a calm place to gather and recharge.

Instead of an elevator, a gentle internal ramp connects both floors, creating a more inclusive and less stressful pathway for students and faculty. This approach supports intuitive movement throughout the building and helps reduce stress for both students and staff.

Every detail was shaped by the needs of this student community, resulting in a therapeutic learning environment designed to support every student and create a place where each child can thrive.

03/26/2026

Addiction doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone, at any stage of life.

The DC Sobering and Stabilization Center was designed to be a safe haven for individuals arriving at some of the lowest points in their lives.

Every element of the space was thoughtfully crafted to provide care, dignity, and safety, including design choices that help limit further self-harm.

This project was completed during my time with Sorg, in partnership with contractor Chiaramonte.

Transforming an existing office into a healthcare facility within an occupied building required precision and collaboration.

Using a design/build approach, we were able to meet tight timelines while minimizing disruption, showing how thoughtful planning can make a real difference in complex environments.

Being part of a project that addresses such a critical community need is something I’m deeply proud of.

03/13/2026

The work of an architect is not always about designing buildings.

Sometimes it is about bringing people together to share ideas, ask questions, and imagine what the future of a place could look like. Collaboration has a way of unlocking ideas that no one person could arrive at alone.

I recently had the opportunity to serve as Associate Lead for the Coralville 5th Street Strategic Investment District charrette, working alongside Neumann Monson Architects. Organized by Greater Iowa City, Inc., the process brought together architects, engineers, housing experts, city leaders, and community members.

Together we explored ideas for the future of the 5th Street district, focusing on place based economic development, housing diversity and affordability, stronger connections to jobs and services, vibrant public spaces, and resilient transportation options.

The 5th Street district is a historic, walkable part of Coralville with strong potential for thoughtful reinvestment and continued community life.
Grateful to have contributed to a process built on collaboration and shared thinking.

Experiences like this are a reminder that the most meaningful ideas often emerge when many voices come together.

03/10/2026

The EcoBuildHer Campus was envisioned as more than a training center. It is a strategic framework for economic empowerment, community resilience, and long-term impact.

In partnership with the Akinkanju Network Empowerment Initiative, this two-acre campus equips single mothers, widows, and vulnerable women with sustainable construction skills and entrepreneurial training designed to create generational change.

I led the masterplanning of the entire campus, establishing the long-term vision, phased growth strategy, and spatial framework that allows the project to expand sustainably over time. I also developed the conceptual design for the first building, a trade workshop that sets the architectural and programmatic foundation for what follows.

Construction is integrated into the learning model, ensuring participants gain practical, income-generating skills while contributing to a space that will serve future cohorts of women.

The campus includes five trade workshops, entrepreneurship and childcare facilities, self-help training spaces, a conference center, staff housing, and outdoor fabrication areas. Each element is climate-responsive, built with locally produced materials, and designed to evolve through community feedback.

This is architecture as infrastructure for social mobility.

Architecture as skills transfer.

Architecture as catalyst.

We’re honored to partner with mission-driven organizations, locally and globally, to design spaces that advance equity, opportunity, and community-led growth.

03/06/2026

Hakima Ministries, in collaboration with Third Lens, partnered with Natalie Ramirez Architecture + Impact Collaborative to bring their vision for a 66.5 acre campus in Paxton, Florida to life.

This campus is designed to support foster families by providing housing, resources, and shared spaces that empower them to care for more children and feel supported while doing it.

Our role went far beyond design. We worked closely with Hakima Ministries to develop a thoughtful master plan and create visuals that clearly communicated their mission. These tools became essential in their fundraising efforts, helping establish baseline pricing and ensuring every dollar raised aligned with their long term goals.

The Welcome Center marks the first phase of the project and truly reflects the heart of the organization. A warm, wood clad entry creates a welcoming beacon for the community, while a more understated administrative space supports the daily operations behind the scenes. Together, these intersecting forms shape an outdoor gathering space that reinforces the campus as a hub for connection, encouragement, and support.

This project is a reflection of why we do what we do. Designing spaces that uplift communities and help mission driven organizations expand their impact is work we are proud to be part of.

03/03/2026

Grateful for the opportunity to have served as project architect for Slide Ranch’s Master Plan and Farm to Table Education Center, where design was used to amplify mission, education, and environmental stewardship.

By integrating educational programming directly into the site, everyday systems became opportunities for learning and sustainability. Repurposed hose bibs were transformed into creative teaching tools, and the Farm to Table Education Center was designed to connect indoor and outdoor spaces for hands on learning.

Greywater from the center was planned to irrigate a proposed orchard, aligning resource use with both stewardship and education. Every detail was shaped with the intention of creating spaces that inspire, educate, and serve.

03/02/2026

Throwback to my time as Project Architect for the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Bechtel Family Center for Ocean Education and Leadership. From early design explorations to a year of regular site visits during construction, this project was a journey of collaboration and purpose.

Sustainable features are woven throughout the 25,500-square-foot facility, including a photovoltaic array with backup battery storage that eliminates the need for fossil fuel generators. The building also features a closed-loop saltwater system that supports live animal exhibits, bringing the ocean directly into the classrooms and enhancing hands-on STEM learning for 80,000 students annually.

Swipe through to see how this space came to life and continues to inspire the next generation of ocean conservation leaders.

What’s your vision for a space that inspires change? Let’s collaborate—DM us to start the conversation.