Design Dialogue: Grit Pasker

The theme for Women's History Month 2025 is "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations." We talked to AC Martin Technical Director, Grit Pasker, to get her insights and get to know her.

What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture and technology?
When my parents built their home back in the early 1990s, prior to the availability of 3D software, it turned out that design errors such as insufficient headroom at the stairs had to be corrected during construction. This experience inspired me to pursue a career in architecture.

Can you share a defining moment that shaped your path as a Technical Director?
Coming from a design background, I understood that technical knowledge is essential to successfully transform ideas into a built reality. Without intricate knowledge of constructability, zoning and building codes and the right skillset to navigate plan check processes, this is simply not possible.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in a technical leadership role, and how have you overcome them?
Women are often seen by their male counterparts as less knowledgeable when it comes to technology and construction methods. Through my hands-on experience throughout the years, I was able to build a solid construction knowledge base and a relationship with the teams in the field. This allows me to not only to talk the talk but walk the walk with them. Having built my own house helped me to understand how things go together.

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to work in architectural technology?
As a woman, you are still facing an uphill battle in the male dominated construction industry. If you want to proceed with a career path in architecture, be persistent, curious, and don’t give up. Never be discouraged by obstacles but see them as a step to the next level, then you will succeed.

How do you see technology transforming architectural design in the next decade?
The influence of technology will increase even more - 3D modeling and integration of building systems in the virtual model will be seamless and 3D printing of building components will become more and more common.

What is your first memory at AC Martin?
When I started at AC Martin 18 years ago as an intermediate designer, I joined the team for the Cal Poly Pomona project, which included a lecture hall, classrooms, and an administrative building. Among other tasks, I was assigned to work on the lighting packages. This experience ignited my passion for lighting as a crucial element of design and how lighting can emphasize certain details of a building.

Discuss an AC Martin project you worked on that had a significant impact on you, either personally or professionally?
I dedicated 10 years of my life to the work on the Wilshire Grand Hotel. From the early design stages, back when it was still a twin tower project, through the documentation phase and up to the final inspection walks with LAFD to get the building ready to be occupied. The last phase showed me how important solid code knowledge and a good relationship with building officials were, so that any issues could get solved on the spot to avoid delays.

Always on top of things - Grit during construction of Wilshire Grand

Do you have a mentor?
For many years, Tammy Jow has been a resourceful mentor to me. We now often exchange ideas on how to successfully tackle issues and obstacles on projects. She always encourages me to grow and reach further. Thanks to her I joined the RBR project team to speak at the National DBIA conference in Dallas, Texas in 2024.

Are you a mentor to anyone?
I am mentoring several young and aspiring design professionals in the public sector, offering them guidance and insights from my personal experience to support their growth.

DBIA 2024 panel with DGS Resources Renovation Building team

Favorite City/Campus/Project/Neighborhood to visit?
I like to visit the cities of Europe, where millennia old urban fabrics mingle with contemporary Architecture and each historic layer that gets peeled back unveils another even older strata of culture.

Grit exploring Paris with her family

Is there an AC Martin designed project in your neighborhood?
Living only minutes from downtown LA, I pass by many of our firm’s most iconic buildings every day, such as City Hall and the DWP building. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Wilshire Grand, as I spent a significant portion of my time at AC Martin working on this iconic building. The top beam even has my name on it.

Wilshire Grand Center

What's a common misconception about architecture that you wish more people understood?
The media often portrays architecture as being all about one person’s design idea. In reality, the design process is only a small part of the whole pie: Getting the project properly worked out, coordinated, documented, permitted and correctly built requires a far larger effort from a lot more people. Architecture is a highly collaborative endeavor with numerous aspects, and everyone has to row the boat in the same direction.

Garden Grove Civic Center groundbreaking

Something You couldn’t live without?
A good cup of coffee and the support of my family.

Where do you call home?
The Nob Hill Haus in Mt Washington. It is my own home that I built with my husband back in 2010 and which was dubbed “The Greenest Home in LA” by the LA Times in 2011. It is a certified green building, got published in several magazines, won a couple of awards and is listed in the Los Angeles Architecture guide as well. What more can you ask for?

The Nob Hill Haus in the press and one of the awards it won

How do you spend your weekends / holidays / time off?
As a Mom, I am dedicating a lot of my spare time to my daughter’s activities. I also like to spend my time outside in the garden or traveling with my family, exploring new hidden treasures in California’s backcountry. 

Left: Visiting Old Town Sacramento with family. Right: Exploring Joshua Tree National Park with friends and family

Early Bird or Night Owl?
Night Owl- kind of comes with the profession!