Aspen Thorstenson
Aspen can be found most often downtown with a caramel latte in hand or working remotely from the lake.
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Her comfort TV show is Parks and Recreation or any cooking show in the background (in architecture school, professors hated background noise, but she has found that she can't sit in silence)!
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Aspen's guilty pleasure snack is boneless wings.
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Her bucket list vacation is New Zealand - to hike, explore, and learn different ways of living.
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Oshima, Chef Lance, and R-Wine Bar are all her favorite local restaurants.
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Her most used emojis include the cowboy and laughing face (plus way to many exclamation marks)!
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Aspen's hidden talent is she never has needed an alarm clock - she just wakes up on her own.
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Her favorite seasons are Fall and Spring, especially the first week of each because the change and variety inspire her.
My Story
I was born in Washington, raised in Kansas, and came to South Dakota to attend SDSU—following my mom as she took a leadership role there and wanting to be closer to her. What I expected to be a short stop instead became home. Sioux Falls is where I built my career, my community, and the foundation for work centered on people and progress.
I’ve always been a creative and a question-asker. That curiosity was shaped early by my grandfather, a nuclear chemist who worked at the Hanford bomb site, who taught us to understand how things work and to challenge assumptions. I also watched my mother navigate law school with three kids, build her career, and go on to serve as General Counsel and Vice President at SDSU. From both, I learned the value of curiosity, discipline, and showing up fully when the work matters.
I started college when my daughter was six months old, pursuing both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I wasn’t a traditional student, and that was often an advantage or disadvantage. It taught me how to focus on what matters, adapt quickly, and keep moving forward with intention. Along the way, I found architecture - a profession that challenges me creatively and strategically, and one I never get bored with.
I founded CREATE with a simple belief: no matter what we’re doing, we are always creating. We are shaping environments, systems, and experiences every day. CREATE exists to do that work intentionally - putting people first and designing spaces that support how communities live, work, and grow.
Our work is driven by positive momentum. We meet people where they are and help move projects (and places) forward through thoughtful design, clear process, and real collaboration. Architecture, to me, is not about ego or trends; it’s about making places work better for the people who use them, especially in communities that are often overlooked.
I’m a visionary, an activator, and a creator. I see potential and enjoy turning ideas into reality. While public speaking will never be my strength, I value connection. I love spending time with people, listening to their stories, and understanding how design can make their worlds better.
That belief in people, progress, and purposeful creation is what brought me here and it continues to guide everything we build at CREATE – and outside of work.