Jane Hastings was just nine years old when she declared she would become an architect. A child of Depression-era Seattle, Jane worked her way through college in the aftermath of World War II and was among the first women licensed to practice architecture in the state of Washington. Throughout her award-winning career, she designed more than 500 projects and achieved many “firsts” as a leader in the American Institute of Architects, both locally and nationally.

In her memoir, The Woman in the Room, Jane describes her journey to the top of her profession—a story of persistence, resilience, and creativity. Along the way, she embraced a life of adventure while building friendships that span nine decades and circle the globe.