AIA|LA ARCHITECTS IN ACTION:

Questions for Janica Baker, AIA, LEED GA – Associate Principal, NAC Architecture

Design Philosophy and Civic Engagement:

What inspired you to become involved in the AAa/e, and their community outreach and professional development initiatives? How has this experience influenced your approach to architecture?

I was initially drawn to the Asian American Architects & Engineers (AAa/e) because the Board members were a friendly, boisterous, fun-loving group. Their enthusiasm for supporting their community was inspiring and I wanted to be a part of that energy. I started out as a volunteer for the AAa/e Foundation’s scholarship committee. We celebrated the accomplishments of each applicant, got to know them, and set goals to provide more scholarships than the previous year. COVID-19 and our community’s lament of the rising cost of education were alarm bells that spurred us to think of new ways to be a reliable and sustainable resource for professional development and financial support. In 2020, we began formulating the idea of a AAa/e Endowment to be an evergreen source of scholarship support. In October 2024, we earmarked $500,000 for our AAa/e Endowment and established a Board of Trustees to be the caretakers of that fund.

I’ve learned two very important lessons as an architect through my involvement in the AAa/e. First, attitude matters. Having the excitement, hope, and grit to grab hold of opportunities is imperative. Using that as a barometer for success is a wonderful tool to understand if goals need to be adjusted. Second, allow the needs of the community to drive your goal-setting. NAC’s Just Cause mission statement is, “In pursuit of a more humane world, make it right.” We have based our practice on doing right by the community. For over a decade, we have heard loud and clear the need to support those experiencing homelessness and mental health crises. Because of this, designing behavioral health facilities is one of NAC’s, and my, main focuses.

Vision for Los Angeles:

What are your priorities for addressing the pressing issues facing Los Angeles today, such as housing affordability, climate change, and social equity?

My top priority is helping to provide behavioral health facilities and healthcare campuses that support the whole person, meeting them where they are in physical, mental, and spiritual health. Los Angeles has risen up collectively to find solutions for those facing homelessness and mental health struggles. Over the past 10 years, we have collectively seen a shift in the way people seek, receive, and talk about healthcare. Architecture—creating a dignified home for people to find shelter, warmth, and security—plays a key role in improving the overall health and wellness of Los Angeles.

How can architects and planners collaborate with community members and other stakeholders to create a more livable and equitable city?

In the day-to-day work that I do at NAC, I’ve observed that effective communication, the destigmatization of mental health, and adequate project funding are key to realizing built behavioral health facilities.

– While the importance of communication is a given, it can’t be overstated. Bringing the correct groups into the project at the right time is an art. In particular, involving the community and operators of the building, and soliciting feedback from the residents/users of the facility are significant to the success of a project. As architects and planners, we can advocate for these groups to be involved in the design process.

– In 2024, conversations about mental health and wellness are more common than a decade ago. However, significant change is still necessary to destigmatize mental health. As architects working with owners and healthcare professionals, we see the financial and science-based evidence that supports the effectiveness of well-designed behavioral health facilities. We can strengthen this by continuing a feedback loop of findings between designers, owners, healthcare providers, and residents. In the process, we may illustrate to the wider community that mental health care is healthcare.

– Identifying the proper funding streams for behavioral health work continues to be a struggle for the owners we work with. In March 2024, California passed Proposition 1, which provides funding for behavioral health facilities. This is a much-needed bill that will allow owners and operators to expand their behavioral health services. As architects and planners, our ability to help our clients design, construct, and open the doors of their new facilities becomes greater if we understand the funding environment.

Preparing Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics & Paralympics:

What unique opportunities and challenges do the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics present for Los Angeles, and how can we maximize its positive impact?

Los Angeles is a vibrant and beautiful city that I’ve had the fortune to call home for nearly 20 years. I’ve lived in the city and its suburbs, enjoyed its culture and weather, and am proud to be an active citizen of LA. Angelenos are uniquely skilled at coming up with the most creative design solutions in the face of big challenges. We are turning shipping containers into homes for those facing homelessness. We are looking at the housing crisis through the lens of a young adult, resulting in affordable student housing for community college campuses. We are bolstering and expanding the Metro to make LA more accessible and to relieve traffic congestion. In our big, beautiful, diverse city, we face big and beautiful challenges, bigger than most cities. The 2028 Olympics and Paralympics are forcing us to shine a light on our challenges; it is a call to action for architects, designers, and urban planners to innovate for previously unsolvable issues. So, we take this as our opportunity to commit to creating solutions together. An equitable and accessible Los Angeles cannot happen without changing the way we use our natural resources, modifying the way we move through the city, or altering how we live next to our neighbors. Our ultimate challenge is not to make the 2028 Olympics an end point, but a marker along our path to building up our city, carrying the momentum and excitement well beyond 2028.

How can we address the potential for gentrification and displacement associated with major events like the Olympics, and ensure that the benefits are shared equitably?

Building strong partnerships with communities in danger of gentrification and identifying advocates for those experiencing homelessness/those at risk of experiencing homelessness is a necessary first step. The Olympics offer us a chance to grow, celebrate, and share our culture, and to drive local economic development. Residents, whether housed or not, must have a seat at the table to discuss and decide how to participate in that prosperity.

One tangible way architects can help is to advocate for, plan, and design the many forms of housing necessary to meet our residents’ needs. Our task is to work with communities and behavioral healthcare providers to understand the current and future demands for different housing types, whether interim, permanent supportive housing, recuperative care, substance use disorder, mental health rehabilitation centers, or others. The types of behavioral health short- and long-term residential facilities are many and varied, and all are necessary for the continued health of Los Angeles. Moreover, we can urge that these facilities be planned in the communities where the people live. These resources will support healthier, more resilient community growth.

BONUS QUESTION:

What steps can we take to create a more diverse and inclusive architectural profession, and why is this important for the future of our cities?

Diversity and empathy are necessary in architecture. Cities like Los Angeles are vibrant, beautiful, and endlessly multifaceted. From socioeconomic complexities to urban planning to environmental, to infrastructure, one aspect tugs on a dozen others. The architectural community must be diverse in our interests, passions, thinking, and culture to meet the demands of the city. Not only do we need to be diverse, but we need to work in an inclusive environment. This means working collaboratively within our firms, as well as across firms and disciplines.

In the work that we do at the Asian American Architects/Engineers (AAa/e), we prioritize supporting small businesses and the AANHPI AEC community. The AAa/e mentors students and young professionals and connects emerging firms with owners eager to work with talented designers. The scholarships we provide bolster diversity in the architectural pipeline, give students financial support and let them know that they are seen and needed. The amount of work we must collectively do leaves no room for alienation, silos, or unproductive competition. Architects can/should be each other’s cheerleaders, educating owners and industry partners about diverse business enterprises in Los Angeles. Do this within your firm, on your own, or with organizations like the AAa/e, ACE, NOMA, AWA+D, or Arquitectos.

Janica Baker, AIA, LEED GA – Associate Principal, NAC Architecture

Janica is a leader at NAC, a mission-driven architecture firm, where she emphasizes the transformative power of usability and community ownership in public projects and behavioral health work. With a keen focus on placemaking, she designs with careful attention to context, form, and detail, ensuring projects meet both functional and innovative needs.

A certified LEED Green Associate, Janica is passionate about sustainability and has successfully led initiatives that achieve high environmental standards, advocating for projects to reach LEED Certification and zero-net energy goals. She is also deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, promoting design processes that reflect and empower the communities they serve.

Janica is the 2024 Asian American Architects & Engineers (AAa/e) Foundation President and serves on the AAa/e Association Board of Directors. In her role, she helped establish the AAa/e Board of Trustees and the AAa/e Endowment to fund future scholarships.