For June's Staff Spotlight, we sat down with Architect Becky Baierwick to discuss her introduction to the profession, travels, and advice for young designers. Keep reading to learn more about her in our Q&A!

Q: What inspired you to become an architect/designer?

I can’t tell you how many times someone told me growing up, “You like art and math? You should be an architect!” I was skeptical at first – how could I choose between architecture and history, biology, music, anthropology, language, and every other topic that interested me? But when I found out that architecture connects to every single field of study imaginable, I was hooked.

Q: If you could give advice to a young designer, what would you say?

Ask as many questions as you possibly can. Think you have a “dumb” question? Good – ask it as soon as you can, so you can move onto the next question, and keep on learning. The more you’re genuinely interested in and inquisitive about the world around you, the better designer you’ll be.

Q: Do you have any guiding design principles in your process?

As designers, I believe it’s our responsibility to ensure our ecological, social, and economic systems are thriving and built to last. When all of these systems are threatened by climate change, it’s more important than ever to prioritize resilience at every scale of design - from the big picture to the literal nuts and bolts.

Q: What have been some of your career highlights/proudest achievements so far?

I’ve been fortunate to be a part of many talented teams on public and institutional projects I’m proud of, including Temple Israel, currently under construction in Tulsa, OK; Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine, CA; and the Solar Greenhouse in Barcelona, Spain.

… And, ok, I’ll admit - I’m also pretty proud of passing all 7 California licensure exams on the first try.

Q: Do you have a favorite city to visit for architecture?

Barcelona of course!

Q: Do you have a favorite building or perhaps a favorite architect?

H Arquitectes is definitely in my top 5. Every one of their projects celebrates materiality and embraces its context, seamlessly integrating passive heating, cooling, and ventilation strategies. Their work is emblematic of human-centered design.