By Rebecca Baibak, AIA
Dear Committee on Architecture for Education Community,
In late 2021, I was appointed to serve on the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Education for a five-year term. Since then, I have had the great privilege to serve with talented individuals from all over the country who share a commitment to CAE’s mission to foster “innovative and collaborative design of educational facilities, and to heighten public awareness on the importance of these learning environments.” As my year as Chair rolls forward, we have been busy meeting as a leadership group, building on prior years’ efforts, and continually challenging ourselves to best serve this robust knowledge community’s over 10,000 members.
Striving to heighten public awareness on the importance of learning environments is, indeed, at the forefront of our work, weaving together various activities to support the Institute’s ambitions for excellence in architecture, urbanism, and landscape. In addition to supporting and promoting several Institute award programs, we’ve planned a full programmatic spectrum, from AIAU courses to AIA25 events & tours, to our CAE Spring Conference planned for April, 2026 in Seattle.
2025 is a pivotal time to consider how political, economic, and societal frameworks intersect with our goals of cultivating safe and welcoming educational environments. And how we respond to mounting pressure to create more programming with fewer resources, especially to support diverse scholars. All while preserving communities past investments, maintaining existing places, and defending our climate. Our learning environments play a crucial role and will for generations. Thus, we should increase emphasis on resilient facilities that strike a balance between all these expectations.
This year, our Research, Advocacy, Awards, Outreach, and Forum subcommittees are working together to accelerate national dialogue and innovation that pushes the envelope in our field. In 2025, we’ll build on the success of our best practices document, “Restrooms that Work,” develop additional resources, and tackle other important topics. We look forward to amplifying our shared voices and resources that demonstrate the importance of high-quality learning environments.
In closing, I want to express my appreciation for the steady leadership of our CAE 2024 Chair, Diego Barrera, and AIA staff, especially Doug Paul, who guides and support this committed team of volunteers. We encourage your active participation and look forward to meeting you at our upcoming webinars, CAE-focused AIA25 tours, partner events at SCUP and EdSpaces, and through information sharing via Learning By Design Magazine.
Rebecca Baibak, AIA, LEED AP, is a Managing Principal at INTEGRUS architecture with over 30 years of experience in the design of educational facilities in Michigan and Washington. As a graduate of the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Architecture. Rebecca serves as the 2025 Chair of the National AIA Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) Leadership Group.