Anzhelika Arbatskaia currently serves as Senior Associate at Baker Barrios Architects. With about five years’ experience in architecture and planning, Arbatskaia has had the opportunity to touch a huge range of projects, ranging from healthcare to student housing, multifamily and more.
Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school?
I grew up in Russia, in a very old city called Nizhny Novgorod, which celebrated its 800-year anniversary in 2021. That is also where I went to the university to study architecture.
After graduation I came to America and continued studying at the University of Florida (UF), where I received a Master of Science in architectural studies. At UF, I focused on urban studies and architectural design culminating in my master research project, “New Urban Settlement for Climate Change Migrants in the St. Augustine Area.” The project set a focus on how the city can preserve itself and adapt for an inevitable future of many coastal cities that face sea level rise challenges.
How did you get your start in the industry?
After graduation I applied to several firms in the area and was thrilled when Baker Barrios expressed an interest in my portfolio. I was quickly hired, and the firm sponsored my work visa.
Did you have a mentor who helped you get on your feet, or is there someone you turn to now for support?
There are so many talented people at Baker Barrios who form a great support network, so there are many people I go to for advice. That type of generosity in mentorship is a big part of the Baker Barrios culture. But I would say one of my biggest mentors is CEO and Founder Tim Baker. He has been absolutely instrumental in my growth, teaching me his methods for master planning, and encouraging me to learn new trends and develop my own methods.
What does an average day at work look like?
One of my favorite aspects of my job is there is no average day; no two days are ever the same. My work is integrated into our design operations team, so I touch every single project that comes through Baker Barrios’s four offices, including Orlando, Tampa, Nashville and Chicago. Master-planned, low-rise multifamily, high density urban towers, industrial spaces—the team I’m a part of works on it all.
Some days you’ll find me at an “old school” drawing desk laying out a hand-drawn master plan. Other times I’m using different computer programs to calculate materials or costs for a client. There is always the opportunity for collaboration, too, including brainstorming designs with my team for everything from façade design to medical school interiors.
What do you like most about your job?
I thrive on the diversity of the work and the fresh challenges I’m presented with on each new project. That energy is my favorite part of this work.
Looking to the future, what do you hope to work on/achieve that you haven’t already?
I’m very excited about the opportunities for new projects that will come through our recently opened Chicago office. Of particular interest to me is the potential future opportunity to work on a large-scale urban project—the kind that makes an impact on the entire area and shape a neighborhood or community.
How do you spend your time away from the office?
I love to travel, especially to other cities. Exploring an urban environment and “figuring out” a city is one of my favorite things to do. Visiting a city’s art museums and hip neighborhoods is always on my travel agenda. But my travel isn’t always about a cityscape. Sometimes a visit to the mountains or camping with friends is the perfect way to vacation, too.
