MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | MIKA YAMAGUCHI
AIA, LFA, NOMA

Mika Yamaguchi: Honoring Place, Building Communities through Design

Raised on the island of Maui, Hawai‘i, Mika Yamaguchi’s connection to the environment, community, and culture has shaped her journey as an architect, mentor, and advocate. Her multicultural upbringing and early experiences building with driftwood, sand, and limestone along the shoreline planted the seeds for a lifelong passion: to design in ways that respect the land, sustain communities, and imagine alternatives to current social structures and building systems.

Mika’s work is grounded in a process-driven, participatory approach. With professional experience spanning Hawai‘i, California, Washington, D.C., and even the Pacific nation of Palau, she has contributed to residential, mixed-use, nonprofit, and urban design projects that prioritize ecological stewardship and collective aspirations. Her architectural practice bridges cultures and geographies, embracing collaboration, contextual understanding, and cooperation to create both vibrant and meaningful spaces.

Currently serving as a Senior Architect at To Be Done Studio in Washington, D.C., Mika focuses on projects that uplift, inspire and support local and rural communities through thoughtful and uncompromising design. Prior to her current role, she contributed to notable firms including ZGF Architects, Inscape Studio, and LA Más, and has worked on initiatives ranging from workplace design to street-level interventions that activate public spaces.

Mika’s leadership extends beyond project work. She currently serves as the Licensing Advisor and Professional Development Chair for DCNOMA, where she mentors aspiring architects on the path to licensure. Understanding the barriers that underrepresented groups face in the profession, she is passionate about increasing access, empowering autonomy, and growing leadership through licensure support.

In recognition of her contributions to public space design and the environment, Mika was featured as a SAY IT LOUD - Ohio Exhibitor and remains an active member of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the International Living Future Institute.

Her educational journey reflects her multidisciplinary approach: Mika holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Queen’s University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Toronto, along with international study experience at the National University of Singapore. She is a Registered Architect in Washington, D.C., and Hawai‘i.

When not designing, Mika enjoys distance running, cycling, cooking with friends, and being with family while reconnecting with the natural landscapes that continue to inspire her vision—especially at Kapuka‘ulua (Baldwin) Beach in her hometown of Paia.

As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, DCNOMA proudly spotlights Mika Yamaguchi—whose commitment to multiculturalism, sustainable design, and vibrant communities reflects the richness and promise of our profession.

Volunteer Contributions:

●        Professional Development Chair and Licensing Advisor, DCNOMA (2024–Present)

●        Mentor to aspiring architects navigating the ARE, AXP, and NCARB certification process

Key Recognitions:

●      SAY IT LOUD - Ohio Exhibitor (promoting the work of diverse designers)

●      ArtCOP21- Art event in Paris, The Lost Defenders project

Legacy of Impact

Through her leadership, practice, and advocacy, Mika Yamaguchi is creating spaces—and pathways—that honor heritage, foster equity, and build stronger, more resilient communities. Her work reminds us that architecture, at its best, is a bridge between people, place, and possibility.

DCNOMA proudly celebrates Mika Yamaguchi’s inspiring contributions and leadership—and we look forward to the continued impact of her thoughtful, community-centered practice.