Helena Jubany is the Managing Principal of NAC Architecture’s Los Angeles office. Throughout her 28-year career, Helena has advanced her practice by developing a collaborative and inclusive process that promotes diversity and advocates for outstanding design with a focus on educational facilities.

 

Helena is one of the Education Thought Leaders in the firm and has been invited to speak at various national and international conferences related to design for progressive schools. Speaking engagements have included invitations by China to present at the International Symposium on Planning and Design of Contemporary K-12 Educational Buildings in Beijing and Beautiful School Construction Conferences in Hangzhou and Suzhou. She was also invited by the Secretary of Education of Sao Paulo to present on the subject of “Schools for the 21st Century” and by the Brazilian Ministry of Education to speak at the Conference on School
Construction on “Schools for the Next Millennium”. She has also presented at LearningSCAPES International conferences, AIA Convention, and Coalition for Adequate School Housing.

Her passion to end homelessness resulted in her position as a Board member and past Chair for A Community of Friends (ACOF), the largest non-profit developer focused in providing permanent supportive housing for homeless people and families living with mental illness. She served as the President of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Board and as the Board Chair for the Design Control Board for Marina Del Rey. Helena was the founding president of the Association for Learning Environment, Southern California Chapter, an international non-profit organization with over 4000 members with the mission of improving learning environments. She also served as President of the Asian American Architects/Engineers Association for two years.

In 2013, Helena was elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows for her significant contributions to architecture and society. She served as a Juror for the American Institute of Architects | Committee of Architecture for Education (CAE) Design Awards, an internationally recognized awards program, as well as Jury Chair at the AIA Albuquerque Design Awards.

Though a native to Taiwan, Helena was raised in Brazil. There she earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Sao Paulo. Her Master of Architecture degree is from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. Helena worked for the City of Sao Paulo Planning Department and was involved in several urban density projects. Currently, she is an
Adjunct Professor teaching the 5th year Professional Practice course at Woodbury University.