 In 1955, she traveled to Mexico with American Friends Service Committee to work on development projects with the Otomi people.A year later back in New York, a women architect encouraged Ms. Birkby to pursue professional education and training.In 1959, Ms. Birkby enrolled in the undergraduate architecture night school program Cooper Union School of Architecture, and she worked by day at the offices of architect Henry L. Horowitz, from 1960 to 1961, and Seth Hiller, from 1961 to 1963.