“At its essence, ‘Human by Design’ is about how our work is inspired, shaped and informed by who we are as people. Taking on the role of PEople Culture Manager, a continuation of the work I’ve been doing with our dedicated DE&I team and leadership for the past two years, is a reflection of my and the firm’s commitment to expanding the architecture industry to include more diverse voices, building equity in our practices and projects, and modeling an inclusive approach to placemaking,” said Pierson-Brown. “I am honored to represent our firm in this role. I look forward to leading in this space and supporting our studios in living out our ‘Human by Design’ ethos.”
With an established design career spanning more than 20, six of which have been spent at Perkins Eastman in Pittsburgh, Pierson-Brown is an expert not only in the intricacies of the architecture and design world but also in the firm’s very philosophy of ‘Human by Design.’ She blends a thoughtful balance of design and empathy to her work in its Senior Living practice, weaving a client’s mission and organizational goals into impactful, placemaking buildings and experiences. Thanks to her background in planning and residential architecture, Pierson-Brown displays a keen ability to interact with a wide variety of people, a quality both colleagues and clients consistently praise.
Pierson-Brown has a sincere passion for bringing a sense of belonging to Perkins Eastman’s work and its studios. She has served as firmwide leader of Perkins Eastman’s Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) since 2018 and has been a member of its DE&I Operations Team since its inception. In 2019, she attended the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit, thanks to the Sho-Ping Chin memorial grant; in 2020, she attended the AIA Minnesota-sponsored National Intercultural Leadership Program, a 10-session program that seeks to bring more cultural competence to the architecture industry. She earned a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University, adding onto her academic credentials (a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia and both a Master of Architecture and a Master of City and Regional Planning from Catholic University). She is also the co-author of a paper titled “Inclusive Communities in Senior Living,” which she wrote alongside Perkins Eastman’s Brianne Pham.
Pierson-Brown’s work outside the studio is equally impressive, as she is an active member of the Pittsburgh architecture community. Pierson-Brown is a cofounder and leader of Women+ in Design PGH, board member of AIA Pittsburgh, and adjunct studio instructor at the University of Pittsburgh architecture studios.
“Emily is a natural choice for this role,” said Nick Leahy, AIA, co-CEO/executive director, Perkins Eastman. “I personally have enjoyed, valued and learned a lot from working with her, as she is a terrific listener and communicator. Plus, she understands us from within; she knows we need to be constantly evolving to live up to our ethos of ‘Human by Design.’ Her work in the DE&I space is inspiring, her talent impressive, and her genuine interest in and passion for diversifying and broadening the world of architecture is admirable. We are confident she will excel as PEople Culture Manager for the firm.”
Perkins Eastman is looking forward to working with Pierson-Brown to continue building and refining its ‘Human by Design’ culture through DE&I efforts.
Tags: Brianne Pham, Emily Pierson-Brown, Nick Leahy, Perkins Eastman
