Emily Pierson-Brown 1

Emily Pierson-Brown

AIA, AICP, NOMA, LEED Green Associate

Associate Principal
People Culture Manager
Senior Living Practice Leader

"At its essence, Human by Design is about how our work is inspired, shaped, and informed by who we are as people. Seeing ourselves reflected in our leaders and project teams is a critical part of building a world in which we each find meaning and belonging."

As our People Culture Manager, Emily leads our firmwide Inclusion + Belonging initiative and works with our studios to shape our Human by Design culture. Emily focuses her design work as a Senior Living Practice Leader, where she works with clients to co-create the vision of the project from strategic master planning and goal setting through implementation. She brought her fierce advocacy for marginalized voices and inclusive design to Perkins Eastman in 2016, and has an additional 15 years of experience in planning, architecture, and design.

Our Perkins Eastman

Emily has been involved in the Perkins Eastman’s Women Lead initiative since 2018, where she has served as a co-leader since 2020, and has led the firmwide Inclusion + Belonging initiative since 2020. She was honored with AIA Pennsylvania’s 2022 Impact Designer Award and selected as one of Environments for Aging’s 2024 EFA Design Champions.

Contact

  • Phone:

  • +1 (412) 894-8323
  • Email:

  • Linkedin:

  • Education

  • Cornell University; Diversity and Inclusion Certificate
  • Catholic University: M.Arch; Masters, City and Regional Planning
  • University of Virginia; B.S. Architectural Studies
  • Associations

  • American Institute of Architects
  • National Organization of Minority Architects
  • AIA Pittsburgh board member, 2022-2025
  • Women+ In Design; co-founder, co-leader
  • University of Pittsburgh, adjunct professor, 2019-present