![Cierra Higgins Cierra Higgins](https://aiau.aia.org/theme/aiau/pix/profile.jpg)
Health Fellow and Designer I | Perkins and Will
Cierra is a native of Kansas City, MO, and recently graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with her dual Masters in Architecture and Masters in Urban Design. Shortly after graduation, she was awarded the E. Todd Wheeler Health Fellowship with Perkins and Will, and is now based in their Seattle office. With this fellowship, she is afforded the opportunity to further explore her research in public health as it pertains to mental health and overall wellness within marginalized communities. During her final year at Washington University in St. Louis, she studied how communities stricken with blight, poverty, crime, and lack of resources can affect the mental fortitude and wellness of its residents, particularly as it pertains to anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Moving forward, she is currently seeking to correlate that research within this global pandemic, and to better understand how many marginalized communities are especially vulnerable to its physical, economical, and environmental effects.
Courses
Affordable Living: A Requirement for Sustainable & Equitable Cities
Cities and towns across the nation are grappling with a crisis of affordable living. While some symptoms and strategies are universal, each geographical, social, economic, and political context requires a tailored approach in developing more equitable and resilient communities. Design professionals, public health specialists, policymakers, and community members alike must all come together to best ensure the places we call home are designed in the best interest for all. This panel will explore the topic of housing affordability in three distinct locales through the lenses of architects and planners, both in private practice and non-profit organizations, sharing the common goal of developing quality and affordable housing for all. Hosted by Regional and Urban Design Committee (RUDC).
Course expires 9/10/2025
Designing Biophilic Cities
Join the AIA Regional & Urban Design Committee for a series exploring sustainability practices at the intersections of natural and man-made systems. The absence of green space in our cities has not only affected local and global ecosystems but has also negatively impacted human health and wellness. Our connection with nature affects the way we think, live, work, and navigate the world we live in. Our future, more than ever, relies on how we continue to grow and adapt within nature. This panel seeks to analyze the philosophical and practical implementation of biophilic design within our cities and explore how it has and can continue to be used as a tool to positively impact the health of our communities.
Course expires 7/11/2026
This session was recorded live on August 3, 2023.