2022 AIA Communities by Design Reimagining Petaluma SDAT - Report - Page 58
Petaluma DAT
Bergmeyer’s Boston office with work experience in
Rochester and Binghamton, NY, Providence, RI and
Islamabad, Pakistan. During her time in Rochester,
Mariam volunteered at Community Design Center
Rochester (CDCR), where she is currently a board
member. She continues to promote the creation of
vibrant, equitable and resilient communities by engaging,
educating, and empowering stakeholders in crafting
purposeful design. She believes the built environment
plays an essential role in shaping communities through
placemaking, walkability and inclusivity. She completed
her B.Sc. Arch and M.Arch degrees from Roger Williams
University in Bristol, RI during which she was a recipient
of two architecture scholarships AIA Rhode Island
and Raj Saksena. Her Graduate Thesis “Open-Source
Architecture: Redefining Residential Architecture in
Islamabad” won the RWU Thesis Award.
AIA Staff:
Paola Capo
Paola Capo is the Sustainability and Communities by
Design Specialist at the AIA and staffs the Disaster
Assistance program. In her position, she provides
architects and communities with the resources they
need to create healthier, more sustainable and equitable
built environments. She graduated from Georgetown
University in 2017 with a degree in Science, Technology,
and International Affairs, concentrating on Energy and
the Environment—a degree inspired by the many places
she lived growing up as an Army brat. She recently
completed the 6-week [IN]City program at UC Berkeley
to expand on her knowledge in urban planning.
Erin Simmons
Erin Simmons is the Senior Director of Design
Assistance at the Center for Communities by Design
at the AIA in Washington, DC. The Center is a provider
of pro bono technical assistance and participatory
planning for community revitalization. Through its
design assistance programs, the AIA has worked in
over 250 communities and has been the recipient
of numerous awards including “Organization of the
Year” by the International Association for Public
Participation (IAP2) and the “Outstanding Program
Award” from the Community Development Society.
Erin is a leading practitioner of the design assistance
process, providing expertise, facilitation, and support
for the Center’s Design Assistance Team programs.
In this capacity, she works with AIA components,
members, partner organizations and community leaders
to provide technical design assistance to communities
across the world. Her portfolio includes work in over
100 communities across the United States and
internationally. Erin is an Academician of the Academy
of Urbanism in London, UK. Prior to joining the AIA,
Erin worked as historic preservationist and architectural
historian for an environmental and engineering firm,
where she practiced preservation planning, created
historic district design guidelines and zoning ordinances,
and conducted historic resource surveys. She holds a
Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Florida State
University and a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation
from the University of Georgia.
55
