WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 12, 2022 — Research at CRTKL accelerates our commitment to designing a climate positive, equitable, inspiring future. We believe research empowered design offers an opportunity to address our increasingly unknown future. From the COVID-19 response and recovery to climate adaptation and social equity issues, the places in which we live, work and play must meet a new set of imperatives.
Rising to this opportunity, CRTKL Research encompasses a team focused on uncovering critical themes and aspirations that positively advance our behaviors, businesses and cities. As an investment in this expansion, CRTKL welcomes two new leaders to its research team: Dr. Helia Taheri, Research Strategist and Amy Keller Frye, Research Manager.
Helia is a human-centric researcher, sustainability specialist and architect with eight years of experience in architecture firms and research centers. She received her Ph.D. in Design from North Carolina State University and graduated with a Master of Architecture and Energy and Bachelor of Architectural Engineering from the University of Tehran, Iran. Helia has extensive experience in designing and conducting mixed-method research to understand the interaction between people, places, and the environment and she is passionate about bridging the gap between industry and academia. Helia is an expert in engaging a variety of stakeholders in the research process to better understand their perspectives and suggest data-informed actionable strategies to improve both occupant experience and building performance.
Dr. Taheri recently published an article in Architectural Science Review entitled, “A review on architectural guidelines to safely reopen buildings in light of COVID-19 in the United States: establishing future research opportunities.” In this piece, she suggests conducting more pre/post-occupancy evaluations that incorporate human-centered studies and building performance analysis, as well as using qualitative and quantitative methods to support various building stakeholders in making more informed decisions, which holistically impact occupants and buildings. Get access to the article here.
Amy brings fifteen years of research, strategy and evidence-based design experience that encourages architectural innovation to CRTKL. She has championed numerous research projects and advised hundreds of stakeholder groups on design research approaches to execute initiatives while working with Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill, The Center for Health Design and Kahler Slater. Her work has been published in several peer-reviewed academic journals including Patient Experience, Health Environments Research Design, and Intelligent Buildings International, among others. With specialized expertise in both the Health + Science and Higher Education sectors, Amy has amassed significant knowledge of the patient experience, translational research and pedagogy. She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Minnesota.
With deep expertise in quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research approaches, CRTKL Research is distinctly positioned at the intersection of research, users and the built environment. With our unique access to data, project case studies from the past 75 years and relationships with internal subject matter advisors and academic partners, CRTKL is committed to continuing to build the awareness, knowledge and skills of our community by utilizing research to drive our ideas and solutions to develop smart, relevant insights that lead our clients and partners.