Spirograph
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Students

Aftyn Giles

MSSD, MPM
GEM Fellow, NREL
Ph.D. in Architecture–Engineering–Construction Management (PhD-AECM) Candidate
Expected Graduation: 2028
person with blonde hair and black top on a porch

Aftyn Giles is a Pittsburgh native holding degrees in Architecture (B.Arch) and International Relations and graduate degrees in Sustainable Design (MSSD) and Project Management.

Ms. Giles has a wide range of experience in planning, urban design, architecture, public policy and project management. Before rejoining CMU as a PhD candidate in 2024, she worked most recently as the City of Pittsburgh’s Principal Sustainability Planner, a position that she has held since 2011. She looks forward to strengthening university and community ties and improving city infrastructure through her intended research in decision science, energy burden and low-to moderate income sustainable home retrofit planning.

Research Interests

  • Sustainable design 
  • Human-centered design 
  • Energy burden 
  • Decision science
     

Advisor

Erica Cochran Hameen

Associate Professor, CBPD Co-Director & DDes Track Chair

Erica Cochran Hameen