Pearl Brosterman

Hometown: Sag Harbor, NY
Education Background: BA Double Major: Sustainable Dev, Creative Writing from the University of Rochester

How did you get interested in your field?
As a child of two professional artists (one of whom went to architecture school in his youth), I was always trained to pay close attention to the world around me. When I was growing up we couldn’t get down the block without them pointing out a building’s easily-missed historical or design detail. In this way I developed a strong and innate appreciation for architecture as well as the natural world. Later on, this transformed into a keen interest in the climate crisis, and the ways in which public health is a function of urban planning successes and long-term failures. By the time I finished my first year of college, I concluded that pursuing architecture would help me to affect the most long-term good for underserved populations, which led to my arrival at Penn.

What was your background prior to coming to Penn?
My bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester is actually a B.A, with double majors in Sustainable Development and Creative Writing, two clusters in Design with Materials and Economic History, as well as a Certificate of Community Engaged Learning. I graduated in May of 2024 and started my summer semester at Penn ten days later! Fun fact: Rochester is tied for the third snowiest city in the country, I wouldn’t recommend spending the winter there.

Why did you choose Penn?
I chose Penn because I think that of the schools I was accepted to, it has the most direct involvement in its local community of Philadelphia as well as globally. The field I’ve chosen depends upon political, communal, interpersonal, public health, and scientific partnerships, and Penn is working to do its part in more of those fields than most other programs.

What do you like best about Philadelphia?
Philadelphia seems to be a stronghold among other East Coast cities for funky, weird, creative people. I like the diversity and the pride of its local residents as well as its transplants! Because the city is on the affordable side, all different kinds of communities can flourish side-by-side.

What kinds of activities and/or organizations are you involved in?
I am involved in the Weitzman Gardeners as well as Inclusion in Design, and I am a Tech Rep for my studio. Outside of school, I work with the non-profit Acting Globally to pair global NGOs with local volunteers, and I love to read, cook, and experiment with interior design strategies in my apartment in Clark Park.

What are your career ambitions?
After graduation I plan to move to Singapore for five years to experience how large-budget firms practice green design. After that, I would like to start a firm in the US, partnering with local governments and underserved communities to build sustainable low-income housing.