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Erin Sharp-Newton, M.Arch
Chair, AIANJ WIA (Women in Architecture), Director, UDMH (Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health)
Erin Sharp Newton, M. Arch, 2024 President of AIACNJ.org, is a recognized advocate in the field of architecture of mental health. Currently serving as the Director of the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health (UDMH) and a Fellow since 2016, her work emphasizes how environments can positively influence mental health and well-being, creating a continuum of care and filling systemic gaps in community mental health infrastructure needs. As Chair for the Department of Health & Human Services Local Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol and former Vice President of an Outpatient Drug Awareness Program, Erin supports solutions from grassroots to global levels, earning recognition as one of the Top 50 Women in Business by NJBiz.
With a Master’s in Architecture from UCLA and a Master’s in Design from Domus Academy in Milan, Erin has extensive professional practice experience in designing mental health, behavioral health, recovery, and addiction environments. Her projects are known for their innovative approaches, contributing to developing award-winning and game-changing facilities that prioritize healing and functional integration. Her work has been featured in venues like the Royal College of Physicians in London, Biennales, and Triennales, at conferences and in publications.
Erin will serve as the 2025 Chair for the AIA NJ Women in Architecture Committee. She is active in mentorship, as a juror and critic at multiple academic institutions, where she inspires a focus on human-centered design. Through her outreach initiatives, including collaboration with the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center in Philadelphia, Erin underscores her dedication to uplifting communities through design. Through her advocacy and vision, she inspires a compassionate and courageous approach that highlights the profound impact of the built environment on mental health and overall human experience.
With a Master’s in Architecture from UCLA and a Master’s in Design from Domus Academy in Milan, Erin has extensive professional practice experience in designing mental health, behavioral health, recovery, and addiction environments. Her projects are known for their innovative approaches, contributing to developing award-winning and game-changing facilities that prioritize healing and functional integration. Her work has been featured in venues like the Royal College of Physicians in London, Biennales, and Triennales, at conferences and in publications.
Erin will serve as the 2025 Chair for the AIA NJ Women in Architecture Committee. She is active in mentorship, as a juror and critic at multiple academic institutions, where she inspires a focus on human-centered design. Through her outreach initiatives, including collaboration with the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center in Philadelphia, Erin underscores her dedication to uplifting communities through design. Through her advocacy and vision, she inspires a compassionate and courageous approach that highlights the profound impact of the built environment on mental health and overall human experience.
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