In the August issue of School Construction News, HCM’s Human Experience Research Lead Erika Ashauer shares insights on how cognitive science and evidence-based research are helping create learning environments that support every student’s health and success. The interview includes a case study on Greeley West High School in Colorado, showing how these principles were applied to create a more inclusive, student-centered learning experience and drive measurable outcomes.
Meet The Expert
Erika Ashauer, ALEP, EDAC is a design researcher at HCM, working to understand how learning environments shape experience, behavior, and well-being. Her work brings together cognitive science, ethnographic inquiry, and design thinking to inform spatial decisions in PK- 12 educational settings. Erika integrates research into project workflows to support design intent, accountability, and real-world feasibility, translating insights into actionable design strategies for developmentally responsive learning environments. She helps embed a culture of shared understanding of how the human experience is shaped by space, supporting more intentional and aligned design outcomes.
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