Julia Bernert

Julia Bernert serves as a Critic in Interior Architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) while maintaining active teaching roles at Roger Williams University (undergraduate/graduate architecture studios), Boston Architectural College, Emerson College, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A registered architect (RA) and LEED Accredited Professional, she co-founded Clearwater Architects specializing in high-quality design solutions for adaptive reuse, historic preservation, and sustainable residential projects.

Education:

• BA, Hampshire College
• MARC (Master of Architecture), Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Focus: Bernert's work centers on adaptive reuse of historic structures including state/federal historic register buildings and fortifications, sustainable affordable housing for elderly populations through Massachusetts' House Doctor program, and green building practices exemplified by her LEED Platinum multi-generational residence project. Her research integrates community-based land use planning with client-sensitive design methodologies.

Professional Leadership: As director of the Roger Williams Summer Academy in Architecture, she shapes emerging architects while Clearwater Architects executes municipal interior design, historic restorations, and innovative housing alternatives. Her practice demonstrates how preservation expertise can drive sustainable community development through tangible built projects.