Schaeffer Somers
Education
University of Virginia, Master of Architecture
University of Virginia, Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Biography
Schaeffer Somers is a registered architect and Assistant Professor of Architecture and Public Health Sciences at the University of Virginia. His work bridges systems thinking, health impact assessment, and community-engaged design to advance affordable housing and healthy, equitable cities. With a dual background in aerospace engineering and architecture, he leads interdisciplinary courses and the Housing Futures Lab, where students collaborate with community partners to develop small-footprint housing strategies that support wellbeing, climate resilience, and neighborhood vitality. His research focuses on scalable housing systems and design approaches that integrate public health outcomes into the built environment.
He is also the Department of Architecture's NCARB Licensing Advisor.
2023
Somers SE and Le C. Logic Models as Conceptual Frameworks for Design. ARCC 2023 Proceedings. https://www.academia.edu/143318275/Logic_Models_as_Conceptual_Frameworks_for_Design
2020
Somers SE. Design Logics: A Diagrammatic Approach to Research & Representation of Health Pathways in the Built Environment. ACSA 108 Conference Proceedings: Open. https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.AM.108.65.
2026
UVA Today. McKenzie B. Architecture School lab creates designs for small, affordable homes. February 13, 2026. https://news.virginia.edu/content/architecture-school-lab-creates-designs-small-affordable-homes
2025
UVA School of Architecture. New Grant Supports the Development of an Open-Source Affordable Design Library Led by Professor Somers. December 04, 2025.
https://www.arch.virginia.edu/news/new-grant-supports-development-open-source-affordable-housing-design-library-led-professor
UVA School of Architecture. Community-Based Design-Build Initiative Explores Affordable and Sustainable Housing in Charlottesville. Feb. 13, 2025.
https://www.arch.virginia.edu/news/community-based-design-build-initiative-explores-affordable-and-sustainable-housing
2022
Niina H. Farah, L.C. Future of pipelines, black school hinge on court NEPA fight, E&E News. Energy Wire. https://www.eenews.net/articles/court-nepa-fight-over-black-school-may-shape-energy-projects/. “Supporters of the school want the Army Corps to collect more information about the proposed landfill after University of Virginia students (PHS 5621 HIA taught by Assistant Prof. Schaeffer Somers) found numerous health impacts from the project in an analysis they submitted to the agency.”
2021
Fox, M. National Trust designation boosts clinic's efforts to Save Schoolhouse, News & Media. University of Virginia School of Law.
https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/202106/national-trust-designation-boosts-clinics-efforts-save-schoolhouse. “Professor Schaeffer Somers of the UVA schools of Architecture and Medicine has worked with students on the early stages of a health impact assessment of the proposed landfill.”
2021
Gould R. Featured community partner: AMMD Pine Grove Project. Virginia Organizing. November 23, 2021.
https://virginia-organizing.org/featured-community-partner-ammd-pine-grove-project/.
“..presentations by professors from UVA Public Health, UVA Law Clinic, and UVA Preservation and Planning, among others. Students and professors presented on the Green Ridge Landfill Health Impact Assessment that is in progress.”
