Carla Ferreira Inspires wonder at The Aurora Highlands
CARLA FERREIRA INSPIRES WONDER AT THE AURORA HIGHLANDS
Photography by Roxanna Carrasco
Art centers humans, so why not ensure we’re surrounded by it at all times, especially in our communities?
Carla Ferreira, Principal and Director of Onsite Development at The Aurora Highlands, is challenging the stuffiness of a cookie-cutter neighborhood that has become the Colorado-norm by combining art and wonder. Her efforts encourage public art to exist within the fabric of the community and the daily lives of homeowners.
“We’re building a place where people feel inspired,” Ferreira said. “By integrating installations from globally renowned artists, we’re showing that suburban spaces can also be cultural destinations.”
Known as the “Art in the Park” initiative, The Aurora Highlands is not just a residential development project, it’s truly a community. The collection of public art installations blends sculpture, murals and interactive forms to evoke themes of nature, unity, resilience and renewal.
Public art plays a vital role in shaping the identity and spirit of a community. By inviting people from all walks of life to engage with creativity for free, public art fosters a sense of belonging. It can spark dialogue, challenge perspectives and bring beauty and meaning to everyday environments. In growing communities like The Aurora Highlands, public art also serves as a unifying force, bridging past and future and nature and innovation. “Art in the Park” reminds residents and visitors that creativity is at the heart of a thriving, inclusive society.
Anchored by “Umi,” a 21-foot-tall sculpture by Daniel Popper, visitors can walk inside the piece, which resembles a woman holding her womb and reflects our connection to the earth. Near that is “Broken but Together” by Michael Benisty: a 25-foot mirrored-steel sculpture of two embracing figures. Another standout is “The Only Way Out is Through,” a mural by Berlin-based artist SNYDER in collaboration with Olivia Steele, which merges neon text and a phoenix-rising motif in a tunnel. Other pieces include a bronze statue honoring Dr. Justina Ford by Gillie and Marc, bringing history and identity into the landscape and “Life Blood” by Hunter Brown, an abstract, ribbon-like steel sculpture placed in a roundabout. “Art in the Park” creates an accessible, thought-provoking open-air gallery that is deeply tied to both place and people.
“Umi” by Daniel Popper
The newest addition is “Liberty,” a 58-foot-tall stainless steel sculpture by Benisty. Originally unveiled at Burning Man, “Liberty” features a mirrored, polished finish and is a modern reimagination of the iconic Statue of Liberty, but a version that reflects its surroundings and invites visitors to reflect inwardly on themes of freedom and inclusion. Positioned near the entrance from I-70, “Liberty” is both a visible landmark for miles and a symbolic gateway: it greets people from all backgrounds and embodies what The Aurora Highlands art program sees as art that belongs to everyone.
Ferreira was exposed to arts and culture at an early age. She grew more and more inspired by art and fashion as she got older, leading her to work alongside her father to create neighborhoods that combine her skills and passions.
“Art teaches you to observe, empathize and imagine beyond the obvious, and those are invaluable tools when building communities,” she expressed.
Intentionally designed with housing types at different price points, the nearly 4,000 acre community is at the forefront of residential development.
“Suburbs don’t have to be bland or disconnected,” said Ferreira. “It’s about creating places people love, not just live in.”
Ferreira implores other developers to embrace this modern mindset too. Recently, Ferreira was invited to participate in a breakout panel session at the Pro Builder’s Women in Residential Construction Conference in Austin, Texas. During the session called “Crashing the Glass Ceiling,” she shared her inspiring journey to becoming Managing Principal of The Aurora Highlands.
“When your work aligns with your values, it evolves from a job into a mission,” she said.
As a father-daughter development duo, Ferreira and her father Carlo, combine his experience in the industry and her passion. The duo’s commitment to building responsibly has instilled values in Carla, like leadership, that are helping to elevate her career.
“I’ve learned to lead with both vision and humility, knowing that legacy is built day by day,” she shared.
Along with wonder, “Art in the Park” inspires forward-thinking. It grounds residents and establishes a connected fabric to the community. Because Umi and Lady Liberty belong there, residents do too. And it’s more than a cool sculpture with the Rocky Mountain skyline as the backdrop; it’s a feeling.
