I am honored to be one of six recipients to receive a CAE Scholarship to attend the spring conference in Detroit. I look forward to meeting other school facility designers at the conference. In advance of the conference you can learn a little more about me from my biography and essay submitted with my scholarship application.
I chose architecture as a profession because of the profound impact the built environment has on people. I see architecture as a means to influence and improve the human condition. There are few areas of architecture that have a more profound influence on the users than K-12 education facilities.
To date I have focused on improved facilities through daylighting, sustainability, student comfort, and meeting the basic needs of students so the built environment does not impair their education. I have also worked on STEM programs and flexible classrooms spaces that allow students and teachers flexible learning opportunities.
I hope to expand my knowledge so I can better understand the relationship of educational facilities and the surrounding communities. Learn more about how facilities not only educate students but also strengthen their character and prepare them to be participating members of society. I think both of these relate to a sense of place that allow students to take ownership of their futures.
We all hope to work on the great new groundbreaking facilities but the reality is most school projects are remodels. I hope to learn more about how best to improve existing facilities to meet today's educational standards.
I have more than 8 years of experience in education facility design. My experience has focused K-12 schools ranging from small remodels to large new High Schools. I have worked with private schools, school districts, and charter schools. In the past year I have remodeled existing classrooms from a traditional education model to support collaborative STEM functions, helped a young charter school move from a church into a new dedicated educational facility, worked on a new K-8 Montessori school, designed tenant improvements to the head of schools/admissions office of a private school, and I recently began work on a learning center & innovation lab project.
I am nearing completion of my licensure process which will free up time for me to increase my involvement with the AIA. I hope this conference will be a spring board for just such activities.
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Gardner Clute Assoc. AIA
Designer
Cuningham Group Architecture Inc.
Denver CO
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