Poinelli Named to CEFPI Board of Directors

SMMA's Philip J. Poinelli, FAIA, ALEP, has been appointed to the International Board of Directors of the Council of Educational Facility Planners International, now called the A4LE. An active member since 2007, Phil’s previous roles in the organization have included Vice President of the Northeast Region, Regional President-Elect, Regional President, and Regional Immediate Past President.

Phil’s most recent contribution was a presentation at CEFPI/A4LE’s annual conference in Portland, Oregon—"From Publishing House to School House: Reading List for Educational Planning and School Design"—that he developed in collaboration with Gregory J. Stack, AIA, a Principal at NAC Architecture. Their work was aimed at helping attendees understand the wide variety of knowledge and information available to educational stakeholders, developing a personal reading list to guide future planning and design decisions, and fostering a better understanding of the issues shaping the debate on public education.

“Phil and I have been together at SMMA since 1991. He is a talent, a leader, a mentor, but most importantly to me, Phil is my friend,” said Ara Krafian, SMMA’s President & Chief Executive Officer. “His election to the CEFPI Board comes as no surprise. This achievement is as much about his passion for knowledge and excellence as it is his exceptional contributions to the field of education. We are honored to have Phil at SMMA.”

In 2012, Phil earned the Certified Educational Facility Planner credential and was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He recently concluded a three-year position as a co-chair of the AIA Committee on Architecture for Education, K-12 Subcommittee. He has more than 40 years of industry experience, almost exclusively concerning K-12 educational environments. A Principal at SMMA, Phil was instrumental in the creation and development of the firm’s K-12 Studio, and he currently leads SMMA’s educational planning initiatives.