SMMA Cleans Up at CEFPI Northeast Conference

It was a big day for SMMA at the recent annual conference of the Northeast Regional Chapter of the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI), now called the A4LE. Two of our principals—Lorraine Finnegan, AIA and Philip Poinelli, FAIA, ALEP—were honored with Distinguished Service Awards for their “specific participation and dedicated service” within the organization. Phil currently sits on CEFPI’s International Board of Directors, and has served in a number of roles and capacities for the organization over the years. Additionally, our in-construction Ayer Shirley Regional High School project received the Edward Kirkbride Award, the Northeast Regional Chapter’s highest honor.

CEFPI recognizes quality and innovation in both school planning and design. The organization believes that schools are more effective and caring places when they provide an inviting, comfortable, technology-rich, and safe environment to the learner, recognizing that the learning environment has no boundaries. This collaborative educational planning approach, at the intersection of architecture and engineering, with learners, educators, and planners, contributes to enhanced academic performance, fewer discipline problems, higher staff morale, and use of improved resources. The CEFPI jury recognizes projects that stand out as forward-thinking and inspiring, and the Edward Kirkbride Award is given to projects that exhibit exceptional strength in each of the judging criteria (the learning, physical, and community environments, as well as the planning process).

We are proud to support CEFPI’s mission of enriching the lives of children through the development of progressive learning spaces, and look forward to our continued involvement with the organization for time to come.