At BRPH, passion for our work takes many forms, but for two architects — Megan White, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, ALEP, and Dusty Lake, AIA, NCARB, ALEP – that passion was expressed as a rigorous, 10-month study effort to earn the prestigious Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP) certification from the Association of Learning Environments (A4LE). Only 331 professionals around the U.S. currently hold this designation which exemplifies commitment, excellence and elevated professional standards for planning, designing, equipping, and maintaining learning environments. A ceremony held October 15 at the 2021 LearningSCAPES Conference in Denver recognized the newest ALEP-certified professionals, including Dusty and Megan.
“BRPH believes schools are the starting point to ensure today’s young minds are tomorrow’s innovators, and we’re proud to support professional development efforts by these exceptional women that will benefit our education clients,” said Michael Vernich, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, President of BRPH Architects Engineers, Inc. “BRPH is committed to helping educators create innovative, forward-thinking design solutions for immersive, flexible, long-lasting and secure spaces to launch the future of student success,” he added.
Megan is a senior architect experienced in the full spectrum of educational facility programming, design and construction administration, including several award-winning projects. She received her Master of Architecture from Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in design from the University of Florida.
“The ALEP process allowed me to gain better insights to the challenges faced by school districts around the country in planning their building programs,” Megan commented. “Through the perspective of a diverse group of planners and educators, the process has added resources to my toolbox that assist my clients in overcoming these roadblocks and provide value-added advice for providing quality educational spaces that support the individual and diverse needs of their students.”
Dusty also highlighted the expanded knowledge stemming from ALEP certification: “This has opened the door to immense resources and networks that will help me become a better architect,” she said. “The education market is one that is constantly evolving and changing as it relates to pedagogy and learning methodologies, but also safety and security. We continually need to enhance our education and knowledge, which is why I pursued the path to certification.”
Dusty is the only certified ALEP in the state of Alabama. She earned both a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Ball State University. Dusty has led architectural design for K-12, higher education and workforce development facilities.
BRPH was founded in 1964 in support of America’s Space Race. As visionaries and innovators flocked to Florida, BRPH’s Education Sector grew in response to a desire to raise, train and retain the next generation of high performers. BRPH now serves innovative, mission-driven organizations in Education, Aerospace, Defense, Manufacturing, Entertainment, Hospitality and Commerce from nine offices in the U.S, never wavering from the founders’ vision of helping clients to solve their most pressing challenges.
