Purple Cherry to Present Session for Council of Educational Facility Planners International

Annapolis, MD  April 20, 2010 -  The Council of Educational Facility Planners International ("CEFPI") has called on Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, Principal and Owner of Purple Cherry Architects and Joan Mele-McCarthy, D.A., Director of Education at The Summit School in Edgewater, MD, to present a session at their 2010 Northeast Regional Conference to be held May 6-8, 2010 in Philadelphia, PA.  Their presentation, "Creating the Welcoming Classroom:  Incorporating Special Design Elements for a Better Learning Environment in the 21^st Century Classroom" will explore how building design, space layout and facility enhancements promote student independence, increase productivity and reduce conflict and distraction for typically developing students as well as students with special needs.  Topics will include physical factors in the school environment that inhibit learning and the simple design solutions that can make a change for the better; key issues for consideration before reaching out to a design team for a school renovation or new design; how to create environments for students with special needs that enhance their capacity to learn, and much more.  CEFPI is an international non-profit association whose sole mission is to improve the places where children learn through advocacy and education, training and research.  "Dr. Mele-McCarthy and I are honored to have this opportunity to speak before the CEFPI members and hope we have an impact on the effectiveness of future learning environments for our children," noted Ms. Cherry.