Whitney Joins the RLF Education Team Chris E.

Whitney, AIA, has joined RLF, a Winter Park-based architectural, engineering and interior design firm, to lead the firms higher education practice. With more than 25 years of industry experience, Whitney will apply a design philosophy centered around the idea that academic buildings are essential tools which engage facility, students, administrators and alumni. During the course of his career, Whitney has been responsible for projects located throughout the country, ranging from small programming exercises to the design of complex buildings on large education campuses. Creating learning space is more than four walls and a white board. Whether it is in the classroom, corridor, or bumping spaces strategically placed inside and out, academic buildings should be interactive places of learning, explains Whitney. Whitneys design process begins with Embracing each campus. Only after clearly understanding the pedagogies, goals and mission of a particular school, can an architect truly begin to create spaces that meet the clients needs he adds. Next, Whitney aims to Enhance the defined goals of stakeholders, applying creativity to offer options, discuss alternatives, and discover solutions that may have been hidden at the projects outset. Finally, by paying close attention to the details, his team of technically savvy architects, engineers and interior designers can Execute the collective plan. Whitney calls the process e3, but his clients think it is just exceptional work. RLF is known for top-notch work on complicated health and science projects. The firms role in shaping the campuses of the University of Central Florida, Stetson University and Rollins College demonstrates a strong legacy for this 76-year old firm. It is my goal to harness these resources to serve the higher education market in Florida and beyond. RLF has all the tools to become one of the nations leading higher education firms, and I am excited to join this dynamic group, said Whitney. Building on RLFs recent recognition as the AIAs 2010 Florida Firm of the Year and noted by the Orlando Business Journal as Central Floridas Largest AE firm, you can expect to see more great things from this team. Whitney is a long-term member of the Society of College and University Planners and has been invited to lecture on design and planning across the United States and Canada. He is a Richard Upjohn Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International. Contact Whitney at (407) 647-1039 to arrange a meeting and discuss the future of higher education and how architects are stepping up to meet these challenges.

[Quote for front] We are excited to have Chris join the RLF team. His experience in higher education and specifically the academic life sciences will enhance RLFs expertise and insight to better serve the educational community. - Steven M. Hingtgen, PE President