2018 Conference Schedule

Thursday evening April 26 – History Colorado Center

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Opening Keynote, Leonard Mlodinow, Physicist & New York Times Best-Selling Author followed by reception and book signing
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Opening Reception


 

Friday April 27 – PPA Event Center

7:00 am – 8:00 am: Registration

8:00 am: Opening Remarks

8:15 am – 9:30 am: Dr. Laura Jana, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Author, Associate Professor – Penn State Prevention Research Center
Course Description: This session will provide attendees with an understanding of the relationship of the learning environment to the promotion of neural, emotional, social and physical health in the development of young children.

9:45 am – 10:45 am: Paula Burns Mcevoy, FAIA, LEED Fellow, Lead Faculty, Perkins & Will, Associate Principal
Course Description: This course will give participants insights into the impacts buildings can have on occupants as well as constructors and manufacturers. Often, these health impacts are unnoticed since they can be caused or mitigated by everyday objects and situations. This is particularly important in environments designed for children, who are still developing their minds and bodies. Participants will learn how to use tools and research to make informed, more healthful design decisions.

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Melissa McFadgen, AIA, LEED AP, NAC Architecture, Principal
Course Description: This session will focus on creating facilities that support early childhood education, outlining key factors that are unique to educational facilities for our youngest learners.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch (catered)

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Marcus Adrian, AIA, LEED BD+C, Mackey Mitchell Architects, Principal / Matthew Roeder, AIA, LEED BD+C, Senior Associate with Mackey Mitchell Architects in St. Louis
Course Description: All learning is sensory. Regardless of age, the only way to get information into the brain is through the seven senses. As our understanding of human sensory ability grows, it is increasingly important to understand each school or center as a sensory environment. This presentation will explore sensory ability as one of five dimensions of human development and provide a designer’s perspective on strategies to balance stimulation in every kind of space. In addition to overall design strategies, we will present simple and practical ideas to equip designers, caregivers, and center directors to make better use of space. We will share case studies to explore current trends and strategies for learning and play spaces.

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm: Robin Randall, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Legat Architects, Principal
Course Description: How Buildings Teach Kindness; social-emotional learning across generations in neuroscience and architecture

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Workshop