We couldn't be more happy to announce that Chris Kempel our fearless leader in all things related to design has achieved knighthood the official status of LICENSED ARCHITECT. Yes, Chris can now proudly stamp his drawings with The American Institute of Architects (AIA) seal of approval. Since taking the oral exam in San Francisco about five weeks ago Chris has been anxiously checking his mailbox for that telling letter and when it arrived on Monday, May 14, he slipped it into his pocket and didn't tell a soul in the RPA office. We only found out when his beau, Ashley, stopped by Tuesday afternoon with an icecream cake saying "Congratulations Christopher Kempel, AIA." After we ate the whole delicious thing we asked what the occasion was and that's when Chris shared the good news. He's always looked and acted like an architect, now it's official!

Last Friday the RPA office kept its doors open into the late evening for the sake of local Brownie Troop 177. The wee lasses were here to learn what it takes to be an architect and based on their unbridled enthusiasm we suspect the seed has been planted. Who knows, maybe the next Zaha Hadid will one day be asked the question, "When did you first know you wanted to be an architect?" Her reply: "Well, it all started the day I went to Rockefeller Partners Architects with my Brownie troop and........" 

Brian's daughter Catalina is a member of the troop so he had the honor of providing the tour, showing off our amazing plotter, and leading Troop 177 in a round of campfire songs. Just kidding. Brian gave them an abbreviated lesson on designing for people with disabilities then let the girls loose at our conference table where they built their own interpretations of buildings. We have to admit, there were some pretty impressive models emerging out of paper, glue, and tape. Ahhh, if it were only that simple for the professionals.