Archives: Instructors

Kip Ellis has more than 20 years of experience as a designer and planner who specializes in academic environments. His specialty is the design of sophisticated science buildings that promote innovative learning while celebrating each institution’s unique culture. Kip has provided strategic, creative contributions to many of EYP’s undergraduate science education projects, as well as thought leadership on a significant number of planning and feasibility studies. He is an author and frequent lecturer on the special challenges and issues of designing for higher education and is recognized as a national leader in advancing Science Education and Research in the United States. He is a frequent presenter at events for Project Kaleidoscope, the Society for College and University Planners (SCUP), Labs 21, and Tradeline. Kip’s award-winning projects include the Unified Science Center at Swarthmore College and the Integrated Science Center at the College of the Holy Cross, recipient of both a Boston Society of Architects Design Honor Award and the New England Regional Chapter of the American Institute of Architect’s Design Honor Award.

Lloyd, a laboratory consultant at RFD, is a worldwide leader in the design of science facilities for education, research, and testing. In his 19 years of practice, Mr. Fisk has been involved with projects across the US and abroad. These include facilities such as the MASDAR Institute in Abu Dhabi – a research institute focused on sustainable energy; the Hamad Medical City Translational Research Institute in Doha, Qatar; and the CHA Health Systems Biomedical Research Complex in Seoul, South Korea. Lloyd’s current work includes the National Drinking Water Laboratory in Doha and a stem-cell-therapy facility at the University of Iowa. Within the realm of undergraduate STEM facilities, Mr. Fisk’s projects include science buildings at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania; Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York; the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York; the University of Hawaii West Oahu campus; and the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Mr. Fisk has made presentations on laboratory design issues at many conferences in the US as well as in Korea and Brazil. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Scientific Equipment and Furnishings Association (SEFA) and is active in the San Diego chapter of the AIA.

Rick has enjoyed a 32 year career with RFD, a firm specializing exclusively in the programming and design of laboratory facilities for institutional, industry, and governmental clients. Based in San Diego, RFD has consulted on more than 1000 projects in 49 states throughout the U.S. and around the world. Rick’s primary career focus has been on undergraduate STEM facilities for both public and private institutions such as: Aquinas College, Auraria Higher Education Center, California Lutheran University, California School of Mines, Denison University, Eastern Washington University, Kansas State University, Newman University, Metro State University – Denver, Rhodes College, Tennessee Tech University, University of Denver, University of Notre Dame, University of San Diego, University of Virginia, University of Washington – Bothell, University of Wyoming, Valparaiso University, Whitworth University, and six University of California campuses. Mr. Heinz holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University. Professional affiliations include the American Institute of Architects, Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association and Society for College and University Planning. Rick has presented at more than 60 Science Facility conferences for such organizations as Academic Impressions, Learning Spaces Collaboratory, Project Kaleidoscope, Society for College & University Planning, and Tradeline, Inc.

Charles Kirby has more than three decades of experience in the design of college and university science facilities with an emphasis on undergraduate and graduate teaching and research and distance learning facilities. His focus on academic environments reflects a deep passion for creating inviting spaces that encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and seamlessly integrate technology to support the latest pedagogies. His designs reflect each institution’s unique culture and put science on display, demonstrating the excitement of scientific discovery to majors and non-majors alike. Charles’ award-winning projects include the Unified Science Center at Hamilton College and the Unified Science Center at Swarthmore College. He is an author and frequent lecturer on the special challenges and issues of designing for higher education at Tradeline, the Society of College and University Planners (SCUP), and Project Kaleidoscope. His participation in the national dialogue advances the evolution of science learning and teaching environments.

Toni Loiacano has more than 10 years of design experience in architecture and engineering., specializing in programming and planning science teaching and research laboratories. Prior to joining EYP, her projects included the College of Medicine at Central Michigan University, the Biomedical Technology Center and Schoolcraft College, and National Superconducting Laboratory at Michigan State University. A published author and sought-after lecturer, Toni shares her expertise through presentations at conferences hosted by Project Kaleidoscope, No Name, Labs 21, Tradeline, and Association of American Colleges and Universities

Since 2012, as founding principal of the Learning Spaces Collaboratory (LSC), Jeanne Narum’s professional focus is on gathering, distilling, and promoting best practices in visioning, planning, and assessing undergraduate learning spaces. She orchestrates LSC activities, including LSC webinars, web postings, and grant-funded initiatives. Currently, with support from NSF, a working group within the LSC is developing a prototype guide for institutional teams involved in various stages of shaping and reshaping learning spaces. Her role as learning spaces consultant is to facilitate iterative on-campus conversations among stakeholders that: a) explore at common language for shaping the vision of the project; b) establish project goals that reflect that vision; c) outline strategies to implement toward achieving those goals in the planning process; and d) lead to action by working groups of stakeholders that produce data and information to inform the programming process. From 1989 – 2010, Jeanne was the founding director of Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL), a position that provided opportunities to work with and learn from leaders from a wide range of STEM disciplines and academic institutions.

Since 2008, David Ribble has been the lead faculty member (faculty shepherd) in charge of planning and designing the $127 million Center for the Sciences and Innovation at Trinity University. He has worked with consultants, architects, contractors, and numerous STEM departments of Trinity University in this effort. David is also a participant in Partnerships for Undergraduate Life Science Education (PULSE), a national effort to reform life science education. He regularly conducts external reviews of Biology Departments at private undergraduate institutions around the country to help them design purposeful curriculum relevant to the 21st century.

John Greene has been in a leadership position within a higher education facilities department for 37 years, nearly all with Trinity University.  He has been active member within APPA: The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers; serving on its international board of directors, president of an eight-state regional association, member of national/regional committees and host of regional/international meetings.  He is also an active member of the International Facilities Management Association.  At Trinity he has led the capital improvement efforts that have transformed the physical campus over the past three decades, culminating in the Center for the Sciences and Innovation, from its initial conception to reality.

Starting in the summer of 2013, Leslie Bleamaster, III has been working with faculty, students, facilities services, and the administrative and technical staff to coordinate support of teaching and research spaces of ten STEM departments and disciplines (Biology, Chemistry, Geosciences, Neuroscience, Physics & Astronomy, Psychology, Computer Science, Engineering Science, Mathematics, and the Animal Care and Resource Center) housed within the CSI. In addition, Leslie is responsible for the development and implementation of a new 21st century approach to department/faculty support, whereby independent department boundaries have blurred in attempts to promote, if not force, interdisciplinary collaboration.