Pitkin Speaks at EdSpaces in San Antonio

SMMA’s Alex Pitkin, the firm’s Director of Institutional Practice, spoke at EdSpaces, sponsored by the National School Supply and Equipment Association, held December 4 to 6 in San Antonio. Pitkin spoke on “Designing for a Career-Oriented Future.” The session highlighted ways in which high schools, community colleges and vocational schools are shifting their facilities needs in the direction of providing additional space for career programs in high-growth fields like healthcare, construction, agriculture and technology.

Pitkin offered the successful results creating "academies of excellence" for STEM, Fine Arts and Humanities at Quincy High School. Unlike traditional high schools, these academies combine college track programs with certificate/vocational programs such as green technologies, nursing and patient care, trade shops, engineering and auto tech for true hands-on project based learning. The Fine Arts Academy expands on the standard arts and music programs to include drama, broadcasting, graphic design, fashion technology and scenery certificate programs.