Central Texas A4LE Chapter Selects 2021-2022 President

FGM Architects (FGMA) in Austin, Texas, recently announced that Design Principal Rebecca Richter, AIA, ALEP, LEED AP, RID has been selected as the 2021-2022 President of the A4LE (Association for Learning Environments), Central Texas Chapter. Richter leads FGMA’s PK-12 school design team and joined the firm in January 2020.

Most recently, her work has included the design and construction of St. Austin Catholic School for students in grades PK-8. The project is scheduled for completion in 2023 and will be located across the street from the main campus of the University of Texas at Austin. Amenities will include collaborative learning areas, rooftop gardens, play areas, and a basketball court.

Richter’s career has spanned more than 30 years, and her focus has primarily been educational design. A news release states, “She is committed to creating spaces that support the way students learn and finding balance between the intended use of a space, its larger cultural context, and the natural environment in which the facility resides. Two key concepts inform her approach: design thinking, a human-centered, iterative process which prioritizes the needs of end users; and pattern language, which encompasses the myriad components of a design process.”

A4LE was founded in 1921. Richter has served as an active member of the Central Texas Chapter for more than 15 years and was elected to its board in 2012. She also served as the Program Coordinator from 2017-2019 and the President-elect during 2019-2020. The chapter has more than 250 members.

“I’m passionate about innovative learning environments and the rich conversations it brings to the table,” said Richter in a press release. “I also love building communities in schools and connecting the dots of relationships with those spaces.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • DLR Group Announces New Mid-Atlantic Higher Education Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has promoted Principal Shawn Gaither, AIA, LEED AP, to the role of higher education leader in the Mid-Atlantic, according to a news release. Gaither has served with the firm for more than 20 years, most recently as the national higher education business development leader.

  • Bradley Company Highlights Hygiene Tips for Global Handwashing Day

    In honor of Global Handwashing Day on October 15, commercial washrooms and emergency safety solutions provider Bradley Company recently released the results of its 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey. The findings indicate simple, practical steps that facilities managers can take to encourage good hygiene on campus.

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • Carnegie Mellon University Receives $3B Gift to Launch New Campus

    Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently announced that it has received $3 billion—the largest individual gift in higher education history—from Citadel CEO and founder Ken Griffin, according to a news release.