SHCA's Blumenfeld named AIA Fellow.

Joan Blumenfeld, a principal in the New York office of Swanke Hayden Connell Architects, has been named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. She has also become LEED accredited.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) elevated Ms. Blumenfeld to its prestigious College of Fellows, an honor awarded to members who have made contributions of national significance to the profession.

Ms. Blumenfeld received the honor because of her proven ability to bring innovative thinking and high quality design to a global large-scale commercial interiors practice that has been dedicated to the creation of humane environments and workplaces. She also was cited for her service to the architectural profession through participation in community and professional organizations and as a mentor who has furthered the success of women professionals.

With a background in architecture, interior design, renovation, programming and master planning, Mr. Blumenfeld oversees projects that require the coordination of many disciplines. At SHCA, she specializes in large-scale projects, combining an understanding of all aspects of architecture and interior design with a capacity to view the broader implications behind these complex undertakings.--e.g., how will a project fit within

the context of its surrounding neighborhood; what are the historic implications of a given preservation effort; how can interior design create a powerful image for a company while resulting in an engaging work environment for employees.

Some of Ms. Blumenfeld's recent projects include the 700,000 s/f interiors for Reuters' new headquarters in Times Square; Sotheby's 450,000 s/f headquarters on York Avenue; and 260,000 s/f of office and trading space for Fidelity Investments.