Dr. John Messner, B.A.E., ’91, Ph.D., ’94, Architectural Engineering, Construction Management, Penn State University, was appointed to a non-tenure track position as Assistant Professor of Architectural Engineering in the Construction Management option effective January 2001. 

Prior to joining Penn State, Dr. Messner was Project Manager and Project Engineer with The Clark Construction Group, Inc. in Bethesda, Maryland.  His responsibilities included project planning, estimating, purchasing, scheduling and project administration.  He was also Project Manager for Development to identify and develop private infrastructure projects for Rebuild, L.L.C., a transportation infrastructure development and management company in Sterling, Virginia.

Dr. David R. Riley, B.A.E., ’91, Ph.D., ’94, Architectural Engineering, Construction
Management, Penn State University, will join the AE faculty in January 2001 as    Associate Professor and will take over as Director of PACE in May 2001.  Dr. Riley is    currently an Associate Professor of Construction Management at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. 

Dr. Riley’s research interests include sustainable building methods and production
engineering and management.

Ms. Marie Fleming has accepted an offer to join the AE faculty as Assistant Professor of Architectural Engineering in the Lighting/Electrical option effective Fall 2001.  Ms. Fleming will receive her Ph.D. degree in Building Technology in April 2001 from Massey University in New Zealand. Her research focuses on the role of lighting in creating safe and healthy built environments with a specific focus on fluorescent lighting effects on occupant health and productivity.

Dr. William Bahnfleth and Dr. Richard Behr were successful in a recent proposal to the Penn State University Environmental Consortium to add a new mechanical systems faculty position in AE to contribute toward the development of a Center for Indoor Environment in our department.  Activities of the Penn State Center for Indoor Environment will include developing a coherent long-term research plan, soliciting and conducting high quality research projects, forming an industry advisory board, developing and offering graduate and undergraduate Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) courses, developing laboratories, organizing and conducting conferences, performing public education outreach activities, and leading other initiatives that will help place Penn State at the forefront of IAQ, and, more generally, indoor environment research and education.  A formal announcement of the search for this new faculty member will be published during the Spring 2001 semester.

Dr. Richard A. Behr was selected by the Architectural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers to receive the ASCE 1999 Journal of Architectural Engineering Best Paper Award for his paper entitled: “Seismic Performance of Architectural Glass in Mid-Rise Curtain Wall.” 

Dr. Victor E. Sanvido was the recipient of a Special Recognition Award from the Design-Build Institute of America for Outstanding Academic Leadership.  The award was presented at the 2000 Professional Design-Build Conference held October 4-7 in San Diego, California in recognition of his commitment to design-build, mentoring of students, and encouragement of, and active involvement in, DBIA student chapters.

FAREWELL
We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Mr. Bennett Levin, P.E. who served as an Adjunct Professor of Architectural Engineering during the fall 2000 semester.  He commuted weekly from his home in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania to the University Park campus after generously volunteering to teach AE 467 - Advanced Building Electrical Systems Design and serve as a consultant to AE fifth-year students on electrical engineering aspects of their senior thesis projects.  Levin is a two-time graduate of Penn State, having earned degrees from both the College of Liberal Arts (’61) and the College of Engineering (IE ’65).  As a professional engineer, engineering consultant, and businessman, he brought a wealth of knowledge and real-life experience to the classroom.  His unique perspectives were very well received by his AE students.  We are extremely grateful for his friendship and his personal commitment of time and resources on behalf of the AE program.

Dr. Craig Bernecker resigned his tenured position as Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering in November 2000 to continue his role as Executive Director of the Albright-Berks Partnership in Reading, Pennsylvania.  We wish Craig the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.

NEW FEI STAFF MEMBER
The Penn State Facilities Engineering Institute (PSFEI) welcomed its newest staff member in January.  Tim Russell joined PSFEI as an Analyst/Programmer and will develop the institute’s data collection and electronic publishing, along with contributing to the Institute’s web-enabled databases.  Tim earned a B.S. degree in Management Science and Information Systems with a minor in Business Logistics under the University Scholars Program in 2000.  Upon graduation, he was recognized with the honor of Highest Distinction as a University Scholar.  Tim and his recent bride Meghan Russell (Chem. E. expected ’02) reside in State College.
 

An afternoon reception was held in the Kunkle Lounge for the AE graduates, their guests, and the AE faculty.