News Items

For the third year in a row, SMB&R is among the firms recognized by DiversityBusiness.com as one of the top privately-owned companies in America. Listed firms and rankings will be announced in April at the organization's conference and awards ceremony in Connecticut.

We express our deepest sympathy to the family of our friend and colleague, Donald K. Royal, one of the founding partners of SMB&R. Don passed away on Friday, September 9. Along with Tom Spiers, Hal McDonald and Darius Bharucha he formed the architectural / engineering firm of SMB&R, from which he retired. Throughout his career, Don designed many schools, AMP buildings, corporate centers and the Camp Hill Post Office. Don lived in the Harrisburg area most of his life and spent many years working at Benatec Associates. With Tom Spiers, Hal McDonald and Darius Bharucha, he formed the architectural / engineering firm of SMB&R in 1994, from which he retired in 2004. During his career, Don designed many schools and college facilities, buildings for AMP Incorporated, the Camp Hill Corporate Center and the Camp Hill Post Office. He also served as president and director of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and as treasurer and director of AIA Pennsylvania.

Holly Williams Leppo was recently appointed to the Penn State College of Arts & Architecture Alumni Society Board. The Board's responsibilities include outreach and mentoring for current students, connecting A&A alumni, and raising funds to endow scholarships for students in the College.

Holly Williams Leppo has earned a LEED Professional Credential in Building Design + Construction from the Green Building Certification Institute. Holly became a LEED AP in 2005, and has demonstrated knowledge of green building practices required for successful implementation of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System. She has committed to completing 30 hours of continuing education in green building topics over the next two years.

Holly Williams Leppo, AIA, was honored as a recipient of the Central Penn Business Journal's Women of Influence Award for 2011.

The program was started in 2010 to identify and honor women in Central Pennsylvania who are influential in their companies, industries, and communities, who have a solid reputation based on their experience, integrity and leadership, and have a proven track record of accomplishments.

For the second year in a row, SMB&R is among the firms recognized in the DiversityBusiness.com Div500. The firm ranks #339 on the list of Top 500 Emerging Businesses in the United States.

The second edition of Holly Williams Leppo's Architecture Registration Exam prep materials are now available from Professional Publications, Inc. The books have been updated to include provisions of the 2009 International Building Code and the 2007 version of the AIA Contract Documents.

SMB&R is featured in the Central Penn Business Journal's 2010 List of Architecture Firms (ranked by number of local registered architects)

Holly Williams Leppo recently participated as a member of the MS Leadership Class of 2010 to support the work of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the Greater Harrisburg Region.

Congratulations to the Saxton Community Library, which dedicated the Tenley-Walters Community Room on Sunday, June 13. The library constructed this space for under $50 per square foot with the help of talented volunteers and donations and discounts from local businesses and materials suppliers, and funded the project with private donations and grants. The room will be used by library staff for programming, including lectures, classes, exhibits, and Story Hour, and is also available for use by community organizations and individuals.

SMB&R was pleased to provide architecture and engineering services for this project; Holly Williams Leppo grew up in Saxton.