Space Saver
Childhood trip served as a blueprint for dream of
architect, designer.
By Kimiko L. Martinez
kimiko.martinez@intakeweekly.com
When Megan Phillippe walked away from architect Richard Meier's Athenaeum in
New Harmony, Ind., at age 9, she already had the idea for her dream home in mind.
Looking back, it's no surprise that she went into
architecture and design. Though Phillippe, now 25, doesn't remember much about
the trip to New Harmony, she said it was her first real memory of being
interested in architecture. And at home, the inklings of a future architect
seemingly were apparent.
"My parents laughed at me, because I would make floor plans in the yard with leaves," Phillippe said. It all seems to lead up to where she is now -- with architecture and interior design firm Brenner Design. There she's contributed to projects like pediatric units at Clarian West; the law offices of Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarity, McNett & Henry at the Bank One Tower; and the Purdue e-Enterprise Center.
But the Ball State University graduate didn't start out on that path. All through high school, Phillippe said she was on the pre-med track. But after taking art and drafting classes her senior year, all that changed. "I found that I really enjoyed designing houses," she said. "I've always been very artistic, very creative, so I just ended up being in the right place."