DWL Architects + Planners announced the promotions of Michael Braun, AIA, LEED AP and Adam Sprenger, AIA, LEED AP to roles as vice president.

Their promotions demonstrate the firm’s ongoing commitment to exceptional service and leadership in architectural design.

“Mike is exceptionally good at understanding the design issues we encounter each day and has a unique ability to guide his team to a successful solution,” said Steve Rao, President of DWL.

“I am honored to be made a principal at a firm respected for its rich history of service to the community,” Braun said. “I look forward to continuing DWL’s tradition of customer service and innovative design.”

Since joining DWL in 2003, Braun has held a deep interest in sustainable design practices. His approach to architecture has been shaped by his experiences in Curitiba, Brazil, one of the world’s most sustainable cities.

The two environmentally-responsible park and ride projects he has managed, one in Glendale and another currently under construction in Scottsdale, include custom designed shade canopies and paving material that curbs the heat island effect. The North Scottsdale Park and Ride is designed to be a net zero project in terms of energy use.

Braun is a graduate Arizona State University, with a bachelors and masters degree in science and architecture, respectively. He has also studied at the University of São Paulo’s College of Architecture and Urbanism in Brazil.

Currently he is assisting in the project management of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport’s West Terminal expansion, a facility that has grown three times in as many years.

Sprenger has taken a leadership role in DWL’s “Green Team” and 3-D modeling since joining the firm in 2001.

“One of the biggest movements in architecture today is green architecture and sustainability,” Sprenger says.

Among his accomplishments are Scottsdale’s Appaloosa Library and the White Tank Library and Nature Center for Maricopa County, two projects on which DWL achieved LEED® Gold and LEED Platinum certification respectively.

“While these projects have been technically challenging to design,” he said, “the outcome is immensely rewarding.”

A graduate of the University of Arizona, Sprenger has 15 years of experience as an architect. He enjoys working on large-scale, complex jobs, such as the multiple security-related upgrades at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and the Chicago Cubs Spring Training Facility currently under construction in Mesa.

“Adam has amazed us with his ability to tackle the difficult design issues and challenging deadlines throughout his career at DWL” Rao said.

“As a young architect starting at DWL, I’d been given more responsibility than I could ever have imagined,” Sprenger said. “DWL is a unique firm in that we work on a broad range of project types.

“Having managed so many projects of varying types and scales has made me an effective manager. I am grateful for the experience, and I look forward to building lasting relationships with our many longtime clients over the coming years.”