Kim Salerno Principal, Architectural Designer
Kim Salerno is the principal of Libra Planners, a planning consultancy. Prior to forming Libra Planners she was the principal of Haven Designers, a Rhode Island based design studio focusing on residential architecture. She has taught all forms of two and three-dimensional design, including architecture and graphic design, at the college level for over twenty years. Kim earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and received rigorous architectural training at highly regarded firms in Boston and Philadelphia. Her work is informed by a passion for history and years of exhibiting fine art in museum contexts. She has worked widely, and for many years, in public design oversight. She has served on both the Newport, RI Historic District Commission and on the Newport Planning Board as Chair, accruing multiple policy achievements.
Peter Friedrichs Municipal Planner, Lawyer
Peter has served as City Planner for Newport, RI and Director of Planning and Economic Development for Central Falls, RI, in addition to private sector planning, design, and consulting roles. He has served as staff for two municipal planning boards, a zoning board, and a redevelopment agency and has served both in the civil service and as a mayoral appointee with a multimillion dollar budget and half a dozen staff. Peter has written many municipal ordinances and has been involved in the passage of several state laws. He has been recognized by regional planning smart growth, and new urbanism organizations as well as the APA Economic Division. Peter has also worked in the real estate and construction industries and is experienced with project financing methodologies.
Steven Irvine Data Analyst, Architect
Steve, trained both as an architect and a biologist, brings an informed perspective to evaluating and understanding natural assets as well as a superior knowledge of data gathering and research paradigms. Irvine had a fifteen year career in architecture, working for large international firms, including campus planning. Later, as a biologist, he performed research on the effects of climate change on reproduction in marine organisms. He was principal investigator on numerous federal and state funded projects, and has many peer-reviewed publications. His contributions strengthen the Libra team by combining research data gathering and analysis work with experience in architecture and planning.