As a pilot, my main mode of transportation to quickly reach long distance destinations is flying. As an architect with projects peppered across the Commonwealth, flying not only provides an efficient means of traveling, but allows me to spend more time designing or supervising a project. An intangible benefit of flying is viewing our great state of Pennsylvania from 5,000 feet. I wish everyone could have an opportunity to obtain a "bird's eye view" of the Commonwealth, which boasts lush mountains, beautiful valleys, fierce rivers and an endless patchwork of fields. The experience helps one to appreciate nature and the environment while providing a peaceful retreat from the monotony below. Personally, it inspires creativity and helps me to view other elements in life, mainly architecture, from a different perspective. Standing at ground level, we view a site and proposed design from a limited perspective. In flight, we can take in the complete picture from a multi-dimensional level. When designing the recently completed Wellsboro High School, we had the benefit of viewing the terrain from above. Flying over Tioga County -- home of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and one of our state's natural gems -- we realized that the school site orientation required that the building face "town" and that the magnificence of the mountains surrounding Wellsboro would serve as a backdrop to this unique structure. To integrate the building's environment into the architectural plans, we designed a multi-story glass atrium in back of the high school. This allows the students and faculty to view their unique and splendid geography from the student commons and cafeteria. Efficient, creatively stimulating, time freeing and gaining a different perspective -- flying for me is the only way to go.