Integrated Sustainable Design

Defining Excellence

Wendy Rogers — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 01:54:45 GMT

Earlier this year I was honored to serve as a juror for the American Institute of Architects’ annual Education Facility Design Awards program, one of the top awards for the learning environment design community. Presented by the Committee on Architecture for Education, the awards put the spotlight on design excellence for educational, culture and recreational architecture around the country, providing recognition for designers doing great work.

Rebuild or Renovate?

LPA Staff — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 01:33:00 GMT

Building owners around the country are facing a dilemma. Half of the country’s 5.6 million commercial buildings—including office, hospitality, education and healthcare facilities—were constructed before 1980 and are starting to near the end of their projected lifespan, according to a 2012 survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Owners will have to decide whether to renovate these buildings or simply tear them down and start over, a complicated and multi-layered decision. In many cases, the cost of an upgrade and the poor condition of the structure make starting over the logical choice. But it’s not always the best option.

Bringing the Resort Home

LPA Staff — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 01:55:00 GMT

The Pools at the Great Park in Irvine, California elevates the concept of a traditional community center with iconic, modern architecture and an elegant, flexible design.

Doing Open Office Right

LPA Staff — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 15:23:00 GMT

Headlines are once again proclaiming the death of open offices, after the July release of a damning new study by a team of Harvard University researchers.

A Passion for Public Education

LPA Staff — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 16:57:00 GMT

Dr. Kevin Brown built his career creating, supporting and advocating for 21st century learning environments. He was recently named the Executive Director of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), after nearly two decades with Alamo Heights Independent School District. He sees his role at TASA as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a wider influence on public education across the state.

A Tasty Twist on a Mixed-Use Development

LPA Staff — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 17:07:00 GMT

The four-story, 60,000-square-foot Culinary Arts Academy and District Office (CAADO) building in Riverside, California is the cornerstone of the Centennial Plaza, a block-long development that has revitalized a neglected part of the city.

Creating a Lone Star Connection

LPA Staff — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 16:00:00 GMT

Mature live oak trees surround Joeris General Contractors’ new corporate headquarters in San Antonio, one of many elements that connect the Texas-grown company’s office to its Texas roots.

An Improved Bond Planning Experience

jkisel@lpainc.com (Jim Kisel) — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 15:30:00 GMT

While the 2018 elections are making headlines, school administrators are already looking forward to the next elections in 2019 and 2020, which could be big years for bond votes. The primaries and Presidential election, in particular, will provide a golden opportunity to take new initiatives to voters in the bond election cycle.

Designing a Net Zero Aquatic Center

LPA Staff — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 19:55:00 GMT

Aquatic centers are notorious energy hogs. Buildings can be designed to cut consumption and operate more efficiently, but the pools always make it difficult to achieve substantial savings. There is simply no way to get around heating a ton of water and keeping it heated for long hours.

Creating Better Outdoor Learning Spaces

LPA Staff — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 17:46:38 GMT

Researchers agree that outdoor education improves students’ physical and emotional health and teaches them valuable social skills, in addition to providing hands-on learning opportunities.

But not all school outdoor spaces are equal. Creating effective outdoor learning environments requires specific design strategies and a willingness of educators to embrace different teaching methods.

In a roundtable discussion, three LPA education design specialists explore the nuances and challenges of developing engaging outdoor spaces for K-12 campuses that provide better results for educators.