As part of our 50-year anniversary, we'll meet with each of the firm Principals and get their take on LPA, current projects and of course, sustainable design.
Mickey Conrad, AIA / LEED AP BD+C
Principal
LPA San Antonio
Q: How long have you worked at LPA?
A: I have had 30 fantastic years at OCO and was thrilled when we merged with LPA last year.
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: Being part of the creative process makes what we do so much fun. Shaping a project from ideas described with a doodle sketch and working with a great group of creative people to see it to completion is pretty amazing.
Q: What does a day in the life of Mickey Conrad look like?
A: My days usually involve a range of tasks such as Urban Design Studio (UDS) type projects, new project opportunities and/or LPA initiatives. Engaging clients on the needs of their project and collaborating with the design team on current project issues often fill a day. Unscheduled but welcomed opportunities for new projects entail assisting with preparing an Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), interview or working on a strategy to convert the opportunity into a new client.
Q: What project are you working on this minute?
A: Mountain View Assisted Living Facility in Marysville Washington.
Q: What does it entail?
A: The project is a design/build delivery and consists of a two-story building constructed with modular living units fabricated in a plant in Idaho, shipped to the site and assembled like Legos to create two wings for memory care and assisted living residents. Modular construction and the site constraints have posed some enjoyable challenges for our team.
Q: What do you love most about sustainable design?
A: I really enjoy the challenge of doing more with less and incorporating sustainable solutions that will inform a "genuine" building design. Sustainable design produces an architecture that will only get better over time.
Q: What are your thoughts on LPA’s 50th anniversary this year?
A: It is not all that common for any business to survive beyond 40 years. LPA seems to have found the formula for sustainability, not only in the design of projects but also the design of LPA as an organization. An article in Bloomberg Businessweek "The Living Company" identifies four key factors that long-span companies have in common. The article appears to be describing LPA. It deepens your appreciation for LPA.
(For more about LPA's expansion to Texas click "Play" below.)