Meet LPA: Storm Ready

Project Manager, Andrew Dziak is on a mission to design safer storm shelters.

In Texas, where tornado warnings are a regular part of life, structural engineer Andrew Dziak is designing buildings that can save lives.

Operating from the Dallas studio, Andrew has become a leading expert in the design of ICC 500-compliant tornado shelters, a structural engineering specialty that demands precision, coordination and, above all, accountability. “These structures have to pass the ultimate test: 250-mile-per-hour winds, missile-borne debris, unbelievable loading events,” Andrew says. “There’s no room for error.”

Over the past six years, Andrew has worked on more than 60 storm shelters, many of them for K-12 schools in tornado-prone areas. His expertise has made him a recognized resource in the field. As vice president of the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA), he’s helped craft industry standards and co-developed testing to certify engineers experienced in shelter design.

The work is technical and personal. “I grew up in Mansfield, Texas. Tornado sirens were a regular thing,” Andrew says. “Now, I’m in a position to make sure kids and first responders have places where they can stay safe when violent storms bear down.”

Andrew’s practice is based on collaboration. As part of LPA’s integrated team, he works with architects, designers and engineers to blend the shelter with the larger project goals. “Storm shelter design can’t be an afterthought,” he says. “We all need to work together from day one to get it right — structurally, aesthetically and functionally.”

For Andrew, the goal is simple: peace of mind. “When people come into a shelter I’ve helped design, I want them to feel safe, but I hope they never have to use it.”

— Mark Olsen