The Coalition for Adequate School Housing (C.A.S.H.) recognized the modernization of Roosevelt High School and the new student union at Britton Middle School for design excellence, and Director of K-12 Kate Mraw for her leadership role in advancing a research-driven approach to student well-being and sustainability.
LPA Design Studios received multiple honors from the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (C.A.S.H.), recognizing its design work and leadership in advancing school facility planning.
Two LPA projects received Awards of Merit in the C.A.S.H./AIA CA Leroy F. Greene Design and Planning Awards: the modernization of Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles and the new student union for Britton Middle School in Morgan Hill. Both projects reflect LPA’s commitment to designing schools that are deeply connected to their communities and responsive to the evolving needs of students.
C.A.S.H. also honored LPA’s Director of K-12 Kate Mraw with a Gene Hartline Member Service Award for her contributions to school facility advocacy and research-driven design.
Founded in 1987, C.A.S.H. represents school facility professionals dedicated to developing quality, safe and healthy schools. The group’s annual awards are one of the highest honors for school design in California. With these two new recognitions, LPA has earned 48 C.A.S.H./AIA CA design awards since 1991 — a clear recognition of the firm’s impact.
“The C.A.S.H. awards recognize collaboration between the designers, educators and communities in shaping the future of education,” Mraw said. “These projects reflect the best of that process — engaging stakeholders in meaningful ways to create spaces that empower students and celebrate the many identities that make up a school community.”
Roosevelt High School
Award of Merit, Leroy F. Greene Design and Planning Awards, new build category
The modernization of Roosevelt High School preserves the school’s cultural and historical significance while improving access, functionality and equity. The redesign builds on this legacy of the campus’ role in 1968 civil rights protests, ensuring that the campus continues to serve as a platform for advocacy, engagement and student success. The project was shaped by extensive collaboration with the Boyle Heights community, alumni and local leaders, who were actively involved in the planning process. New gathering spaces and learning environments reinforce the school’s role as a cultural and educational anchor for the neighborhood, connecting past and present while supporting future generations.
Britton Middle School Student Union
Leroy F. Greene Design and Planning Awards, Award of Merit, new build category
The new Student Union at Britton Middle School serves as both a student hub and a civic amenity, strengthening ties between the school and the broader Morgan Hill community. Positioned at a key downtown gateway, the building maintains a strong institutional presence while ensuring visibility, accessibility and security for both students and the public. The two-story café, the union’s most prominent feature, anchors the street-facing façade with an open, dynamic space for dining and socializing. A separate public entrance allows the facility to host town meetings and community events, with a digital display wall supporting presentations. Suspended above the café, a glowing study pod adds a distinctive focal point, reinforcing the connection between the school and its context.
Kate Mraw
Director of K-12
Gene Hartline Member Service Award
Mraw was recognized for her advocacy for California’s Proposition 2, a 2024 ballot initiative approving a $10 billion bond for public school facilities. The award also recognizes her thought leadership in the industry and her work with the California School Facilities Research Institute (CSFRI) identifying best design practices for improving student engagement and outcomes. As LPA’s Director of K-12, she has helped advance evidence-based design practices focused on student well-being and sustainability, ensuring that school facilities are functional, enriching environments that support learning and growth.
