LPA Civil Engineers Win ASCE’s 2025 Outstanding Architectural Engineering Project Award for Washington Elementary School

LPA Design Studios’ civil engineering team has been honored with the 2025 Outstanding Architectural Engineering Project Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Los Angeles Section for their work on Washington Elementary School, the visual and performing arts academy for Santa Ana Unified School District.

The award celebrates the team’s pivotal role in the transformation of the 4.25-acre Memorial Park campus, where civil engineering strategies were seamlessly integrated into a larger vision for sustainability, community engagement and educational advancement. Working as part of LPA’s interdisciplinary design team, civil engineers helped shape a vibrant, resilient campus that supports creativity and connection.

“This award is a testament to what’s possible when civil engineering is embedded in the design conversation from day one,” said Kathereen Shinkai, LPA’s Director of Civil Engineering. “Our team collaborated across disciplines to create a site that not only performs but inspires, supporting the arts, the environment, and the community.”

Key civil engineering achievements include the replacement of asphalt with permeable surfaces to reduce runoff and mitigate the urban heat island effect, the strategic placement of bioretention basins for stormwater management and groundwater recharge, and the use of low-emissivity hardscape materials and drought-tolerant landscaping to promote long-term sustainability. These efforts contributed to a 79% reduction in predicted energy use compared to typical educational facilities.

The campus design also features a central Community Promenade that links the school to the surrounding neighborhood, transforming the site into a welcoming, accessible hub for students and families. Civil engineers played a critical role in grading, site planning, and integrating infrastructure with the architectural and landscape vision.

This marks the second major ASCE honor for LPA’s civil engineering team in recent months, following recognition from the ASCE Orange County Branch earlier this year. The LA Section award, which spans over 9,500 members across Southern California, underscores the team’s growing impact and leadership in sustainable, community-driven design.