Six new Associates will help lead the integrated design firm into the future.
LPA has expanded its team of leaders with the addition of six new Associates, who will help guide the integrated design firm’s continued growth and expansion.
The promoted leaders represent different areas of LPA’s integrated practice, reflecting the diverse disciplines and skill sets developing in the firm. They are Chris Aeria, Managing Director, Commercial; Carrie Bridge, Senior Project Manager, Healthcare; Danielle Cleveland, Project Designer, Landscape Architecture; Jake Junge, Digital Manager, Commercial; Kristy Nelson, Lead Engineer, Mechanical Engineering; and Teresa Rodriguez, Managing Director, Workplace.
“These young leaders represent the future of LPA,” said LPA CEO Wendy Rogers. “Being proudly independent and promoting from within is what keeps our firm culture vibrant and our design practice continually maturing and evolving.”
Associates take an active role in shaping the company’s mission and work to support its education, diversity and community outreach, as well as LPA’s industry-leading work to reduce the energy use of its projects.
Each of the new leaders brings unique skills and experience to their roles.
Chris Aeria, RA
Managing Director, Commercial
San Diego
Chris Aeria is an architect and managing director for the commercial practice, with over 23 years’ experience in the field and an expertise in innovative life science facilities. He brings a hands-on and idea-rich approach to strategic oversight, leadership and resource management, with a wide range of experience orchestrating ground-up projects, repositioning and tenant improvements from concept through completion. He is dedicated to delivering designs that reflect their place and culture, have emotional resonance and perform sustainably.
Chris’s significant projects with LPA include Spectrum Campus Entitlements, Spectrum III, Spectrum IV, Spectrum Bridge and 9625 Town Center Drive for Alexandria Real Estate Equities; and Vans Headquarters 2 for VF Corporation.
Carrie Bridge, IIDA, LEED AP
Senior Project Manager, Healthcare
Sacramento
Carrie is a project manager and interior designer with more than 15 years of experience leading healthcare design efforts from concept to completion. She is especially focused on the spatial, functional and operational implications of healthcare spaces, and enjoys guiding clients through complex decision-making processes. She brings curiosity and a collaborative spirit to her projects, learning from end users in order to plan and design spaces that are easier to use and improve care.
Carrie’s significant projects include the Hoag Sun Family Campus in Irvine, California, Sutter Health’s CMPC Mission Bernal Campus in San Francisco, Redding Rancheria Tribal Health Village in Redding and Montage Wellness Center in Marina.
Danielle Cleveland, ASLA, LEED AP BD+C
Project Designer, Landscape Architecture
Irvine
Danielle is a landscape architect whose research-driven approach to design places well-being at the center. Over nearly two decades, she has worked on all scales and types of projects, from preschools to large corporate campuses and hospitals, always seeking to improve the user’s mental and physical health. She is a detail-oriented and empathetic project leader and a frequent speaker at education and landscape architecture conferences.
Danielle’s significant projects include the Hoag Sun Valley Campus, the Edwards Lifesciences campus expansion and Pretend City Children’s Museum, all in Irvine, and Harbor Day School and ENC Preschool in Newport Beach.
Jake Junge, AIA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate
Digital Manager, Commercial
San Diego
Jake is an architect and digital manager dedicated to helping LPA designers use design technology in innovative ways to achieve better results. He adds value to every practice area, whether using automation to accelerate housing projects or building toolkits to help lab planners do rapid layouts. He is quick to adopt and employ new technologies for client benefit, such as 3D printing and laser cutting, and adept at using digital design tools to measure and improve the carbon performance of projects.
Jake’s significant projects include the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and the Spectrum III and IV science and technology facilities in San Diego.
Kristy Nelson, PE, P Eng, LEED AP
Lead Engineer, Mechanical Engineering
Irvine
Kristy Nelson is a mechanical engineer and project manager dedicated to mechanical systems that reduce energy use and contribute holistically to projects. She has over 15 years of experience leading HVAC design for a wide range of commercial and civic projects, including office buildings, laboratories, recreation facilities and assembly spaces. She has an obsessive eye for detail, a gift for collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams, and a whole-building outlook that maximizes sustainability and occupant comfort.
Kristy’s significant projects include the Edwards Lifesciences campus expansion in Irvine, the Rialto Police Department headquarters in Rialto and the Redding Rancheria Tribal Health Center in Redding.
Teresa Rodriguez, IIDA, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP ID+C
Managing Director, Workplace
Dallas
Teresa is a seasoned interior designer with a passion for sustainable design. As managing director, she leads workplace design in LPA’s Dallas studio. With a background in both interiors and architecture, she has programmed and designed corporate office interiors for Fortune 500 companies, higher education institutions and premiere healthcare systems, receiving national recognition from the AIA and IIDA. Teresa’s educational foundation informs her ability to balance color and fine details while understanding of the architectural aspects of a space.
Teresa’s significant projects include The Tennyson, Texas Capital Bank, Toyota, Allied Universal, Likewize and Merieux NutriSciences, all in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
