LPA Honored With AIA San Antonio Design Awards
At the July 28 People & Place Awards, the Texas AIA chapter recognized LPA Design Studios with two distinctions for design excellence.
The San Antonio chapter of the American Institute of Architects announced the winners of its 2026 People & Place Awards, recognizing impactful community leaders and outstanding projects across civic, commercial, education and residential design typologies.
Harris Elementary School, designed by LPA’s integrated team, won a Committee on the Environment (COTE) Award, given to work that exemplifies sustainable design excellence and supports ecological resilience, human health and community building. The project also won a Place Award in the Educational category, celebrating quality architecture, innovation and community impact.
About Harris Elementary School
Harris Elementary serves a community where many families face economic hardship, and roughly three‑quarters of students are identified as being at risk of disengaging from school. The design responds directly to this by shaping learning environments that emphasize student wellbeing, safety and a sense of belonging.
The school is arranged as a series of neighborhoods with intimate sub‑communities within the larger campus. Each neighborhood includes a mix of nooks, small‑group rooms and collaborative zones that support learning at multiple scales. Students also have immediate access to outdoor instructional areas, such as a plaza constructed with 10,000 reclaimed bricks. Inside, clerestory windows and light‑colored finishes maximize natural daylight and reduce reliance on artificial lighting. This helps students maintain lower cortisol levels, supporting emotional regulation and building long‑term resilience.
Harris Elementary is pursuing LEED Gold certification and a Three Star rating from Austin Energy Green Building, reflecting the school’s commitment to sustainability.
Read more about the project in issue 32 of Catalyst