LPA Design Studios has promoted Kate Mraw to director of its K-12 practice, where she will lead the development and growth of the firm’s 37-year-old national education design practice.
Since joining LPA in 2004, Mraw has worked with educators, students and communities to create more effective and efficient K-12 campuses based on a research-driven approach to design. A principal in the firm, she has led efforts to better integrate behavioral science and sustainability with educators’ goals and helped develop a collaborative design process centered on supporting the whole student. Her projects include the e3 Civic High School in downtown San Diego, the first high school in the country co-located in a public library; the historic preservation and renovation of Lanier High School in San Antonio, Texas and the all-in-one K-12 Agnews campus under construction on a 55-acre historic site in San Jose, California, one of the largest K-12 projects in the state.
“Kate’s passion and spirit of collaboration make her the perfect choice to lead our K-12 practice,” said LPA CEO Wendy Rogers. “On every project, regardless of size or budget, she works with communities to develop spaces that empower the learning process.”
Mraw succeeds Jim Kisel, who is retiring after 28 years leading LPA’s education practice. Over the past three decades, LPA’s K-12 team has master-planned and designed projects for more than 100 districts, developing deep relationships with educators, administrators and families around the country.
She earned a bachelor of science degree in interior design from the University of Texas, Austin.
