LPA Elevates San Antonio Architect Federico Cavazos to Principal — and Names New Associates
Promotions at the integrated design firm position a trio of leaders to innovate in new ways in 2026 and beyond
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 12, 2026 — Recognizing two decades of leadership and award-winning work that uplifts communities, LPA Design Studios has named San Antonio–based Design Director Federico Cavazos a Principal.
Cavazos will take an ownership stake in LPA, which was the 2025 recipient of the AIA Architecture Firm Award, the industry's highest honor. He will play a key role in leading the independent firm’s continued growth in Texas, including the recent expansion of its higher-education practice.
Throughout his career, Cavazos has led education and public sector projects that reflect the culture, aspirations and resilience of the people they serve. His portfolio includes the nationally celebrated renovation of Sidney Lanier High School in San Antonio, which earned the AIA’s national Committee on Architecture for Education Award of Excellence; General Marshall Middle School, a community-focused institution in Austin’s new urbanist Mueller community; thoughtful renovations to the Witt Center and Northrup Hall on Trinity University’s midcentury modern campus; and the City of Eagle Pass International Bridge System Headquarters, a net-zero-ready civic facility that reimagines the border-crossing experience.
“Federico brings a rare blend of empathy, technical excellence and vision to every project,” said LPA CEO Wendy Rogers. “His passion for design that elevates communities and creates opportunities for young people is central to our mission and our continued growth in Texas."
Born into a family of architects in the border city of Laredo, Cavazos has spent his career working on projects that serve the public realm, often in underserved communities. In collaboration with LPA’s multidiscipline teams of architects, engineers, interior designers and landscape architects, he has championed designs that bolster local heritage and create lasting value.
“I grew up on the border, in South Texas, and I’ve always felt a responsibility to give back through design,” Cavazos said. “Every project is a chance to influence lives, strengthen communities and create spaces that people recognize as their own.”
Cavazos played a key role in LPA opening a studio in Austin last year, joining the firm’s Texas hubs in San Antonio and Dallas. Over the years he has helped build LPA's San Antonio presence as a trusted collaborator for clients navigating tight budgets, aging facilities and complex priorities.
“Federico’s deep connection to communities, especially in South and Central Texas, is evident in every project he touches,” said Sara Flowers, director of LPA’s San Antonio studio. “His creativity and respect for our clients and their often-limited resources demonstrates that fiscal responsibility and exceptional results can coexist.”
LPA Names New Associates
LPA also recently named two new associates: Brad Fowers and Kevin Leslie.
One of LPA’s guiding principles is “We don’t do this alone” — and as someone whose biggest passions are people and solving complex problems, Fowers has always championed that fact.
His work includes commercial, mixed-use and healthcare projects. With more than 15 years of industry experience, he is known for his positive attitude and strong work ethic, and prioritizes building trust with clients, seeing it as a key foundation for a project’s vitality and success. Focused on coordinated design and the value it can provide, Fowers believes any given solution should respond to user needs, as well as the environment in which it is located.
Career highlights include Spectrum Terrace, Innovation Office Park, the culture hub OCVIBE, and end-user projects like IMI Critical Engineering and Glaukos’ headquarters.
With over 25 years of experience creating environments for a range of project types, Kevin Leslie, meanwhile, is responsible for cultivating design concepts and ideas at LPA. His collaborative nature allows him to take on extensive project roles, evolving for the unique needs associated with any architectural phase, from conceptualization through construction.
His work on the Britton Middle School Student Union won a Coalition for Adequate School Housing Award of Merit and an AIA Silicon Valley Honor Award, and 701B was named the San Diego Business Journal’s Office Project of the Year.
“Brad and Kevin truly embody the collaborative core at the heart of an integrated design firm,” Rogers said. “These promotions are not just great news for the future of LPA — but the future of the built environment at large in California, Texas and beyond.”