Cecilia GutierrezRID, NCIDQ

Cecilia is an Interior Designer responsible for providing dynamic ideas, concepts and leadership for education projects. Her early art studies shaped her understanding of form, color and visual storytelling. This love for art blossomed in college, where she studied interior design at the University of Texas at San Antonio School of Architecture and Planning. This allowed her to merge artistic expression with technical problem-solving, creating functional and beautiful environments.

Cecilia’s greatest passion is collaborating with others. She believes completing a successful project requires design teams to collaborate closely with clients through fruitful dialogue and trust. “The most rewarding part of my work is transforming conversations and ideas into environments that reflect the people they serve,” Cecilia says. “Design is powerful, but it’s the relationships behind it that make it meaningful.”

She credits her mentorship by former LPA Principal Mickey Conrad for teaching her how to sharpen her design eye and build a strong foundation with clients rooted in trust, shared vision and thoughtful design. Under Conrad’s leadership, she contributed to projects, such as Meals on Wheels San Antonio, San Antonio Academy and San Antonio River Authority.

During her time at the firm, Cecilia has matured into a leader, mentoring young designers, strengthening project leadership, and elevating the high standard of LPA’s work. She was nominated for Professional of the Year by LPA Design Director Federico Cavazos for her leadership in the San Antonio studio. She also contributed to LPA’s wins at the IIDA San Antonio City Awards, where LPA took home three top honors.