LPA - Key Persons
Arash Izadi leads LPA's national Sport + Recreation team, helping to create sustainable, cost-effective recreation and aquatic facilities that work better for the users. For more than 25 years, he has focused on the link between site, building and programming. His work has earned awards and helped reshape campuses and communities, with a research-focused approach that strives to develop resilient, flexible facilities. A frequent speaker at industry events and contributing writer for national publications, Arash is a leading advocate for the importance of extensive community and stakeholder engagement in the design process.
Arash founded the Sport + Rec practice in 2009, developing a team with extensive experience in programming, consensus building, cost analysis, prioritization and project design. He helped launch the Sites Group, focused on linking landscape architecture to building design, and led the firm's expansion into tournament sports park design and collegiate recreation centers. His range of expertise includes recreation centers stadiums, sports centers, parks, community centers, aquatic facilities, tennis complexes and regional and national sports parks, with a technical focus on recreation programming, aquatic programming and synthetic turf analysis and replacement.
Arash is passionate about promoting user well-being, athlete performance and energy efficiency in facilities. On every project, he brings a mixture of technical expertise, leadership skills and attention to detail that keeps teams on track and focused on the larger goals. His impact can be found on a wide range of facilities including several transformative projects for the California State University system and for a variety of community colleges. His list of groundbreaking recent projects includes the Tri Sport Stadium for El Camino College; the athlete training and aquatic facilities for Marlborough School, a top private school; and the Bulldog Aquatic Center for the College of San Mateo.
As the Director of Structural Engineering, Bryan Seamer is passionate about creating safe, high-performing, cost-effective structural systems that are long-lasting, durable and resilient. With more than 20 years' experience in new construction, seismic assessment and rehabilitation of existing buildings, Bryan uses emerging technologies and innovative design strategies to create safer built environments and preserve historic structures.
An engaged leader and expert in his field, he is adept at communicating complex technical issues in a way that is accessible and actionable by colleagues, clients and the public. Bryan typically contributes to all phases of a project from concept through occupancy. Beyond structural design, he is responsible for managing the team, ensuring that schedules are maintained and that proposed designs are cost-effective and constructible.
Bryan cites Christ Cathedral Tower of Hope in Garden Grove, California as one of his favorite projects. The first of several LPA projects to receive national recognition for structural design, it is a great example of how seismic engineers, architects and interior designers working shoulder-to-shoulder can economically preserve a building's historical character and increase its seismic resilience without reducing functional interior space.
Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Bryan worked to help rebuild the country. He considers the experience one of the most impactful and humbling of his career. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California, Bryan received his Master of Science in Structural Engineering from Cal State University, Long Beach. He is a licensed engineer in multiple states and a LEED Green Associate.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, MEP Engineering / Irvine, California
With more than 15 years of industry experience as a mechanical engineer, Chris Tindall specializes in designing high-performance HVAC systems and energy-efficient buildings. He has extensive experience in the design of efficient technical systems in the life science, technology, aerospace, medical device, peptide, food processing and manufacturing industries.
Having contributed to the design of more than a dozen completed LEED projects, Chris has specific knowledge in the design of clean rooms and labs that includes expertise in collection, neutralization, and distribution of the various related systems.
Chris believes in simple complexity. Designs should reflect the client's specific needs and never be compromised to suit a standard approach. Chris strives to understand not only the specific needs of the client, but uncover any past challenges or concerns. Passionate about process improvement, he understands that awareness of these elements is key to well informed design.
Job Titles:
- Project Architect / San Antonio, Texas
Federico Cavazos' approach to design is to listen to the client first and integrate the vision into the environment while working with other disciplines. With ten years of experience in educational, mixed-use and commercial projects, Federico's approach to design emphasizes the importance of careful observation, thoughtful communication and contextual design. He draws upon his work on projects throughout the world, where he has demonstrated that great design and great
outcomes are inextricably connected. This allows him to make informed decisions early and underscores his passion for interdisciplinary collaboration, the hallmark of LPA.
Federico leads a team of architects, engineers, landscape architects and interior designers towards a singular design solution. He oversees the building design, leads design meetings, coordinates the technical documents and is ultimately responsible for the delivery of the final construction documents. With every new challenge, Federico brings his creativity and enthusiasm to create places that inspire and improve the public realm.
Jim Oppelt is passionate about bringing educational environments to life by incorporating collaborative areas both indoors and outdoors. Jim's approach starts with listening to the client to determine the problem needing to be solved. He believes the key to a successful project is when there is a collaborative approach between designers and a cross section of stakeholders because it strengthens project and helps to create meaningful spaces that are valuable to the users and community.
Jim brings nearly 20 years of architectural experience on various project types with a primary focus on K-12 schools. His involvement begins at the earliest stages of a project and continues through construction administration to ensure that quality control is maintained, and that no information is lost when transitioning between different project phases. Jim works with the client and design team to establish goals that meet the needs of the project.
Job Titles:
- Director of Civic Cultural
As an architect and a history buff, Jeremy is driven by the desire to create and influence our environment in a meaningful way. He asserts that architects' ability to create meaningful impressions on people can influence a community, interactions and the surrounding environment. Jeremy approaches each project like a puzzle that needs to be solved, uncovering each factor that may contribute to a project. Jeremy strives to learn how the project site and environment will inform the functional requirements of the building program and the values of the community.
Inspired by the unique components that architecture presents, Jeremy enjoys the variety in daily tasks and project needs. His responsibilities are to guide the discovery process; set a clear vision for the project and the project team; blend together all aspects of the pragmatic and poetic portions of a site, a building layout, engineering systems and the overall aesthetic direction of the project.
Jeremy received his Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona. He joined LPA upon graduation and has contributed to numerous award-winning and sustainably designed projects. He is a member of AIA and USGBC and is a LEED Accredited Professional.
Job Titles:
- Studio Director / Irvine, California
Jim's experience has included projects such as city halls, libraries, police and fire stations, recreation facilities and religious facilities. On civic projects, Jim understands the unique demands of a community-driven space and the balance of light, acoustics, aesthetics and finances to arrive at a solution that intersects the desires and fiscal constraints. His experience allows him to mentor the evolution of a project from concept planning to completion while maintaining the success of a functioning aesthetic.
On a project, Jim oversees and coordinates the overall management of the city and LPA's internal project team. He is available to coordinate contracts and key sensitive issues as well as attend community charrette workshops and public design presentations.
As a landscape architect with more than 25 years of experience in large-scale sport and recreation projects, John supports all phases of the design process from planning through construction administration. John believes successful project delivery requires critical data collection and information gathering. His thoughtfulness and attention to detail are not only fundamental to his efficacy with user groups, design charrettes, and client meetings but his detail for design and timely project delivery.
John provides direction of the landscape design elements while coordinating architecture and civil engineering conditions on most projects. He will work closely with project team members and stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery through proper staffing, budgeting, client advocacy and a collaborative process from design conception through completion.
John is passionate about the balance between design creativity and producing spaces with a sense of purpose
Job Titles:
- Associate AIA, LEED AP BD C, ALEP
- National Leader
Kate Mraw is a national leader in educational research, sustainable school design and the development of learning environments to support the whole student. She has led the programming and interior design efforts on many of LPA's most innovative and award-winning projects, including 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 on a 55-acre historic site in San Jose, California, one of the largest K-12 projects in the state.
Since joining LPA in 2004, Kate has formed relationships with educators, students and communities around the country, exploring the complexities of master planning and designing more effective and efficient campuses. She emphasizes a research-driven approach to school design, finding new ways to integrate behavioral science and sustainability with educators' goals. In 2017, Mraw launched LPAred, the firm's in-house research group, which works with design teams and clients to enable evidence-based design options.
On every project, Mraw brings a passion for understanding more about the impact of environments on behavior and academic outcomes. Her experience covers a wide range of schools and campuses, with extensive work in master planning, early childhood learning, strategic planning, activating outdoor learning environments and career technology.
Mraw is a frequent speaker at industry events and published author, often focusing on community engagement, the latest educational research and designing around learners' social, cultural and academic needs. She is an active member of in the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH), the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE); she is an A4LE Accredited Learning Environment Planner. She is also a Board member of the A4LE Central Texas Chapter and serves on the University of Texas School of Architecture Advisory Council.
Job Titles:
- Chief Design Officer
- President
In his dual role as President and Chief Design Officer (CDO), Keith guides the firm's integrated, design process, which connects building performance and design excellence on every project, regardless of scale or budget. A passionate advocate for the benefits of a research-based, multi-discipline approach, he is helping to lead the national industry's effort to develop best practices for developing higher performing buildings that better serve people.
At LPA, Keith continues the tradition of having a designer lead the evolution of the firm. He serves as a resource for designers across the practices and studios, striving to bring consistency to every aspect of the design process.
Since joining LPA in 1995, Keith has devoted his career to developing and sharing an integrated design model focused on collaboration, maximizing passive strategies and establishing measurable performance goals on every project. His influence can be found on a wide variety of award-winning corporate and education projects, including the Edwards Lifesciences Campus in Irvine, California; the modernization of the John C. Fremont High School in Los Angeles, California; and the Flight Projects Center at the Jet Propulsion Laboratories in La Canada-Flintridge, California.
Keith is a frequent speaker on the importance of data-driven research and the path to a more sustainable built environment. He serves on the AIA's National 2030 Commitment Working Group, where he helps other firms meet their sustainability targets. He is also a member of the AIA National Large Firm Roundtable Sustainability Working Group, which is focused on sharing knowledge and developing resources for firms across the U.S.
In 2021, Hempel was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows, recognizing his significant national contributions to the architecture profession.
Job Titles:
- Human Resource Director / Irvine, California
Since joining LPA in 1994, Laura Nelson has been integral in the firm's growth from 40 to more than 350 employees, supporting the opening of multiple office locations. Laura has a passion for bridging the human and business demands of a workplace. She is focused on emphasizing LPA's social values and culture to enrich the lives of those that work at LPA, while advancing systematic measures to successfully operate. With extensive hands-on experience leading human resources initiatives, Laura is involved in the operations of policy design, compensation, employee relations, performance management, recruiting, compliance reporting, Human Resources Information System (HRIS) implementations, workflow development, training and development and benefits administration.
A LEED accredited professional, Laura is an active member of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM). She studied Business Administration at the University of California, Irvine, where she received a certificate for Human Resource Management.
Job Titles:
- Director of Healthcare / Sacramento, California
As Director of Healthcare, Muhsin Lihony has more than 27 years of experience in both design and management of complex healthcare projects. Muhsin's experience in all facets of project planning, design, delivery and management has allowed him to develop practical and efficient design, and the management techniques and skills to lead complex, multi-disciplined teams. Muhsin has managed numerous accounts and multi-million dollar projects ranging in size from $100,000 to $900 million utilizing IPD/ Design Build Delivery methods. He is committed to placing emphasis on responding to client's needs in a thorough, detailed and timely manner.
Job Titles:
- Architect
- Design Director / Irvine, California
Ozzie Tapia is a passionate advocate for a multidisciplinary, informed design process rooted in collaborative engagement with communities. Working primarily with K-12 and higher education clients, he has led design on a generation of high-performance facilities that address the fast-evolving needs of students and educators - libraries, student unions, recreation and wellness centers, academic buildings, and complete campuses that are healthier, operate more efficiently and elevate the user experience.
A native of Lima, Peru, with two decades of architectural experience, Ozzie emphasizes an inclusive approach in leading design exploration, facilitating stakeholder engagement, and collaborating with users to help shape the design direction for projects. His influence can be found in a wide variety of transformative award-winning projects. He led the design effort for the Cal Poly Pomona Bronco Recreation and Intramural Comple x, a 120,000-square-foot health and wellness center for his alma mater. His multi-year work with California State University San Bernardino includes the three-story, 70,000-square-foot, LEED Platinum Center for Global Innovation, a new social and academic space for the campus. For the San Bernardino City Unified School District, he worked with educators and the community to design a net zero early childhood learning center, which may serve as a model for a new generation of pre-K campuses. On the multi-year expansion of the Tarbut V'Torah Community Day School, Ozzie led an integrated team to develop indoor and outdoor educational spaces that earned a national AIA-CAE Committee on Architecture for Education Award of Excellence.
In 2020, Ozzie was the recipient of the American Institute of Architects' Young Architect award, in recognition of his distinguished body of work and efforts to integrate high performance design through a more inclusive, collaborative approach. Ozzie is an active leader in the industry, sharing his knowledge and helping to mentor the next generation of design leaders. He served as chapter president of AIA Orange County in 2021 and is an enthusiastic supporter of student programs, including at his alma mater, where he helped form the school's first successful integrated design studio. At LPA, he helped launch LPA for Change, the firm's community support effort, which focuses on combatting homelessness, supporting volunteer initiatives, and developing young professionals through the LPA Interdisciplinary Diversity Scholarship program.
With more than 20 years of experience, Patrick McClintock has been involved in more than 5 million square feet of corporate, developer, civic and educational projects. He believes that every project, regardless of scope and budget, is afforded the opportunity to tell a unique story about people, place and space.
Patrick has extensive experience in strategic planning, collaboration workshops, schematic design, design development and construction documentation. He has been involved in facilitating user-based solutions since he began at LPA, with an emphasis on sustainable design. Patrick brings valuable experience related to project costs and the potential effectiveness of proposed improvements.
Patrick is responsible for the development and refinement of design concepts for clients. Additionally, he is responsible for creating focused architecture that supports building users and owners while working in tandem with marketplace trends and workplace advantages.
Job Titles:
- Architect
- Design Director / Irvine, California
- Design Principal
Rick D'Amato is an award-winning architect and AIA Fellow. He believes in the power and responsibility of design to shape the world around us. Design, Rick asserts, needs to oblige an environmental responsibility and provide an enjoyable, immersive experience for users.
As Design Director, he is responsible for the design of many project types, from nature centers, libraries and education facilities to retail projects, fire stations and corporate headquarters. He has created exciting workplace and public environments for many notable clients, including the cities of West Hollywood and Long Beach, ASICS, Volcom, DPR Construction and the LEED-Platinum Environmental Nature Center.
For Rick, the collaborative process is a necessary design tool for an immeasurable project journey. From early strategy sessions through design development, Rick's passion for collaboration and sustainability leads to a pragmatic sense of design.
Architecture, design and interiors have fascinated Rick from an early age. As a child, he could often be found building cardboard models of interior spaces, buildings and cities. This inherent connection and love for design led him to pursue a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona. As a board member and past president of AIA-LBSB, Rick finds professional motivation from camaraderie and continued learning within the industry.
As a project manager, Steve Tiner is responsible for achieving the client's schedule and budget requirements. With more than 45 years of experience in the fields of architecture, interiors and graphic design, his contributions are key from project inception through completion and owner occupancy. He has spent nine of those years dedicated to the design and construction of educational projects.
Steve's professional work includes experience in major renovations, space planning and design for educational and corporate headquarters facilities. As a team leader in educational facility design, Stephen has managed award-winning projects at the local and state.
He has a passion for design and you can spot this in his professional work. Steve takes an active approach from site preparation to building completion and oversee elements of the design and construction process. Part of this preparation includes developing, organizing and reviewing building plans, as well as preparing construction contracts for general contractors.
Wendy Sunshine Dailey has more than 17 years of experience, and 14 of those years dedicated to the design and construction of educational projects. She provides strategic and innovative ideas that influence firmwide operations. And her passion for process and collaboration has guided the growth of her career as an effective leader who inspires team personnel to achieve excellence.
Wendy supervises the work and maintains communication with client representatives. She plans and organizes the activities of the project team, is responsible for developing and implementing the project work plans, and accountable for managing expectations throughout the duration of the project.
Additionally, Wendy is responsible for the coordination of the design and technical efforts of the project team members, which includes the integration of architecture, interiors, landscape, and all other disciplines for the project.
Job Titles:
- Interior Designer
- Design Director Programming / Furniture Services / Irvine, California
Winston Bao is an interior designer who has focused his entire career on the programming and planning of educational spaces. Winston's integrated approach to the process of planning creates synergies between architecture, engineering, placemaking, sustainability, social interaction and technology that have a meaningful impact on the lives of those who use them. He encourages a collaborative programming and planning phase focused on responsive and appropriate solutions that ensure the delivery of innovative planning concepts that offer enduring benefits.