LPA Welcomes Renowned Design Leader Lawrence W. Speck
The architect and educator brings decades of insight to the AIA Firm Award Winner.
LPA Design Studios is thrilled to announce that Lawrence W. Speck, celebrated architect, educator and leader, joined the firm as a Senior Designer earlier this year.
Speck’s influence on the city is extensive. He describes himself as a city builder and has played a key role in shaping the Austin skyline through influential projects, bringing a rich understanding of the region’s design language to LPA. For decades, he has spearheaded major initiatives, including the Town Lake Master Plan, Austin Convention Center and the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport expansion project.
His deep attunement to Austin’s transformation, combined with his longstanding tenure at UT educating the next generation of architects, brings valuable perspective. As he looks toward the future, Speck sees an opportunity for LPA to become a key player in the city’s development.
“After my old firm ended, I didn’t want to stop practicing,” he said. “There were a number of firms that had come to Austin recently, but LPA is the right culture fit for me.”
To LPA President and Chief Design Officer Keith Hempel, Speck joining LPA is a rare moment of the stars aligning — “one that strengthens our impact in Austin and deepens our contribution to the city’s design legacy,” he said. “Larry’s storied connection to Austin and passion for design excellence, community‑driven placemaking and meaningful carbon‑reduction strategies resonate deeply with the principles that guide LPA.”
Over the past 25 years, Speck’s work has garnered more than 120 design awards. As an educator, he has received more than 40 teaching and service honors, including the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion, the highest recognition in North America for excellence in architectural education. He is a former president of the Texas Society of Architecture and served as dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin from 1992 to 2001.
As the 2025 winner of the AIA Architecture Firm Award, LPA is proud to have Speck’s immense design talent on board to further the firm’s impact across Austin.
Details
July 28, 2026
LPA Design Studios
Name: Zac Petit
Email: zpetit@lpadesignstudios.com