We are excited to announce that Davis Center, Williams College has been selected as a Finalist for the 2025 WAN Awards in the Institutions category!

The reimagined 25,800 sf Davis Center is a unified complex with a major new addition nestled between the existing, beloved Rice and Jenness Houses.  Pursuing Living Building Challenge Petal Certification, the Davis Center is a bold and vivid expression of Williams’ commitment to cultivating a community that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.

Learn more here

We are excited to announce that Kreher Preserve & Nature Center Environmental Education Building has been selected the Winner for the 2025 WAN Awards in the Institutions category!

“[Kreher Preserve & Nature Center Environmental Education Building] blends architecture with nature to promote environmental learning. Designed with sustainable, biophilic principles, it features local wood, passive ventilation and preserved trees. Its “learning trail” layout, natural light and rainwater management embody ecological stewardship, serving as a hands-on teaching tool for all ages.” – World Architecture News

See featured article here

Andrea Leers, FAIA led a wonderful panel discussion along with Jane Weinzapfel and Emma Dessouroux, at the WiD Women in Architecture’ movie screening this past Wednesday. The documentary, featuring LWA Principals and Co-Founders Andrea Leers, FAIA and Jane Weinzapfel, FAIA, focused on “Women’s Creativity since the Modern Movement 1918-2018.” 

We are pleased to announce that the Boston Public Library – Roslindale Branch and the Davis Center at Williams College have received 2025 AIA Education Facility Design Awards. This award celebrates state-of-the-art education facilities that elevate learning environments and inspire communities. Principals Tom Chung, Jane Weinzapfel, Josiah Stevenson and Ashley Rao attended the AIA awards gala on June 5th to accept the awards.

Learn more

We are excited to announce that the Boston Public Library – Roslindale Branch and the Davis Center at Williams College have received 2025 AIA Education Facility Design Awards! This award celebrates state-of-the-art education facilities that elevate learning environments and inspire communities.

Learn More

Andrea Leers, FAIA is one of the presenters at Women in Design (WiD): ‘Women in Architecture’ Movie Screening & Panel DiscussionWomen in Design (WiD): ‘Women in Architecture’ Movie Screening & Panel BSA’s upcoming WiD: ‘Women in Architecture’ Movie Screening & Panel Discussion. The documentary ‘Women in Architecture’ created by Emma Dessouroux at MoMoWo, the 2018 international conference in Torino, Italy, focuses on “Women’s Creativity since the Modern Movement 1918-2018.” The film gathers frank conversations with international women in design – from researchers to practitioners – highlighting ongoing challenges and opportunities for changing the status quo of women in architecture. The documentary features LWA Principals and Co-Founders Andrea Leers, FAIA and Jane Weinzapfel, FAIA.

The event will take place in at BSA Space 290 Congress Street Boston, MA on June 18, 2025

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Learn More

Associates Danica Kane, AIA is one of the presenters for a panel discussion called, “Incorporating access to justice principles in the planning and design of modern courthouses” at the AAJ Symposium 2025: Restorative Justice, Equity, & Renewal along with many other architects.

“At this symposium, we will delve into the foundational principles of restorative justice, highlighting its potential to address harm, foster reconciliation, and rebuild trust within communities. Participants will gain insights into the practical application of restorative justice in various architectural contexts, from the justice system to diversion programs. Our focus on justice equity will examine inequalities and explore strategies for creating practices that uplift marginalized communities while improving outcomes. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about innovative approaches that promote social justice, reduce recidivism, and support individuals and communities in need. The theme of renewal will underscore the importance of continuous growth and adaptation in our pursuit of justice. Participants will be inspired to envision new possibilities for justice practices that prioritize human dignity, community empowerment, and sustainable change.”

– American Institute of Architects

Learn More

Principal Ashley Rao will be participating in Mount Holyoke’s “Summit on Feminist Leadership in Climate Justice” as a panelist for Material Selection and Extraction in the Built Environment.  This panel is set to focus on material extraction, specification and use in the built environment and the impacts of material selections on climate equity and justice. They will discuss the Design for Freedom toolkit, earthen building, and mass timber.

The panel will take place at Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075, Friday, April 25, 2025 3:25pm to 4:15pm.:

Learn More

We welcome faculty at accredited architecture schools throughout the U.S. to apply for an intensive 3-day workshop geared towards equipping faculty interested in teaching Mass Timber design.

The objectives of the workshop is to provide faculty in architecture schools throughout the country, holistic understanding about mass timber (what it is, its life-cycle components, design and engineering possibilities, benefits and challenges, industry connections, etc.) to enhance academic teaching in mass timber that is grounded in practice and facilitates creative explorations of design possibilities. The workshop is sponsored by the Softwood Lumber Board and U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities.

As the workshop balances practice and academia, the collaboration of Leers Weinzapfel Associates Architects (LWA,) Auburn University’s Mass Timber Collaborative and Rural Studio brings together architecture, forestry, engineering and construction spanning both.

Learn More

Principal Ashley Rao and Associate Principal Katia Lucic are presenting at SCUP 2025 North Atlantic Regional Conference in Buffalo, NY, April 6-8, 2025.

Ashley Rao will be presenting on “The Living Building Challenge: Creating Inclusive, Sustainable Community Spaces”, featuring the recently completed Davis Center at Williams College on Tuesday at 10:00am. This session goes through the planning process behind the Davis Center, explaining how the Living Building Challenges holistic sustainability framework was used to promote community engagement and wellbeing, foster and equitable built environment, and celebrated marginalized regional histories.

Katia Lucic will be presenting “Cornell Bowers CIS: Reimagining the Campus Edge as a Gateway to the Community” featuring the under construction Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science at Cornell University, Tuesday at 11:20am. This session discusses how the new CIS building created a new destination for its fast-growing program, benefiting the campus community by reimagining the campus edge as a vibrant gateway and welcoming precinct.

The event will take place in at the Buffalo Convention Center, Buffalo, NY April 6-8, 2025. Learn more