Integrated design firm shared predicted energy use results on a portfolio of more than 4 million square feet of projects in its latest AIA 2030 Commitment report, demonstrating high performance can be achieved on a large scale.
LPA Design Studios collaborated with clients to reduce predicted energy use by 76.2% across 3.5 million square feet of new commercial, education, civic, mixed-use and healthcare facilities in 2024, saving more than $2.3 million in annual operational costs and taking a major step toward the industry goal of building carbon neutral facilities.
Over the last five years, the integrated design firm’s projects averaged a 75% predicted energy use (pEUI) reduction from industry baselines, far outpacing the industry standards, according to annual data submitted for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2030 Commitment. While industry-wide results are not available yet for 2024, the overall pEUI reduction by reporting firms nationally is typically closer to a 50% reduction.
The 2024 performance report follows on the heels of LPA being named the recipient of the 2025 AIA Architecture Firm Award, the highest national honor bestowed by the AIA. In recognizing the firm, the AIA hailed LPA as a “trailblazer in sustainable, high-performance architecture.” LPA’s “no excuses,” research-driven design process breaks down barriers between architects, engineers, landscape architects and interior designers to address performance, wellness, community and experience on every project, regardless of size, scale or budget.
In LPA’s 2024 submission to the AIA 2030 Commitment — the industry’s initiative to reach carbon neutrality across all projects by 2030 — the firm reported data on 131 projects, including 3.5 million square feet of new construction. Of the 56 ground-up projects, 28 surpassed the AIA 2030 Commitment’s 2024 target of an 80% reduction in predicted energy use intensity compared to 22 in 2023. Nine projects reached net zero energy and 35 included on-site renewables.
“We continue to improve our process to develop facilities that perform better for our clients,” says LPA President and Chief Design Officer Keith Hempel. “Though we came close to the 80% goal for 2024, we will have to push ourselves even harder this year as the target ratchets up to 90%.”
LPA’s overall 76.2% reduction was the second highest result in the firm’s reporting history and a 6.7% increase from 2023, when the firm reported a 71.4% predicted energy reduction. The 2023 result was a significant decline from the firm’s 78.7% reduction in 2022, which prompted a renewed commitment to find ways to improve.
“We were disappointed in the decline in 2023 and took it as an opportunity to increase our rigor and refine our approach,” says LPA Director of Sustainability + Applied Research Ellen Mitchell. “The improvement in our 2024 numbers show that we can make a difference when we focus our attention on every project, regardless of size, scale or program.”
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