DSA PSCC Member, Laura Knauss

Laura Knauss is a Principal and the Education Practice Leader at Lionakis, Laura has over 30 years of educational facilities planning and design experience. In particular, she facilitates community engagement and outreach, and leads project teams in a collaborative and interactive design process. Laura holds a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She is a registered Architect in the State of California as well as an Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP), bringing her passion in building a strong link between educational curriculum and educational facilities.

Laura is currently on the Board of Directors to the Central Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIACV) where she serves in various speakership and mentorship capacities. She is also a Board Member for the Coalition of Adequate School Housing (C.A.S.H.). Throughout her career with C.A.S.H., Laura has been on Legislative Committees and a part of numerous conference speakerships. Her active involvement in the school design community allows her to build relationships that benefit Districts as they navigate the agencies inherent in school design.

Laura’s specific involvement with the Division of the State Architect (DSA) includes the establishment of the 7x7x7 sustainable design initiative which enhanced relationships in the school facilities community, while presenting throughout the State, including at Cal Poly where she has also been on the University’s Advisory Council.