LRS Architects, a firm that values innovation, creativity, and collaboration, is pleased to announce the promotion of Amy Smith and Alex Karel to principal and Magda Gerencer and Eric Kern to associate, effective in January 2026.
“One of our greatest strengths as a firm is the ability to grow leaders from within,” said LRS Architects President and Managing Principal Janice Sanada. “These promotions reflect not only individual achievement, but our ongoing commitment to creating meaningful opportunities, supporting development, and investing in our people for the long term.”
Promoted to Principals
Amy Smith is a Registered Architect and LEED AP who joined LRS in 2002. With over two decades at LRS and a primary focus in senior living, Smith brings extensive design technology expertise and a deep understanding of designing spaces centered on the end-user experience. Drawing on her background at LRS, Smith mentors designers and coordinates stakeholders to ensure every project achieves the highest standards of functionality, compliance, and long-term value. She excels at balancing design considerations with technical requirements throughout the design process, ensuring all projects meet the highest standards of functionality and compliance. Smith received her Master of Architecture from Washington State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Portland State University.
Alex Karel is a Registered Architect who has been at LRS for over a decade, and his interests include emerging design technologies and new tools to support the design process. His background includes projects in the firm’s commercial, office, retail, entertainment, and civic sectors for clients in Oregon, Washington, California, and Alaska. Karel leads by empowering teams to deliver innovative and efficient design solutions. His broad, multi-sector experience enables him to guide projects with clarity and adaptability, ensuring high-quality outcomes across diverse building types and client needs. His notable new construction, expansion, and renovation projects include more than 20 prestigious auto showrooms, as well as county and federal buildings, religious buildings, and commercial buildings. Karel received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon.
Promoted to Associates
Magda Gerencer is a seasoned Project Manager and LEED AP BD+C who joined LRS in 2014. With over 30 years of experience in architecture and leading diverse projects across the Pacific Northwest, Gerencer has established herself as a trusted advisor on projects ranging from large-scale master planning to specialized industrial facilities. Gerencer has managed an impressive portfolio of high-profile projects spanning Oregon, Washington, and California. She is committed to creating accessible housing solutions that contribute to economic development, public infrastructure, and community vitality across the region. Gerencer received her Master of Architecture and Urban Planning from Warsaw University of Technology.
Eric Kern is a Registered Architect and has been at LRS for over four years, contributing to the firm’s project delivery and design excellence. Kern has distinguished himself through his expertise in drawing production and consultant coordination, playing an integral role in the firm’s Bend office. During his time at LRS, Kern has provided oversight on a multitude of projects from multifamily to affordable housing, car dealerships to hotels, and office buildings. A University of Colorado Boulder graduate and former designer at GL3 Architects, Kern brings both technical precision and a thoughtful design sensibility shaped by his international upbringing in England and Australia, cultivating a unique perspective on how cultural context and spatial design influence human interaction.
“We believe the future of our firm is built from the talent already here,” said Sanada. “These promotions celebrate the depth of expertise, leadership, and potential within our team—and reaffirm our commitment to providing clear pathways for growth.”
About LRS Architects
LRS Architects is a majority woman-owned architecture and interior design firm with offices in Portland and Bend, Oregon. Founded in 1976, the award-winning practice is driven by a passion for good design that goes beyond aesthetics to create vibrant communities and spaces that support the well-being of those who inhabit them. With 100+ design professionals, the firm is committed to partnering collaboratively with clients to positively shape the human experience through the physical environment. The diversity of the firm’s project experience provides a broad perspective and proven expertise in design, problem solving, documentation, and project delivery methods. The firm’s work, while centered in the Pacific Northwest, is found throughout the United States in over 30 states and internationally. Recognized with dozens of awards, the practice’s work has been featured in hundreds of publications, including ARCHITECT, Fast Company, ENR, Archello, and Office Snapshots, among many others. LRS holds national certification as a women-owned business through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and is a participant in the International Living Future Institute’s Just Label program. The firm has been named an Oregonian Top Workplace Award Winner annually since 2016. lrsarchitects.com