Lucas the Beaver Brings Home First Prize

COLUMBIA, SC – Lucas the Beaver, star of an engaging children’s book about following one’s dreams, is now a first-place award winner. Lucas’s story recounts the journey of a youngster who wants to build things, and was written in celebration of architecture firm LS3P’s 50^th anniversary. In lieu of a formal corporate party, the firm’s 200 employees celebrated the milestone with a “Day of Engagement,” reading the book aloud to over 5,000 children in schools, churches, hospitals, and day cares on the firm’s anniversary date.

The story honors the firm’s founder, Frank Lucas, FAIA, who started the architecture firm in a Charleston basement in 1963. LS3P’s Creative Team brought Lucas the Beaver to life with layered, endearing images which appeal to readers of all ages.  The book and its accompanying volunteer events were awarded first place in the Special Events category at the annual SMPS (Society for Marketing Professional Services) gala, held on July 31 in San Antonio, TX.

Katie Schroer Robinson, LS3P’s Corporate Communications Leader, states, “It is an honor to be nationally recognized for a campaign we held so dear.” Though she acknowledges that illustrating and bringing to life a children’s book to celebrate a corporate anniversary is a bit outside the norm, she says that “this unique community engagement campaign simply fit the firm’s culture, values, and commitment to community service better than a glitzy of a black- tie celebration.”

SMPS (Society for Marketing Professional Services) Marketing Communications Awards is a prestigious national and international competition recognizing excellence in marketing communications produced by professional services firms in the design and building industry.

Founded in 1963, LS3P was named Southeast Design Firm of the Year for 2014 by Engineering News Record (ENR).  A design firm with regional roots and a national reach, LS3P operates from its 6 offices in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, SC and Charlotte, Raleigh and Wilmington, NC, providing architecture, interior architecture, and planning services.  LS3P is deeply committed to the communities in which it serves, with over 400 design awards in diverse practice areas.  For more information on LS3P, visit www.ls3p.com.