Learn About Our Team
We are relational, hilarious, light-hearted, and always ready to serve you.
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We are relational, hilarious, light-hearted, and always ready to serve you.
Studio Prime Engineering was founded by Cal Poly Alumni, Howard Lehwald. With over 17 years of engineering experience, SPE is a well-rounded and established local engineering firm. We specialize in residential and commercial projects. We provide the very best structural engineering designs to make any dream a reality.
Our industry background involves working alongside contractors and architects in design-build projects to create on-time and on-budget solutions. We understand the building process and the unique challenges that occur during the life of a project. We value a team approach to the design process and ensure we keep clear communication with our clients. We are proud to provide housing solutions across the Central Coast and California.
Studio Prime Engineering is proud to give back to our community and continue to invest in future generations of engineers by teaching at Cal Poly. Our goal is improving the lives of those around us and creating housing solutions along the way.
Skilled and experienced, our engineers work closely with our designers to make sure that your design becomes reality.
ENGINEERING PRINCIPAL
With over ten years of engineering experience, Mr. Lehwald has dealt with a wide range of various project types and scopes. Mr. Lehwald has provided engineering and project management services for an array of diverse and complex design projects including custom residences, remodels, mixed use developments, planned unit developments, tract homes, commercial buildings, monument structures, and tenant improvement projects.
Mr. Lehwald works diligently to produce engineering designs that are functional, comprehensive, and affordable. He believes that engineering plays a critical role in the overall design process and collaboration between industry professionals is critical for a successful project. His innovation, drive, and creativity make him ideal for addressing issues and problem solving to move the design forward.
In addition to his engineering work here in the United States, Mr. Lehwald has donated his time and professional knowledge to provide engineering services all over the world including Africa, Haiti, Nepal, and the Philippines. Mr. Lehwald believes in sustainable design practices and giving back to those who are in need.
SENIOR PROJECT ENGINEER
Abby Lentz, P.E., a project engineer at Studio Prime Engineering, boasts six years’ experience in timber construction. She’s dedicated to the perpetual problem-solving aspect of engineering. Alongside her full-time role, Lentz lectures part-time at Cal Poly, teaching Timber Design in the Architectural Engineering Department.
Graduating in the top ten percent of her class from Cal Poly’s Architectural Engineering program, Lentz interned at Studio Prime Engineering while pursuing both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Her academic journey included impactful projects like building restoration, earthquake resiliency research, and seismic retrofit work in Nepal with Structural Engineering Students for Humanity, fueling her passion for engineering.
Lentz champions structural artistry, believing her innovative designs contribute beauty to the built environment while maintaining structural integrity. Embracing the integrated design build process, she collaborates enthusiastically to balance design complexity with construction simplicity. Her goal is to deliver cost-effective, easy-to-build, and aesthetically pleasing engineering solutions, finding fulfillment in turning dreams into reality through her engineering service.
When not laboring away in front of her three-monitor set up Abby can be found enjoying the sunshine on a hike, sweating at the gym, whoopin’ butt on the jujitsu mats or reading a book. On weekends she regularly teaches firearms fundamentals at the local range on Saturdays and participates in church activities on Sundays.
STRUCTURAL DESIGNER
Calvin started as an intern at Studio Prime working part-time for over a year as he finished his studies at Cal Poly. Having graduated with honors, he now works full time at the firm on a variety of projects from custom residential homes and remodels to mixed use structures.
His proudest accomplishment in the field has been his work leading the design and restoration of the Cantilever Deck Structure in Cal Poly’s Experimental Structures Laboratory as a Senior. He has experience in the labs of the Architectural Engineering Department performing data acquisition and in construction, having worked summers doing carpentry with a contractor and rigging at a truss manufacturer.
When he’s not at the office, Vigeant can be found rock climbing or hiking, doing photography or writing, cooking, or tending to his garden.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & MEDIA DIRECTOR
Kylie’s role at Studio Prime Engineering is best described as “everything but the engineering.” She manages day-to-day office operations and provides executive support to Howard, ensuring he can focus on the technical and strategic aspects of the business. Kylie also leads the company’s media and marketing efforts, including social media management, website development, and video production.
With a background in administrative support and video production, Kylie brings a unique blend of organizational skills and creative expertise to the team. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, spending time with friends and family, and playing volleyball.
STRUCTURAL DESIGNER
Following his growing affection for structural engineering, Cameron graduated from Cal Poly with a Bachelors in the field of Architectural Engineering.
During his time studying at Cal Poly, Cameron focused his studies onto a senior evaluating new to retrofit structural designing of hillside structures and the how structural engineers tailor projects.
During college and after graduation, Cunningham provided engineering on projects primarily for custom residential developments. Outside of the office, Cameron enjoys a mixture of model railroading and digital media.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING INTERN
Tara is continuing her higher education as a graduate student in the blended Architectural Engineering program at Cal Poly.
She has experience performing data acquisition for structural analysis experimentation and researched improvements, focused on altering failure mechanisms, for plywood shear walls for her senior project. She is currently researching structural health monitoring for her graduate project.
Beyond academics and work, Tara spends her time running, hiking, and spending time outside. In any additional time, she enjoys reading and crafting, including crocheting.
Come see us at our downtown SLO location!
971 Osos St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
[email protected]
Studio Prime Engineering, © 2023
