March 16, 2026
WINDSOR, CA – The Lytton Rancheria is proud to announce that its Homeland Housing Project, “Lytton Rancheria: A Homeland Restored,” has received an Honor Award in the prestigious 2026 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) National Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA), recognized globally as the premier celebration of engineering achievement.
This award acknowledges the outstanding collaboration between the Lytton Rancheria and the civil engineering and surveying firm Adobe Associates, led by Principal Engineer Tim Schram, whose innovative design solutions helped turn the Homeland Housing concept into a reality. The project reflects the tribe’s commitment to restoring and preserving its homeland while providing sustainable, culturally appropriate housing for tribal members.
“This award is more than recognition of engineering excellence, it reflects our Tribe’s resilience, vision, and unwavering commitment to our people,” said Andy Mejia, Chairperson of the Lytton Rancheria. “This project represents years of careful planning, determination, and hard work to restore our homeland and create a place where our community can grow and thrive. We are incredibly proud of what our Homeland represents and deeply honored to have partnered with Adobe Associates to help bring this vision to life.”
The Homeland Housing Project is a thoughtfully planned community that includes 94 single-family homes, 25 senior cottages, and 27 townhomes, with room for future growth. Community amenities include a 20,000-square-foot Community Center, a 4,200-square-foot Retreat, a solar field, multi-use trails, and open spaces designed to foster connection and well-being.
The project incorporates numerous sustainable features, such as preserving the natural grade and existing trees, bio-swales and stormwater management systems, shielded lighting to reduce light pollution, water-efficient landscaping using primarily native and drought-tolerant plants, energy-efficient buildings with advanced HVAC and lighting controls, and the use of renewable, recycled, and low-VOC materials.
The Tribe has also taken proactive steps to protect the property and structures from wildfires, with engineering design playing a key role through strategic site planning, defensible space around buildings, fire-resistant materials, vegetation management, and preparedness measures.
“Working with the Lytton Rancheria on this project was an honor. Our goal was to create housing that is both innovative and deeply respectful of the Tribe’s culture, and this award validates the collaboration and care that went into every aspect of the design,” said Tim Schram, Principal at Adobe Associates.
The award will be formally presented at the ACEC 2026 EEA Gala Dinner and Awards Program on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event includes formal presentations, video tributes, and celebratory festivities honoring engineering achievements across the nation. The project also earned top honors at the state level, further recognizing the significance and impact of this achievement.
For more information about the Lytton Rancheria and its Homeland Housing Project, please visit www.lyttonrancheria.com.
Lytton Rancheria is a federally recognized tribe of Pomo Indians in Sonoma County, California. Deeply committed to cultural preservation, economic self-sufficiency, and community investment, the Tribe supports education as a cornerstone of sovereignty and future prosperity.
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