Richard Bencivengo, Santa Monica resident and CEO of Lexington Design + Fabrication, will be honored by Shane’s Inspiration at their “Play with Glee” Gala at Montage, Beverly Hills on Saturday evening, March 27.
Bencivengo will accept Shane’s Design Leadership Award jointly with his brother, Frank Bencivengo of Sherman Oaks, who is Lexington’s COO.
Lexington Design + Fabrication is a leading firm for themed environments, including large-scale amusement park attractions, museum exhibits, HD broadcast environments, casinos, restaurants, and retail establishments.
As part of Lexington’s corporate responsibility to the community, Bencivengo partnered with Shane’s Inspiration, the Los Angeles-based non-profit that builds universally accessible playgrounds, enabling children with disabilities to play alongside typical-ability kids, and implements “inclusive play” programs to foster compassion and understanding. There are over 20 Shane’s playgrounds in California, and 80 in development throughout the world.
Together with Shane’s, Lexington designs and builds a very unique aspect of selected playgrounds – the Sensory Wall. These walls are especially effective for children with autism and other sensory challenges, helping them to enjoy playing outdoors with a multitude of built-in visual, audio, and tactile interactive elements to explore.
Autism and sensory issues are the fastest growing diagnoses in children today, according to Brad Thornton, Shane’s Inspiration Director of Project Development.
“Richard put together an amazing team at Lexington to develop the Sensory Walls,” remarked Thornton. “This has started a powerful movement amongst municipalities, driving them to replicate this model for meeting the play needs of all children by installing these walls in their community parks.”
Aside from the Sensory Walls, recent large-scale Lexington projects helmed by Bencivengo include: ESP’s SportsCenter, Los Angeles high-definition studio; “Science Storms”, an unprecedented 26,000 square foot permanent exhibit at the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry; numerous casinos across the country; and an upcoming major attraction for Universal Studios Orlando.
Lexington’s work can also be seen in Santa Monica, with installations in Sushi Roku, Robata Bar and Boa Steakhouse for Innovative Dining Group and Tag Front design firm.
When Bencivengo took over as CEO of Lexington in 2002, he brought over 25 years of success in producing network television and radio programming, including management positions at Showtime Networks and MTV Networks. He has led Lexington to experience significant growth over the past eight years.
Bencivengo and his wife Lace, a Santa Monica-based landscape designer, are avid volunteers at Santa Monica High School where their sons, Sam and Luke, are in Jazz Band. Lexington produced and donated key elements for the school’s electronic marquis that graces Pico Boulevard, and the couple are active in Samohi Band Parents. They also raise funds in support of Measure A to protect Santa Monica and Malibu schools.
Along with feting Lexington’s Richard and Frank Bencivengo, the March 27th Shane’s Inspiration Gala will honor Fox’s hit show “Glee” and golfer-author D. J. Gregory. For additional gala information, visit: www.shanesinspiration.org
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