A Lawrence architect has sent a letter of apology to the Topeka school board for a comment he made last week about people of Japanese descent.

Craig Penzler, vice president of Lawrence-based GLPM Architects Inc., made a presentation Thursday about a $17.5 million sports complex his firm is overseeing for the district. During the presentation, he told the board he was designing the project to ensure the district wouldn’t have to hire 20 “Japanese guys” to maintain the project’s landscaping.

District officials later said they were dismayed by the comment.

Penzler said Tuesday the comment was misunderstood and misreported by the Topeka Capital-Journal. He said his comments included the phrase “Japanese gardeners,” not “Japanese guys.”

He said he was trying to make the point that the sports park’s landscaping would not require the meticulous care required in a Japanese-style garden. He said he wasn’t making any statement about people of Japanese descent.

Penzler said he nonetheless has sent a letter apologizing to the board for his reference.

“I wrote a statement back to the board apologizing for offending anyone and assuring them I certainly didn’t mean to,” Penzler said.

Brad Stauffer, a spokesman for USD 501, said the district had received the letter and considered the issue a “closed case.”

“We felt it was inappropriate to make that type of comment without having any further explanation, but we’re convinced he didn’t mean any disrespect,” Stauffer said.

The project the firm is designing for the district includes a 6,000-seat football stadium, soccer stadium, baseball and softball diamonds, and an 800-seat indoor aquatic center. The complex will be used by the district’s three high schools and to attract sporting events to Topeka.