Member Spotlight: Suzanne Childs, AIA
Suzanne Childs received her B.S. in Design and her Masters in Architecture from Clemson University. She obtained her SC license in 1994 and opened Childs Architecture in 2001. Suzanne’s state certified woman owned business boasts a diverse portfolio of design, planning, renovation, restoration, and expansion projects for retail, educational, religious, hospitality, office, residential, distribution, mixed-use, and healthcare projects. She oversees all of Childs Architecture’s efforts and is registered to practice in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
Suzanne is a LEED Accredited Professional. She is active in local, state, and national architectural and community organizations including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Clemson Architectural Foundation (CAF), National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), and Habitat for Humanity. She has held elected positions in the AIA at state and local levels, as well as several key positions in NAWIC’s Greenville Chapter. She is a Trustee on the CAF for Design + Building and is on the Board of Directors of the Powdersville Water District.
Suzanne enjoys hiking, kayaking, swimming, and sailing. She and her husband Dick live in a house she designed and he built south of Powdersville, SC.
To emerging professionals, Suzanne advises: "Don’t underestimate the importance of your relationships with other design professionals going back to school or your earliest internship positions. We have the blessing in Greenville that many of us know each other well, and have enjoyed working together in the past. The same can be said for work on AIA activities and community events. These ties serve all of our businesses in terms of broader reach to prospective clients, as well as creating the opportunity to call on trusted colleagues to help resolve complicated issues related to projects and firm management. Our firm owes a debt of gratitude to many other architects in the community for our success, and we hope to “pay it forward” by providing that type of support and mentoring to newer firms. The continued relevance of our design profession within the community depends on all of us working to help one another be the best we can be."
