Susan Maxman facts for kids

Susan A. Maxman, born on December 30, 1938, is an American architect. She started her own company, Susan Maxman Architects, in 1985. Later, in 1995, it grew into Susan Maxman & Partners Ltd. Her company has worked on many different types of buildings. This includes designing new buildings, fixing old ones, and planning large areas.

Maxman is famous for being the first woman to lead the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1992. She is also known for using "sustainable design" in her projects. This means designing buildings in a way that is good for the environment. In 2011, President Barack Obama chose her to join the board of directors for the National Institute of Building Sciences.

Early Life and Education

Susan Maxman was born in Columbus, Ohio. After finishing high school, she went to Smith College in Massachusetts. She graduated in just two years. In 1958, she married Leonard Frankel. They had three children: Andrew, Thomas, and Elizabeth.

In 1965, Susan and Leonard hired an architect named Louis Sauer to design a weekend home. This experience made Susan interested in becoming an architect herself.

Later, Susan and Leonard divorced. She then married William Maxman, who had three children from a previous marriage. Together, they had six children, much like the "blended family" on the TV show The Brady Bunch. With her children growing up, Susan decided to go back to school in the 1970s. She studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania and earned her Master's degree in 1977.

Becoming a Professional Architect

After getting her architecture degree in 1977, Susan Maxman began her career. In 1980, she started a company with a classmate, called Maxman Sutphin Architects. But in 1985, she opened her own firm, Susan Maxman Architects. Ten years later, she expanded it to Susan Maxman & Partners Ltd, bringing in four other architects.

Early in her career, Maxman focused on fixing and preserving old buildings. She restored the Girl Scout's Camp Tweedale in Oxford, Pennsylvania. This project won an award from the AIA. This award led to more work from churches, Girl Scouts, and other groups. Her work helped her become known for "sustainable design." Some of her notable projects include restoring the Immaculate Heart of Mary Motherhouse in Monroe, Michigan. She also worked on the Cusano Environmental Education Center in Philadelphia for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Her firm also worked on "manufactured homes." These are houses built in a factory and then moved to a building site. In 1997, her firm built these homes in places like Wilkinsburg, Washington, D.C., and Louisville. These homes looked just like other houses built on site.

William Maxman passed away in 1997. In 2001, Susan married Rolf Sauer, who was also an architect. Rolf had one daughter. So, Susan now has seven children: three of her own and four stepchildren. She also has 15 grandchildren.

Leading the American Institute of Architects

Susan Maxman joined the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) in 1980. She served on the board of directors for the Philadelphia chapter of AIA from 1981 to 1987. In 1987, she became president of the Pennsylvania Society of Architects.

From 1983 to 1986, she was part of the AIA's Women in Architecture Committee. She became its leader in 1985. Maxman then served on the national AIA Board of Directors from 1989 to 1991.

In 1992, Susan Maxman made history. She was elected the 69th president of the AIA. She was the first woman to hold this position in the organization's 134-year history. The first woman member had joined 103 years earlier in 1883.

Maxman later explained why she decided to run for president: "It was never my plan to be president of the AIA. I was more interested in sharing my ideas and helping the profession think differently. But when I talked to women architects across the country, I saw how difficult it was for them. I thought the best way to show them they could achieve anything was by example. You can overcome challenges and move forward. Don't think about being a woman, just focus on being the best you can be."

In 1992, she represented the AIA at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. As president, Maxman spoke about the importance of sustainable design. She said that using common sense in design was not new, but something people had forgotten. She explained that when people started relying on artificial heating and cooling, they forgot how to design in a truly sustainable way.

In 1993, Maxman led a huge meeting of architects in Chicago. It was a joint convention of the American Institute of Architects and the International Union of Architects (UIA). About 5,000 architects from over 85 countries attended.

Awards and Recognition

Susan Maxman's firm has won many awards for its designs. Out of 65 awards, 14 were AIA design awards. Another 14 awards were for their work in environmental design.

Some of her personal honors and awards include:

• College of Fellows, AIA
• Honorary fellow, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
• Member of Honor, La Federación de Colegios de Arquitectos de la República Méxicana
• Honorary doctorate, Ball State University
• Honorary doctorate, University of Detroit-Mercy
• Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania
• Thomas U. Walter Award (first recipient), AIA Philadelphia
• Pennsylvania's Best 50 Women in Business Award
• Shattering the Glass Ceiling, Women's National Democratic Club
• Ruth Carter Stevenson Chair, School of Architecture, University of Texas at Austin

See also

In Spanish: Susan Maxman para niños