SUSAN CODDAIRE, AIA, LEED

I grew up in Morrisville, Vermont, a small town nestled between the northern Green Mountains and the Worcester range. As a young adult I left the state to earn my B.A. and M.Arch degrees and eventually to begin my architectural career. Following twelve years in Massachusetts, Oregon, and Colorado I returned to live in Burlington during the very cold winter of 2005! I came home with a new understanding and appreciation for Vermont’s unique and distinct sense of Place. To preserve, enhance and create a sense of Place is the goal of my design process.

The most rewarding part of architecture for me is seeing and participating in the transformation of space! Each project brings unique challenges and constraints to which we listen, consider, and propose various solutions. A rigorous practice of problem solving occurs in tandem with a more nuanced process of articulating space in response to such elements as light, enclosure, and view. As architects, these are the broad tools with which we imagine and design beautiful, vibrant Places. My design process strives express the interconnection between people, each other, and the land – both functionally and artistically. I see a genuine sense of Place being interconnected with its setting – both physically and culturally – in a way that is enduring. As we confront today’s climate crisis it is ever more imperative to consider the impact of building on our limited natural resources. I am fortunate to be part of a group at VIA with great depth of knowledge in this area.

I enjoy my free time immensely, have many interests, and often several creative projects underway! I enjoy being in the garden, playing tennis, all types of skiing, and the seasons of New England. I live in Burlington among many wonderful friends and family – including my beloved chocolate Labrador, Otis who is now 11. I feel incredibly fortunate to live and work in Vermont.