Susan Green Architectural Drawings

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication.

Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Susan Green Architectural Drawings, 1976-2017, Ms2025-069, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
2.55 Cubic Feet 12 boxes: 11 Telescoping Boxes, 1 Flat Folder Box
Abstract:
The Susan Green collection consists of architectural drawings and photographs of designs Green created from 1976 to 2017, as well as architectural drawings Green kept for reference (1972-2013).
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Susan Green Architectural Drawings, 1976-2017, Ms2025-069, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The Susan Green collection consists of 25 projects: 14 of Green's own and collaborations, and 11 project drawings she collected and referred to. Document types include: analog drawings, CAD prints, diazotypes, photographs, prints, and scans. Most of the documents are contruction documents for New York-based projects.

Biographical / historical:

(Ann) Susan Green was born in New Jersey on April 20, 1940, and raised in Long Island, NY. She spent the majority of her life living and working in New York state, and passed away on May 28, 2020, in her New York City apartment.

Green studied at the University of Michigan (1958), Barnard College (1959-), and the Yale School of Architecture (1964-1969), graduating with her B. Arch. in 1967, and her M. Arch. in 1969 [1].

Post-graduation, Green worked with and learned from her mentor Donald Cromley, who studied under Louis Kahn. Green and Cromley collaborated on Green's first project: her parents', Freeda and Bernard Green's, home, called 'La Costa' [2].

Green was described as having perfectionist tendencies in her work, a creative mind, a careful, serious, and dignified demeanor, and a compassionate soul. Her classmate described her in her obituary as having "a crisp sense of style, and an idiosyncratic personality which served her well in Architectural Studio courses."

Green ran her own practice in NYC for most of her career. She worked both for clients, as well as bought properties for design-build-bid projects. Green primarily designed residences in rural upstate New York that "combined a modern aesthetic with traditional vernacular farmhouse elements" [3], allowing her completed buildings to fit into their settings, and "project a visual calm."

Green was notably philanthropic in her lifetime, donating to various New York-based and architectural organizations. After her passing, the New York Community Trust established the Ann Susan Green Fund (2022) in her honor [4].

External sources:

[1] Rappaport, Nina. "Constructs Fall 2021." (New Haven: 2021 Yale School of Architecture, 2021): [p.14], ISBN 978-1-7333908-4-2, https://www.usmodernist.org/Y/Y-2021-fall.pdf.

[2] Marshutz, Scott. "Home of the Week: In Carlsbad, keeping a modernist vision intact." Los Angeles Times, January 2, 2011. https://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-home-20110102-story.html.

[3] Rappaport, Nina. "Constructs Fall 2020." (New Haven: 2020 Yale School of Architecture, 2020): [p.26], ISBN 978-1-7333908-3-5, https://www.usmodernist.org/Y/Y-2020-fall.pdf.

[4] The New York Community Trust. "For Caregivers Forever. 2024 Annual Report." The New York Community Trust, p.30, June, 2024. https://thenytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/508_TNYCT_2024-Annual-Report_RGB_051625PM.pdf.

Acquisition information:
This information was assembled and donated to the IAWA archive at Virginia Tech by Galen Cranz, and mailed to SCUA by Bella Hortaleza, executor of Susan Green's estate, April 20, 2022.
Processing information:

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Susan Green Architectural Drawings Collection was completed in September 2025.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Physical facet:
Analog drawings, CAD prints, diazotypes, photographs, prints, and scans.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard