ELIZABETH BRUTSCH, AIA
Community Service Award
Elizabeth Brutsch, AIA, NCARB, displays her passion for community development and enthusiasm for history in both her professional career and volunteer activities. Licensed in New York and Massachusetts, she is a Senior Associate and Project Architect with CSArch in Albany, NY. Her focus is in K-12 Educational design and award-winning Emergency Response projects. She has utilized her expertise to help with the development of the New York State Education Department’s “Safe Schools by Design – A Guide”. Elizabeth leads the Student Internship program at CSArch, actively working to provide experiences in and out of the office to develop the next generation of Architects. Her volunteer activities have included captaining the CANstruction team since 2016 and joining 518 Day efforts in the local community.
Her work for community development starts with her role as the Chair of the Town of New Lebanon’s Planning Board. She has worked with the Town Board, Building Department, and other Planning/Zoning committees to improve the application and approval process. After joining the Zoning Rewrite Committee and others, Elizabeth led the development of recommendations for new legislation related to furthering planning and zoning goals in the community. Holding a Master of Science in Design & Historic Preservation from the UMASS Amherst and Hancock Shaker Village’s joint program, Elizabeth’s passion for preservation made her the ideal candidate to spearhead the initial efforts to provide zoning recommendations to protect the Mount Lebanon Shaker heritage and history. Whether working in her professional or home capacities, Elizabeth strives to meet the needs of her clients and community while creating and furthering a vision for their future.
“Elizabeth is a truly exceptional leader, embodying the spirit of community service. Her dedication extends from her local planning board, where she’s streamlined processes as Chair, to vital efforts with the Zoning Rewrite Committee, safeguarding historic areas like Mount Lebanon Shaker Village.
Beyond her architectural prowess, Elizabeth champions giving back. She’s led CSArch’s CANstruction team for years, supporting local food pantries, and transformed their Intern Program, mentoring countless students. Her recent contributions to the NY Safe Schools by Design Act further highlight her profound impact. Elizabeth’s commitment to both her community and the architectural profession makes her an outstanding recipient for this award.”