Our Story
Atlanta Firm, 25+ years
Chapman Griffin Lanier Sussenbach Architects, Inc. (CGLS) is a full service, mid-size architectural firm located in Smyrna, Georgia. The firm was established by A. Byron Chapman III, Elbert N. "Bud" Griffin, David L. Lanier and Robert S. Sussenbach in 1994. As partners retired Rebecca Tyson and Michael Williamson became principals in 2016 and John Ellis, Marian Reeves, Teri Huling and Samantha Williams became principals in 2022.
Academic, Religious, and Hospitality
CGLS specializes in academic, religious and hospitality projects, providing award-winning and distinctive architectural services for our clients and owners. CGLS brings to life vital, responsible, and memorable design solutions resulting in successful projects and repeat clientele. Our services include programming, space planning, master planning, architecture, interior design, project facilitation and 3-D renderings and animation.
We have developed our skills on numerous public and private sector projects for new construction as well as additions and renovations. With a team of seasoned and experienced consultants, who continue to be a part of the CGLS team, we continue to bring projects to fruition on time and within budget fashioning our reputation and repeat clientele.
Our Way
Our design philosophy is to comprehensively study the site and environmental surroundings while working closely with our clients assessing their needs and finally designing sustainable buildings that create memorable expressions through creativity and functionality.
Our philosophy for success is to combine the benefits of creative thinking, hard work, an experienced staff, good working relationships and the desire to provide beautiful and functional spaces for every commission so that our clients have the best resources and environment to come together to accomplish their goals.
CGLS Architects, Inc. created a unique practice that goes beyond architectural design. By listening to our clients and focusing on the needs of the community and surrounding environs, we approach our projects with unique design elements as well as costs-conscious solutions. We understand that a well-balanced design includes coordination of economic, social and political factors to accomplish a profitable and successful project. CGLS brings to life vital, responsible and memorable design solutions
With the current state of environmental consciousness and increasing energy costs, more people and businesses are thinking about the benefits of "Going Green." Environmental movements have been around for a long time focusing on saving the natural world, but today our society is looking for ways to integrate sustainable values into every part of life. It has become clear that being "green" has economic benefits, in addition to helping sustain our environment. Sustainability in global terms is about meeting the needs of the present without depleting resources or harming natural cycles for future generations. As architects, we can help building owners and developers shape a sustainable built environment that will benefit both the world and their business.
CGLS Architects has been incorporating energy and environmentally conscious design into our projects ever since we built our first buildings in the early nineties, but until the development and acceptance of the LEED Green Building Rating System there was no tangible way to document the "greenness" of a building. Today with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, architects have a system in place to encourage and accelerate global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.[1]
CGLS has two LEED Accredited Professionals on staff. Even though a project may not be LEED certified, CGLS incorporates many principles of sustainable design into our building process. CGLS strives to create in all of its buildings a socially responsible, energy efficient, healthy, and enjoyable environment for its occupants.
[1] USGBC, US Green Building Council