Susanne Kortz Tejada

Susanne Tejada is a Principal and Founder of YB + ST Architects, a Santa Barbara-based women-owned firm she is establishing after more than a decade working with Barton Myers Associates. A graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1996 and the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Architecture in 2000, she has practiced architecture since 1997. Her career includes early commercial work at Gensler in San Francisco, followed by institutional projects involving K-12 schools and ADA accessible upgrades, and residential architecture since 2007. She has led complex high-end residential projects from concept through construction and has received AIA Santa Barbara Design Awards for projects completed with Barton Myers. As a member of the American Institute of Architects, she served as President of the local Santa Barbara chapter in 2012 and currently serves as President of the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara, where she supports architecture education programs. She also contributes to the Access Advisory Committee to the City of Santa Barbara, drawing on her professional expertise and personal experience to advocate for improved accessibility in the built environment.