Elizabeth Suzuki, co-founder and principal of Sutton Suzuki Architects, has been named Bank of Marin's Spirit of Marin Business Citizen of the Year, the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce announced.
The Chamber recognized Suzuki for decades of community building and civic leadership across Marin County, calling her a lifelong advocate who has dedicated her energy to improving quality of life in the region.
Suzuki has called Mill Valley home since 1985. She and her firm, founded in 1990 and based at 39 Forrest St., have focused on environmentally conscious design, according to Marin Magazine, which included Sutton Suzuki in its 2026 list of Marin architects. The firm emphasizes natural ventilation and passive solar gain in its projects.
Before affordable housing became a widely recognized priority, Suzuki and her team were already designing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and multi-unit housing for seniors, teachers and local workers, the Chamber said. That early work helped residents stay connected to the communities they love, according to the Chamber.
Her most recent project brought her to one of Mill Valley's oldest landmarks. Suzuki transformed the kitchen at the Outdoor Art Club, the Bernard Maybeck-designed clubhouse at One West Blithedale Avenue. Maybeck designed the building in 1904 for a club founded two years earlier by 35 Mill Valley women. The original construction cost just $3,315, funded by member-raised shares, according to the club's website.
The clubhouse is a California Historical Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It still hosts community events and is available for public rentals.
The award is not her first recognition. Sutton Suzuki Architects received the Spirit of Marin Small Business of the Year award in 2002.
Suzuki's civic involvement stretches well beyond her drafting table. She has served as board chair of the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, Mill Valley Rotary, Mill Valley Little League, Tamalpais High Boosters, Tam High Foundation and Kiddo!, the Mill Valley schools community foundation. The Chamber credited her with strengthening local economic vitality and encouraging residents to shop locally.
