About
Aries Design: Susan J. van der Meulen, architect
About: Susan is a licensed architect in the State of Illinois since 1983. She is a native Chicagoan, a daughter of the distinguished Chicago architect John H. van der Meulen (1913-1994) and Norma Wolcott van der Meulen (1925-2022). Her experience has been in luxury residential and church interior architecture in the Chicago area.
Education: Master of Architecture, Harvard Graduate School of Design, 1978; Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, BA 1974; Kenwood HS, 1970. Work history: Harry Weese & Associates, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, architects, Chicago; Grunsfeld & Associates; Marvin Herman & Associates, 1986-2009, high-end residential work in Chicago.
Projects: Madonna Della Strada Chapel, Chicago, interior liturgical details, 2005-7; work on many Lake Shore Drive renovations.
Teaching: Harrington College of Design, Instructor in Design, 2008-2010. President, Chicago Women in Architecture, 2001-2. Board, Chicago Chapter Society of Architectural Historians, since 2011.
Contact Information
To Contact: To contact Aries Design about a potential project, please email Susan at sjvandermeulen@yahoo.com. (A cell phone number will be provided). The client is much valued in the design process, with dialogue being very important to the outcome of the job. An initial conversation should state goals in order to avoid common renovation pitfalls, and to assess budget parameters.
Team Member: the Contractor and Consultants
Contractors, sub-contractors and consultants, selected through interviews and a competitive bidding process, add their expertise to each project. The architect can recommend contractors but is also willing to work with the contractor suggested by the Owner.