Elizabeth Chu Richter is CEO of Richter Architects based in Corpus Christi, Texas. The firm’s work includes academic research facilities, health sciences and fine arts complexes, museums, visitor centers, churches, office buildings, and residences. Recent projects include the National Museum of the Pacific War, Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve Headquarters, Del Mar College Academic Complex, Manila American Cemetery Visitor and Interpretive Center, and GSA Design Excellence U.S. Land Ports of Entry in El Paso, Laredo, and Columbus, New Mexico.
Elizabeth holds a BArch from the University of Texas at Austin. While at UT’s school of architecture, she met fellow student David Richter. They married in 1974, and joined the firm Kipp and Winston in Corpus Christi in 1975. After the birth of their first child, Elizabeth left full time practice and dedicated the next 12 years to raising their three children and serving as an active community volunteer. In 1989, she returned to the profession full time. In 2001, she received the AIA Young Architects Award. In 2011, Richter Architects was the recipient of the Architecture Firm Award from the Texas Society of Architects.
A former president of the Texas Society of Architects/AIA (2007), Elizabeth is active on the national and international level having served as the 2015 AIA President, and as a member of the AIA Board of Directors, the Strategic Council, the Documents Committee, and the Communications Committee. She is an honorary member of the Japan Institute of Architects, Korean Institute of Architects, and the Australian Institute of Architects. She served as chair of the AIA Gold Medal/Firm Award Advisory Jury Committee (2012-13). Other awards juries include the national AIA Regional and Urban Design Awards, the inaugural AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Firm Award, and numerous regional design awards juries.
Elizabeth has championed public outreach for decades. In addition to writing and speaking, she created and co-produced The Shape of Texas, a statewide radio series on architecture broadcasted on NPR-affiliate stations across Texas. The series ran for 11 years, broadcasting over 500 episodes and reached millions. The series received an award of excellence in media achievement from the Texas Historical Commission (2010). Elizabeth is a life member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at her alma mater. She has lectured at several universities, and served as a panelist on topics on women in architecture and the future of the profession.
Active in public service, Elizabeth served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the San Antonio Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and as Chairman of the South Texas Public Broadcasting System. She is a former board member of CHRISTUS Spohn Health Systems and the Board of Directors of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation.
