01/10/2024
Eugene L. Surber, FAIA
1936 - 2023
We are sad to report the recent passing of Gene Surber, founder and principal emeritus of Surber, Barber, Choate & Hertlein Architects.
Gene was born May 15, 1938, in Hagerstown, Maryland. His family moved to Atlanta in 1956. He attended Tufts University and Georgia Tech, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1961. He was commissioned in the US Navy, where he served three years on a carrier, the USS Hornet. He then returned to Georgia Tech where he received his Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1965.
After spending some time in local design and development companies, he started his own firm, Surber Barber Architects with his partner James (Rusty) Barber in 1972. Based on organic growth, the firm evolved to become Surber, Barber, Choate & Hertlein Architects in 1988. After Gene’s retirement in 2007, he remained engaged in both the architectural and preservation communities.
With over fifty years of experience in the field of architecture, Gene was involved in a wide range of new and adaptive reuse projects including single and multi-family residences, office buildings, institutional and educational buildings, country clubs, museums, welcome centers, and worship facilities.
Gene’s dedication to the rehabilitation and preservation of historic structures and communities in Georgia has been recognized by a variety of prestigious awards, including elevation to the College of Fellows of the AIA in 1994, the 1991 AIA Atlanta Ivan Allen Senior Award recognizing community service, and the Mary Gregory Jewett award for life-time achievement in the field of preservation by the Georgia Trust in 2005. Gene also served on the Georgia Trust's Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1995. In 1992, he was voted Volunteer of the Year by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2002 the Atlanta Preservation Center gave him the Keystone Award for his outstanding volunteer service.
Notable preservation, restoration, renovations, and new construction projects include:
• The A.M. Blank Family Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia
• Rhodes Hall, Atlanta, Georgia
• The Upson House, Athens, Georgia
• The Margaret Mitchell House Museum, Atlanta, Georgia
• Cumberland Island Visitor Center, St. Marys, Georgia
• Hull Street Complex, Athens, Georgia
• Seney Stovall Chapel, Athens, Georgia
• Academy of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
• Decatur County Courthouse, Bainbridge, Georgia
• Greene County Courthouse, Greensboro, Georgia
• Sisters Chapel - Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia
• First Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia
• Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia
• All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia
• The Country Club, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Numerous Private Residences throughout the United States
Our firm was blessed to have had Gene’s creativity and wisdom as a big part of our professional lives. For all who knew him, his passion and kind spirit will be dearly missed.
