Shaping Conditions: Architect and Lawyer Susan Hinkson-Carling on Design, Land Use, and Public Interests
By Julia Gamolina
Susan is a seasoned senior level executive with over thirty years’ experience in the fast- paced high level land use, real estate, related finance, and public policy realm. She has designed, managed, and built hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of complex projects often surpassing the desired goals. Susan currently manages CB+T Advisors, LLC (formerly Capalino Ventures, LLC) working, internationally, with clients in the renewable energy and real estate sectors as well as the entertainment industry. CB+T Advisors helps clients in project management, urban and logistics planning and finance.
Before, Susan spent twenty years in city and state government, most recently as the Vice Chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals. She also served as Brooklyn Borough Commissioner for the NYC Department of Buildings and as Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Community Development for Sullivan County New York, As Capital Program Manager for the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs she over managed a $500M design and construction portfolio.
Recognized for her philanthropic work, Susan is a Trustee of New York Law School where there is a named scholarship in her honor. She is also a Trustee of the Municipal Arts Society, Wave-Hill, the Bronx Museum of the Arts and Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York. Susan graduated from Pratt Institute School of Architecture, and she holds both a JD and LLM from New York Law School.
JG: You've had such a multi-layered career between architecture, law, land-use, and development. What's the best advice that you got early on that has served you well and informed your approach to your career?
SHC: In one of my very first jobs, I had a terrific mentor who told me to always make it about the work. Don’t worry about the money, don’t think of future recognition, just concentrate on the work making that work so good that it speaks of you and for you.
I think that advice has stood me in good stead and allowed me to stay focused on accomplishing whatever the task is that had been set out for me in a way that would be meaningful and that I could be proud of personally. The advice also helped me not to be so transactional in what, has become a very transactional world. It’s not always easy to take that kind of advice but, good advice sometimes requires thought and intention.
Now let's go back a little bit — you studied architecture at Pratt. What were you hoping to do in the world?
I always had a fascination, even as a little kid, with buildings. I was the kid on the block with Lincoln logs; I guess I'm dating myself! The built environment and how we live with each each other and around each other has always been an important question for me and architecture school seemed to be the the most logical way of exploring those questions.
Tell me about your work prior to law school, and the biggest lessons and takeaways.
Prior to law school, I was Capital Program manager for the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. I managed about $300 million in construction in the city-owned cultural institutions. The big lesson was patience! And more patience and more patience. With that, the rewards were enormous. Working on public projects is amazing because the impact is so great. I felt and still do feel, a great sense of responsibility when working on behalf of a project that affects the public. Not only because it may be funded by public money, but because the project itself, hopefully, has a long lasting effect on so many people.
“How do you classify building forms that center around relational issues that manifest themselves three dimensionally in space? That’s not only a regulatory, or architectural question but in many regards sociological one as well.”
Why then law school?
I went to law school in pursuit of understanding the legislative aspects of land use — public purpose versus private interests, in particular — and that led me to zoning regulation. I find zoning regulation fascinating. How do you classify building forms that center around relational issues that manifest themselves three dimensionally in space? That's not only a regulatory, or architectural question but in many regards sociological one as well.
Tell me about your work after law school.
After law school, I went to work for Sullivan County as the decommissioner for planning and community development. There, I was able to learn a lot more about planning In a non-urban context. It was very different from my previous experience In New York City. In Sullivan County, land use was seen through the lens of open space and agricultural considerations. Yet, there was still issues of affordable housing and other "urban" considerations that needed to be addressed. I learned a lot about legislating for diverse interests that many times could be in opposition of each other.
After a stint in Sullivan County, I was asked to join the New York City Department of Buildings as the Brooklyn borough commissioner. I think it was then, that I really was able to meld the two disciplines, law and architecture, to interpret the Zoning Resolution and building codes, in a way that was most beneficial to the public interest as well as allowing homeowners to achieve practical purposes.
How did you ultimately get to Capalino? And what are you up to/what is your main focus now?
After twenty-five or so years in city government, I decided to go back to the private sector. I suppose it was just time to make a change and Capalino made me an offer I couldn't refuse! I was able to lead the real estate group along with Richard Barth, who is a legend in land use circles, and a person that I highly respect. I learned a great deal from him.
Capalino also afforded me the opportunity to be a founder of and manage an entrepreneurial arm of the firm focused on real estate financing and other creative work. That entity, now known as CB+ T Advisors, has international clients from the energy sector to entertainment production. It's very rewarding work, especially the projects that help meet people's basic needs.
“The big booms and busts in real estate, the inabilities to access financing for projects or government cutbacks that made it difficult to do the work in the most expedient and professional manner. Those experiences, of course, teach you perseverance, but also show you how to learn from others in the way that they navigate difficult waters.”
Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges? How did you both manage through perceived disappointments or Perceived disappointments or setbacks?
I think some of the biggest challenges in my career are ones that many people in our industry experienced over the years. The big booms and busts in real estate, the inabilities to access financing for projects or government cutbacks that made it difficult to do the work in the most expedient and professional manner. Those experiences, of course, teach you perseverance, but also show you how to learn from others in the way that they navigate difficult waters.
Also, being a woman in what used to be a very male-dominated industry, had its own set of unique challenges. I recall one summer while I was in school, I worked for a firm that didn't have a ladies room. There was the key to the men's room, but, no ladies room. They soon had to adjust and the men's room became what might've been the first unisex bathroom in history! But, kidding aside, the late 70s and early 80s was a watershed moment for women in architecture and real estate development.
Who are you admiring now and why?
I admire Annabelle Selldorf as well as Marvel Architects. Both firms have done great work in the public sphere. Their sensibilities and commitment to great aesthetics serving the cultural institutions is really quite impressive.
What is the impact you’d like to have on the world? What is your core mission? And, what does success in that look like to you?
To simply do the best that I can do under the conditions that I'm given. If you're lucky, you get the shape those conditions to have a better outcome.
Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?
Concentrate on the work. Do the very best you can. Let your work speak for itself. Regardless of gender, your work should be your calling card.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.