Queens Office Managing Principal Recognized for Strategic Leadership, Inclusive Growth and Project Impact
QUEENS, N.Y. [September 14, 2026] – DIG Architecture (DIG) Queens Office Managing Principal Suzette Bather has been named one of the New York Real Estate Journal’s (NYREJ) 2026 Women in Commercial Real Estate. The annual feature honors influential leaders shaping regional development, driving industry innovation, and mentoring the next generation of AEC professionals.
Bather joined DIG this past spring to lead the strategic expansion of its Queens office, bringing deep expertise in architectural project delivery, urban development and supplier diversity integration, which aligns with DIG’s designation as a certified, majority Black-owned MBE firm. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for driving equitable economic growth through large-scale civic and transportation initiatives, including a pivotal leadership role advancing local and M/WBE participation within JFK International Airport’s landmark $19 billion redevelopment.
“True leadership creates opportunities for others. This includes building collaborative relationships, mentoring industry newcomers and expanding upon DIG’s role in supplier diversity-driven opportunities,” said Bather. “Resilient teams are forged through genuine collaboration and active listening. When you empower people to bring their unique perspectives to the table and elevate those around you, organizational success naturally follows.”
Driving High-Impact Projects and Adaptable Design
Under Bather’s guidance, the Queens office is cultivating high-impact partnerships across transportation, higher education, healthcare and civic sectors. The firm’s regional portfolio includes major aviation assignments across NYC’s airports, including JFK and Newark Liberty International. At the latter, the Queens office team spearheaded Terminal C’s overseas check-in and baggage screening redesign, as well as an express jet relocation to Terminal A. Other airport projects include airline operations centers, passenger experience/VIP spaces, ground support infrastructure and flight crew support areas.
DIG’s higher education footprint also features key NYC-area projects, including CUNY Bronx Community College’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Lab, Kingsborough Community College’s Maritime Training Facility and a multi-floor library transformation at Hofstra University.
“The biggest shift in today’s architecture environment is the imperative to reimagine outdated public-use spaces rather than force-fitting new technology into obsolete structures,” Bather noted. “Future-thinking architects and designers must be anchored in innovation, creativity and flexible spaces – core tenets of DIG’s philosophy to always be groundbreaking.”
Bather added that today’s infrastructure demands adaptable layouts to seamlessly integrate evolving tools and community needs. “DIG is committed to altering this trajectory, moving beyond temporary fixes to deliver forward-thinking architecture and design, from its airport renovation projects to its higher education lab space architect-of-record assignments and beyond, to remain flexible and sustainable well into the future.”
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About DIG Architecture
DIG is an award-winning, certified-MBE architecture, interior design and environmental graphics firm with offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. Over two decades, the firm has grown into one of the region’s largest majority Black-owned architecture and design practices, serving public- and private-sector clients across the education, civic, transportation, healthcare and senior living sectors. Driven by one instinct – to go deeper – DIG uncovers potential, challenges convention and expands what’s possible through design.
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Carin McDonald: carin@cmmstrategic.com I Kayla Bennett: kayla@cmmstrategic.com