Three from Quackenbush Architects + Planners named to AIA South Carolina, Columbia boards
January 28, 2026
Quackenbush Architects + Planners announced that three members of the firm will serve in board positions for both the American Institute of Architects South Carolina (AIASC) and the AIA Columbia chapters.
Spencer Hutchinson, AIA, architect and principal at the firm, was named to the AIASC board, while Juan Contreras, Associate AIA, and Tyler Laprise, Associate AIA, were named to the AIA Columbia board. All three will serve the 2026–2027 term.
Hutchinson will serve as the Education Director for AIASC, where he says he’ll focus on professional education programs for members, interact with AIA sponsors, and continue to support architecture students from AIA partner Clemson University. “I’m very excited to be a part of the board for the state chapter,” he says. “It’s a strong and active chapter with some really talented people.” Hutchinson was previously president of AIA Columbia in 2023 and served as a board member from 2017 to 2025.
Laprise, who joined Quackenbush in 2019, has worked on a number of Q+ projects across the state, including the Carver Lyon Elementary School Classroom Addition (Columbia), Johns Island Elementary School (Charleston), May River Elementary School (Bluffton), and Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union’s new headquarters building (Columbia).
A Newberry, South Carolina, native and a 2019 graduate of University of North Carolina Charlotte School for the Arts + Architecture, Laprise says he is proud to represent the firm on the AIA Columbia board. “I’m honored that the firm’s leadership feels confident about my representing our firm within this amazing organization. It gives me the opportunity to learn new things and contribute at an introductory level, and offers me a stepping stone to greater community involvement within Columbia.”
Contreras, who has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from Clemson University, joined Quackenbush in 2021. He is working on a number of the firm’s higher education projects, including the PGA Golf Management Academic Learning Lab for Coastal Carolina, the Horry-Georgetown Technical College Nursing & Health Sciences building and the Brain Health Center for the University of South Carolina.
Contreras is enthusiastic about his new role with AIA Columbia. “I’m honored to be named to the board of AIA Columbia,” he says. “It presents a great opportunity for me to contribute to the direction of the association and gain insight into the work happening behind the scenes. I’m excited to do my part and further connect with the community.”
“We’re incredibly proud of Spencer, Tyler, and Juan in representing Quackenbush on the AIA boards,” says Q+ President Doug Quackenbush. “Their talents and leadership in collaboration and managing projects make them an asset to everyone in the profession.”
Quackenbush Architects + Planners is a full-service architecture and planning firm located in Columbia, SC. The firm specializes in educational, civic, and institutional projects. Its services span from building design to land planning to interior design. The team’s work reflects commitment to innovation, sensitivity to our regional context, and the richness that comes from collaboration with our clients and the community.
