Zoetic1 is your portal to explore the creative projects of Michael Hawker, showcasing his work in Zoetic Architecture and Arts.
Our Founder
Michael Hawker
With over 30 years of professional experience and higher education, Michael is highly skilled in architecture, graphics, design, and construction management. A specialist in custom residential buildings and renovations, Michael excels in the art of the client relationship. He is also known for art glass designs and graphics.
In short, Michael is known as a "polymath," with an extensive array of creative pursuits.
Michael's architectural "heritage" is unique in the area and only a few in the world. He is amidst 1,500 worldwide to have apprenticed with the Taliesin Fellowship, the institution founded by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1932. His unique training was further complemented working for internationally-renown Gunnar Birkerts, FAIA and Canadian Gold Medalist architect Douglas Cardinal.
Michael is dedicated to organic design principles with a great variety of interests that include collecting books on architecture, publishing to help educate others. His hobbies tend to become semi-professional, such as winemaking.
A Full Profile
Michael C. Hawker
AIA, SARA, NCARB, CSI, CDT, Intl. Assoc. RAIC
M.Arch, M.S.
Adobe Certified Associate (PhotoShop, InDesign)
Principal/Founding Member of
Zoetic Architecture & Design, LLC
Zoetic Arts, LLC
and formerly Bios Construction, LLC
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
With over 30 years of professional experience and higher education, Michael Hawker is highly skilled in architecture, graphics, design, and construction management. He holds certifications from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), and maintains active memberships with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Society of American Registered Architects (SARA), and as an International Associate with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC).
With an additional 12 years working in a clinical pathology laboratory, Michael has also held memberships with the International Society of Automation (ISA) and the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) as recently as 2024.
A specialist in custom residential design and renovation—where he excels in cultivating strong client relationships—Michael’s work also includes:
- Retail and specialty commercial projects (including business offices)
- Religious and educational facilities (K-12 and university)
- Healthcare and hospitality projects (hospitals, clinics, and medical office buildings)
- Financial institutions (banks and credit unions)
- Community planning and mixed-use commercial/residential developments
His project experience also includes work on teams designing a performing arts center and a major convention center hotel, as well as leading design teams for an athletic field, a museum outdoor performance space (bandshell), and pharmaceutical and bioscience laboratory projects.
Beyond architecture, Michael is also known for his work in art glass design, graphics, photography, and—more recently—winemaking. In many circles, he is considered something of a polymath within the architectural profession.
RARE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
Michael’s architectural lineage is unique among Michigan architects and rare worldwide. He is among roughly 1,500 individuals to have apprenticed with the Taliesin Fellowship, the educational institution founded by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1932 that operated for more than 80 years before closing in 2020.
“It was the Taliesin experience that put me on the right path, more or less,” Hawker says. “Taliesin teaches a way of life that embraces all aspects of living—from music to art, cooking to gardening. All of it comprises architecture and the education of an architect.”
His training was further enriched by working for internationally renowned architect Gunnar Birkerts, FAIA, whose design philosophy carried forward the European organic tradition pioneered by Alvar Aalto. During graduate school, Michael also studied under—and later collaborated with—Canadian Gold Medalist and celebrated organic architect Douglas Cardinal.
“Those experiences added an important dimension to the education Taliesin began. Working in Birkerts’ office and collaborating with Cardinal offered insights and a professional practicum I would not have experienced otherwise. I learned holistic design.”
PRACTICAL ARCHITECT WITH CONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE
After becoming licensed as an architect, Michael founded Zoetic Architecture & Design in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2003. The practice later followed him to Utah in 2010 and to Michigan in 2023, his home state. Over the years he expanded his architectural licensure to six states.
Michael also possesses considerable hands-on construction experience—a rarity among architects today. Between 2003 and 2010, his construction management projects ranged from $10,000 to over $600,000, many built partially with his own hands. His architectural designs often doubled those scopes and values.
His work spans projects across the United States and includes a 17,000-square-foot school and convent in Tipitapa, Nicaragua. Clients have ranged from private homeowners and families to corporations and nonprofit organizations.
“A client once asked if designing a deck was too small a project,” Hawker recalls. “Of course not. If it’s a dream and important to you, it’s important to me. The attention to detail and process is the same—the scale simply changes.”
Echoing Wright’s philosophy, Hawker notes that meaningful architecture can emerge from any project:
“Frank Lloyd Wright once said he would design a chicken coop if that was what the client asked—and that it could still be good architecture.”
SUSTAINABILITY AND ORGANIC DESIGN
After earning a degree in Energy Management, Michael became involved with the U.S. Green Building Council in response to growing concerns about global resources and sustainable building.
His interest in environmental design traces back to his studies at Taliesin, and he once considered pursuing a Ph.D. in Ecological Design.
“Using recycled or sustainable materials alone doesn’t necessarily give a building spirit,” Hawker says.
Instead, he remains dedicated to the principles of Organic Architecture -- designing from idea and purpose outward.
Michael continues to remain engaged with organizations preserving the organic architectural tradition, including the Organic Architecture + Design Archives and the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park. He has also volunteered with organizations such as the Meyer May House and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).
“Giving back is very important.”
COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA, AND DESIGN
Michael later earned a second postgraduate degree in Mass Communications, formalizing his interests in journalism, media arts, graphic design, and electronic publishing.
Over the years he has served as:
- Editor-in-Chief of a large-circulation newspaper
- Radio show host
- Video director and producer
- Author and editor of numerous publications
He also continues to offer graphic design services for clients, including logo design and publication development.
“Looking back, I realize my work in publications began early—from grade school yearbooks to high school newspapers. That parallel with architecture has been with me my entire life.”
ART, DESIGN, AND CREATIVE WORK
Inspired by Wright and acclaimed St. Louis architect William Bernoudy, Michael incorporates art glass design into architectural work. After inheriting his grandfather’s glass and tools in 1992, he learned the craft and began producing architectural and sculptural glass pieces based on geometric themes.
In 2004 he established Zoetic Arts to manage commissions for stained glass and other crafted works. His pieces are limited and highly sought after by collectors.
CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Despite decades of professional experience, Hawker describes himself as “always the student.”
In 2020 he expanded Zoetic Arts into a new creative venture: winemaking. Under the boutique label Monte de Romanza, his nano-winery has produced more than 30 wines in just a few years.
“I’m having a lot of fun with it. It’s a professional hobby, but I approach it with the same care and creativity as any design project.”
He also continuously updates his technical skills. In recent years he completed training in:
- AutoCAD
- Revit (Building Information Modeling)
- SketchUp Pro
- AI-assisted design tools such as Midjourney and D5 Render
“Sometimes I think my true life purpose is simply to learn.”
PASSION FOR ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE AND PHILOSOPHY
Michael has long studied the work of leading organic architects including E. Fay Jones, Alden B. Dow, John Lautner, William Bernoudy, and Nari Gandhi.
He maintains a personal library of rare publications and research materials documenting the organic architectural tradition.
“Organic architecture begins with an idea. That idea is filtered through many lenses until the final form emerges.”
For Hawker, the principle is simple:
“Organic architecture is ultimately an architecture of ideas—seeking harmony, beauty, and meaning in the built environment.”
-- from interviews with Michael Hawker, 2007, 2014, and 2025
David Dodge
Gunnar Birkerts
Arthur Dyson
Michael's mentor at Taliesin was David Dodge, an exceptionally talented architect, designer, and music composer. Dodge imparted most of all to Michael the energy of a creative mind and spirit, a greater appreciation for music and theater, and a love of ideas above all.
Arthur Dyson
Gunnar Birkerts
Arthur Dyson
While an apprentice at Taliesin in 1994, Michael learned hand rendering techniques from the famed architect Arthur Dyson. Years later in 2016 Michael learned additional techniques from renown color pencil artist Jan Henderson (Salt Lake City).
Gunnar Birkerts
Gunnar Birkerts
Douglas Cardinal
In 1996-1997, Michael worked as a Project Designer/Director for Gunnar Birkerts, the well-accoladed architect from Latvia who practiced and taught architecture in Michigan for five decades. Michael learned the Organic design "process" from Birkerts.
Douglas Cardinal
Douglas Cardinal
Douglas Cardinal
Michael working with Douglas Cardinal in Cardinal's Washington, D.C. office in 1997. Cardinal was designing the Smithsonian Museum for the Native American. After a Master Class with Cardinal, Michael designed the entry reception desk in an assist, a design that reflected astutely the Organic form of the museum.
O. Dan Smith
Douglas Cardinal
O. Dan Smith
Between 1992 and 1996, Michael held an internship with Meridian Integrated Media, led by O. Dan Smith. Smith became an important mentor in Michael's professional development and creative growth, including computer graphic applications, video production, media techniques, and business strategies.
Michael Sepe
Douglas Cardinal
O. Dan Smith
Michael Sepe could build anything if given the task, and he was most fond of the artistry and craft of finish carpentry. He loved life and people with the same attention. Hawker learned a great deal about construction , contracting, and carpentry skills while working with him on projects between 1998-2010.
"Organic principles are not rules, they are really more aims and goals... for a thing to be organic, it has to have a central kind of generating idea... There should be a family of form, a family of pattern...such as the part is to the whole as the whole is to the part."
E. Fay Jones (Michael met Fay in 1992)
An Archi-Biographical Sketch
PHOTO: Michael in 1990
ARCHITECTURAL JOURNEY
Childhood bicycling along Taliesin Drive in the Parkwyn Village neighborhood of Kalamazoo, Michigan, may have been an unconscious premonition of Michael Hawker’s architectural heritage. Formal knowledge of those “different” houses would come later at Washington University in St. Louis, where he first became deeply interested in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright.
A 1990 visit to Taliesin West—highlighted by an energetic tour from Leslie Nestingen—sparked the idea of applying to the Taliesin Fellowship.
EARLY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Following an internship with HBE Corporation, Michael completed the long application process and entered Taliesin in 1994. However, the school was still far from achieving accreditation through the National Architectural Accrediting Board, a requirement for professional licensure. Disappointed but pragmatic, Michael left the apprenticeship just short of a year and returned to St. Louis, where he continued working and earned a Master of Science in Management.
In 1996 he entered the Master of Architecture program at Lawrence Technological University in Michigan. Determined to work for renowned organic architect Gunnar Birkerts, Michael soon had the opportunity when Anthony Gholz—himself a former Taliesin apprentice—hired him.
Learning Birkerts’ philosophy of “Organic Synthesis” complemented the Taliesin training that had already left a deep impression on Michael’s design thinking. During this period he also studied under and worked with Canadian Gold Medalist architect Douglas Cardinal and explored the work of many other Organic architects.
EARLY CAREER AND FOUNDING ZOETIC
After completing his studies, Michael worked with Sandra Behrens’ St. Louis design-build firm from 1998 to 2003. There he refined two skills that would shape his career: client relationships and construction management.
During that time he also:
- Served as Vice President of Design for a furniture importing company
- Assisted children in Nicaragua through nonprofit initiatives
In 2003, after receiving his architectural license and certification from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, Michael opened his own architecture and construction practice.
The following year he established Zoetic Arts, initially to handle stained glass commissions inspired by his grandfather’s craft. Over time, Zoetic Arts also began receiving graphic design and visual communications commissions.
RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY FOR ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE
Michael has remained deeply involved in studying and promoting Organic Architecture. His work with organizations such as Friends of Kebyar, Amici dell’ Architettura Organica, and the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park has helped broaden his understanding of the movement’s global influences.
His research has included the work of architects such as Bruce Goff and Giovanni Michelucci.
One notable accomplishment was authoring a 2007 Friends of Kebyar Journal monograph on Nari Gandhi, a former apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright and one of India’s most fascinating organic architects. The article represented the first comprehensive English-language study of Gandhi’s work.
Michael has also written and spoken about architects including:
- William Bernoudy
- Alden B. Dow
- E. Fay Jones
- Paolo Soleri
From 2010 to 2013 he served as Editor for the Taliesin Fellows, the alumni organization of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, contributing to its Journal publications.
UTAH YEARS AND EXPANDED EDUCATION
In 2010 Michael relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, beginning a new chapter of professional and academic exploration.
Between 2012 and 2015 he pursued two parallel educational paths.
The first was a degree in Energy Management, where he studied solar photovoltaic design, sustainable building practices, and building energy systems. This work culminated in an internship with the Office of Energy Development for the State of Utah.
The second path focused on Mass Communication and media arts, including journalism, electronic publishing, graphic communications, website design, and multimedia production. He completed degrees in Graphic Communications and Mass Communications along with a Certificate in Mobile Publishing.
During this time he served as Editor-in-Chief and Public Relations Specialist for Salt Lake Community College’s newspaper, The Globe , and its Mass Communications Center, authoring many articles and publications.
AN UNPLANNED CAREER DETOUR
From 2010 through early 2023 Michael followed a parallel professional path while completing postgraduate study. During this time his architectural practice shifted to part-time work serving family, friends, and past clients—often on a pro bono basis.
Full-time employment led him to ARUP Laboratories, a highly automated clinical pathology laboratory affiliated with the University of Utah.
Originally planned as a short-term position, the role extended over a decade as Michael worked in a highly technical department within one of North America’s most advanced laboratory environments.
RETURN TO ARCHITECTURE
By 2022 Michael decided it was time to return fully to architecture. In 2023 he relocated from Utah back to Michigan.
He joined CRB Architects-Engineers in Kalamazoo as Architect-of-Record for a 50-person office specializing in pharmaceutical and laboratory design. The firm is part of the larger CRB Group, a 2,000-person international architecture and engineering organization whose major regional client is Pfizer.
Due to a sudden downturn in capital projects, more than 100 employees—including Michael—were laid off in late 2023.
Michael continued his return to practice in 2024–2025 as a Project Architect with Bodwe Group, collaborating with teams from Seven Generations Architecture + Engineering and WBK Engineering on a variety of construction document projects.
TODAY
Today, Michael continues to practice architecture while selectively maintaining the Zoetic ventures for specialized creative commissions.
Outside professional work, he is expanding the Romanza wine brand, completing three book manuscripts, and exploring new creative interests.
On a more personal level, Michael has begun a reflective Body–Mind process exploring ego transcendence, an ongoing journey that continues to influence both his life and his architectural thinking.
He also enjoys:
- Baking and pastry arts
- Tennis and bowling
- Learning acoustic guitar
- Studying Spanish
For Michael, learning remains a lifelong pursuit—and architecture one of its most meaningful expressions.
Certifications and Qualifications
PHOTO: Michael in 2007 at Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park
Registered Architect (all active) in the States of:
• Michigan (initial license in 2003)
• Missouri
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Ohio
• Utah
NCARB Certificate No. 57,154
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards since 2003
AIA Member 40796054
American Institute of Architects
Member
Society of American Registered Architects (SARA)
Construction Document Technologist (CDT) and
Member
Construction Specifications Institute
Intern Development Program (IDP) qualified
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
International Associate
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC)
Adobe Certified Associate: Adobe PhotoShop and Adobe InDesign, 2015
NABCEP Entry Level Exam completion, 2012
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
(solar photovoltaic sequence of courses through Salt Lake Community College)
ServSafe, Food Protection Manager, accredited by ANSI-Conference for Food Protection, valid to 2014
Notary Public, Jefferson County, Missouri , commission expires May 17, 2013
Experience
PHOTO: Michael in 2009 in his studio in Cedar Hill, Missouri
(in reverse chronological order)
PRIMARY EXPERIENCE
Zoetic Architecture & Design, L.L.C. 2003–present
Zoetic Arts, L.L.C., 2004–present
- St. Louis area, MO, 2003–2010 (full-time)
- Salt Lake City, UT, 2010–2023 (part-time)
- Kalamazoo, MI, 2023–present (part-time)
Architect, Artist; Principal (founder, owner)
- directed all professional services, project management, business operations, client relations, & marketing
- 65+ projects with values up to $600,000 (mostly in years 2003-2012)
- client program assessment, concept and schematic design drawings
- design development of concepts leading through full preparation of construction drawings and specifications
- “conception/fabrication/installation” of art glass projects, incl, sconces, panels, cabinet doors, & mosaic stones
- designed/produced all print brochures, standard forms, website pages; copy authoring/editing and graphics
- averaged 40% annual sales growth 2003-08 before shifting focus and operations to Utah in 2010; “Best of Cedar Hill” award 2008, 2009, U.S. Local Business Association
Bodwe Group: Seven Generations A+E and WBK Engineering, 2024-2025
Kalamazoo, MI
Project Architect
- concept Design & Floor Plan layouts for mixed-used housing/commercial projects
- concept program blocking layouts for mixed-used housing/commercial projects (executed using SketchUp)
- construction documents preparation, editing, and review (In Revit)
- co-manage design and consultant teams
- coordinated in-house and outside engineering disciplines for production of documents (using BlueBeam Revu)
- specifications writing, editing, and review; provided documents for Senior Project Architect/Specification Writer to compile
- reviewer for Quality Assessment and Quality Control of construction drawings
- Reviewer and approvals of Construction Submittals
- documentation and creation of record as-built drawings from contractor notes and submissions of changes
- Architect-of-Record for:
• USACE Fort Johnson (Louisiana) New Athletic Field and Concessions Building
• Elmhurst History Museum (Illinois) New Performance Space (bandshell & stage)
• Chi Ishobak (Michigan) Office Renovation & Alterations (2-story 1900-era building)
CRB Architects-Engineers PC, CRB Group, 2023
Kalamazoo, MI
Architect (mid-level)
- Architect-of-Record for Kalamazoo office (staff of 50+/-) of company
- project work included pharmaceutical manufacturing and laboratory spaces
- performed construction documentation in conformance to client site specific specifications and change control standards (using MicroStation and AutoCad)
- coordinated in-house and outside consultant engineering disciplines team for production of documents (using primarily BlueBeam Revu)
- reviewed and edited construction specifications sections (MasterSpec)
- client site visits for field measures and scope verification
- attended team meetings that included client project managers and client operations personnel, presented drawings and/or solution alternatives and reported status
- accompanied Business Development leader on sales trip to Ohio for potential new laboratory remodel project -- it resulted in 2 design/engineering contract awards
- Architect-of-Record for:
• Pfizer Pharmaceuticals (Michigan) B-149 Truck Unloading Deluge
Bios Construction, L.L.C., 2006–2010
St. Louis area, MO
Construction Advisor; President (founder, owner)
- directed all facets of operations: marketing, bookkeeping, client advising & vendor relations
- negotiated bids, scheduled/coordinated work; procured materials & building permits; conducted final inspections
- managed residential and commercial construction projects ranging in values from $25,000 to $300,000
Behrens Interiors & Construction, Inc., 1997–2003
Kirkwood, MO
Project Designer, Construction Advisor (full-time)
- prepared architectural designs/models, from concepts to construction documents; presented to clients for reviews
- managed field construction sites, negotiated contractor bids, established work scopes, coordinated schedules
- 50+ residential and specialty retail projects ranging in values $5,000 to $300,000
Rossetti & Associates, Inc., 1997
Birmingham, MI
Project Designer (loaned temporarily from DiClemente Siegel Design full-time)
- prepared construction documents for Bakersfield Arena
Gunnar Birkerts & Associates, Inc., 1996-1997
Birmingham, MI
DiClemente Siegel Design Inc.
Southfield, MI
[note: GBA merged with DSE to form DSD, January, 1997]
Project Designer/Director (full-time while attending graduate school full-time)
- prepared designs through construction documents for educational, institutional, ecclesiastical, and industrial buildings
- clients included: Michigan State Univ., Ferris State Univ., Michigan Technological Univ., Ford Motor Company, Dominos (world headquarters), Cross of Christ Church.
- AIA-Michigan “1996 Firm of the Year”; Ford Motor Company “Q1 Preferred” Firm
Kromm Rikimaru & Johansen, Inc., 1994-1997
St. Louis, MO
Intern Architect (full-time)
- prepared designs through construction documents for K-12 schools, higher educational, and institutional buildings, including hospitals (Jefferson Memorial Hospital), medical offices, and both elementary and high schools (mostly Francis Howell School District), Mineral Point Area College, Burgin Manor of Olney
Taliesin Architects, Ltd., 1994
Taliesin West, Scottsdale, AZ and Taliesin, Spring Green, WI
Apprentice Architect (as part of The Taliesin Fellowship and Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture M. Arch. program)
- prepared site analysis and concept design for new residential home, North Scottsdale, AZ
- prepared construction specifications for restoration of Hill Wing, Taliesin
- prepared site presentation model for Taliesin Visitor's Center master plan
Hospital Designers, Inc., HBE Corporation, 1991-1993
St. Louis, MO
Entry Level Architect (full-time)
- prepared construction documents for healthcare buildings and financial institutions, including hospitals, medical office building, multiple banks and credit unions, and a convention center hotel in Minneapolis, MN; projects included San Francisco Medical Center, Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center (Mattoon, IL), Beaumont Federal Credit Union (Texas), Los Angeles Federal Credit Union, Minneapolis Convention Center Hotel.
PARALLEL EXPERIENCE
ARUP Laboratories, Inc., 2010–2023 (full-time)
Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Processing Support Technician II/III
Processing Technician I/II/III
- receive & manifest specimens; review client requisitions, match patient data & prepare samples for laboratory testing
- observe strict patient confidentiality per HIPAA; conduct lab safety procedures; utilize several clinical lab softwares
- direct and guide workflow and assist in mentoring/problem resolution for pod teams of 6 technicians
Salt Lake City Public Library, 2013-2021 (part-time)
Salt Lake City, UT
Substitute Aide
- duties in circulation, including assisting patrons, sorting/shelving, processing holds
- though paid, this position was always personally considered as "community service" to the public
Salt Lake Community College, June - December, 2014 (stipend positions)
Salt Lake City, UT
Editor-in-Chief, The Globe newspaper
- directed and coordinated staff of 12 writers, media specialists, photographers for 50,000 circulation newspaper
Public Relations Specialist, Mass Communications Center
- attended college's executive board meetings, liasion between department heads and student leaders
Office of Energy Development, February - May, 2012 (paid internship)
State of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Renewable Energy Development Intern
- review and process State Renewable Energy Tax Credit applications for solar, wind, and geothermal energy systems
Chef’s Stop, LLC, 2009–2010 (part-time)
Festus, MO
Sales Associate
- high-end kitchen accessories and gourmet foods shop
MaraVilla World Furniture Importers (catalog company), 1997-2002 (part-time)
St. Louis, MO
Vice President: Director of Design
- directed all graphic design/production: print media, website copy, media relations; product photography
- assisted in trade show exhibit booth design, set-up and take-down, and staffing during shows; handled orders
- traveled to Central America for product selection, buying and vendor negotiations, logistics arrangements
Meridian Integrated Media, Ltd., 1992-1995 (volunteer internship)
St. Louis, MO
Design & Production Intern
- production in graphic design and print media, digital drawing, event filming (St. Louis Heritage Blues/Jazz Festival)
- exposure to detailed business management & marketing strategies, interactive media concepts and design
-Education and Academic Degrees
PHOTO: Michael in 1994 in Taliesin West Kitchen, Scottsdale, Arizona
(in reverse chronological order)
[in process] Certificate, Revit Architecture, 2025
Completing 10-module sequence in managing workflows in Revit from project initiation to final development
European School of Architecture, Madrid, Spain
[in process] Certificate, Artificial Intelligence in Architecture, 2025
Completing 10-module sequence using Midjourney, Dall·e, Photoshop, Adobe Firefly, Veras Ai and other latest applications to create, blend, control, and post-produce architectural designs and presentation renderings
European School of Architecture, Madrid, Spain
AI Artful Render Studio, 2025
Completed 5-week workshop with Jason Josselsohn -- a hybrid 3D modeling and 2D rendering utilizing Revit, SketchUp, PhotoShop, and AI platforms to produce presentation renderings
Concept Design Architects, Johannesburg, South Africa
AI Workshop, 2025
Completed 2 workshops co-hosted by Detroit Institute of Arts for "Designing with Intelligence: an AI Collection of Speculative Objects"
College of Architecture & Design
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI
SKP201 Certificate, 2025
Completed 2-course sequence in SketchUp Pro
Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI), San Diego, CA
BIM302 Certificate, 2024
Completed BIM Construction Documents II
Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI), San Diego, CA
BIM301 Certificate, 2022
Completed 3-course sequence that ended with Revit III Advanced
University of California - San Diego, and
Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI), San Diego, CA
CAD301 Certificate, 2022
Completed 3-course sequence that ended with AutoCAD III Working Drawings
University of California - San Diego, and
Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI), San Diego, CA
A.S. in Mass Communication (Journalism emphasis) (Honors), 2014
A.S. in Graphic Communications (Honors), 2014
A.S. in Electronic Publishing (Honors), 2014
Certificate of Completion (C.C.) in Mobile Publishing (Honors), 2015
Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, UT
- three primary programs concurrent
- averaged 18-24 credits per semester while employed full-time; 3.70 G.P.A.
- President's List, 4 semesters; Dean's List, 2 semesters
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
A.A.S. in Energy Management (Honors), 2012
Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, UT
- “Green Academy” degree & certificates for energy management and environmental/sustainability topics
- averaged 19-21 credits per semester while employed full-time; 3.65 G.P.A.
- President's List, Fall, 2011
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Certificate of Completion in Sustainability
Certificate of Completion Geographic Information Systems Technology
Certificate in Solar Photovoltaic Installation
Master of Architecture (with Distinction), 1998
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI
- 3.67 GPA cumulative while employed full-time; Dean’s Honor Roll 4 semesters
- 4.00 last 2 full-time semesters while commuting from and employed full-time in St. Louis
- Design Thesis: Bellefontaine Winery & Lodge, vineyards, arts/crafts studios, bed/breakfast on 200 acres in IL
Master of Science in Management, 1996
National-Louis University, Evanston, IL (via the St. Louis Academic Center)
- 3.86 GPA cumulative while employed full-time
The Taliesin Fellowship, 1994
Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, Taliesin and Taliesin West
- studies toward the Master of Architecture first professional degree program
- 1 of 5 accepted from 150+ applications worldwide in 1992; among only 1,500+ worldwide to attend between 1932-2020
- Apprentice Architect with Taliesin Architects, Ltd., successor full-service architectural firm of Frank Lloyd Wright
Bachelor of Arts, 1991
Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- Major: Architecture; Minor: Art History
- Approach architectural magazine production staff; Sigma Chi Fraternity
- The Olin Business Journal—The John M. Olin School of Business Newspaper
- AIESEC—St. Louis (International Association of Students in Economics & Business Management)
Volunteer and Academic Appointments
PHOTO: Michael in 2024 at Meyer May House, Grand Rapids, Michigan
(in reverse chronological order)
AIA Michigan Southwest Chapter, 2025-present
Southwest Michigan
Board of Directors and Communications Chair
Meyer May House, 2023-present
Grand Rapids, MI
Docent
- famous "Prairie period" house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1908-09
- owned and operated by SteelCase
Richland Township Planning Commission, 2023-present
Richland Township (Kalamazoo County), MI
Commissioner
- serve on 7-person board at monthly meetings for the 10,000-person township
Taliesin Fellows, Inc., 2009-2012
Scottsdale, AZ
Board of Directors; Managing Editor, Journal of the Taliesin Fellows
- author & copyedit articles; all photo/graphic design for full-color 40+ page publication; manage 10+ authors
Amici Dell’ Architettura Organica, 2007-2014
Cava de’ Tirreni, Italy
North American Correspondent
Friends of Kebyar, Inc., 2004-2014
Atlanta, GA
Board of Directors; Journal & Network News Editor
- authored, photo editing, and performed all graphic design for full-color 56-page Journal and quarterly newsletters
- researched articles for reprint, authored and/or copyedited submissions from contributors
Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park, 2004-2010
Kirkwood, MO
Docent
- conduct group tours; handle cash and shop transactions; open/close procedures; assisted in special event prep.
- recognized as a local leading ‘expert’ on the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Organic Design principles
Mission de Los Ninos, 1997-2003
St. Louis, MO
Vice President; Board of Directors; Director of Brochure Program
- established The Missive newsletter (design, editorial & production); handled press releases, media relations
- Project Designer for 17,000 s.f. PreSchool, Convent, and Health Clinic for Tipitapa, Nicaragua
Guest Design Critic, 2001
ARCH 311–Architectural Design (Tom Thomson)
School of Architecture, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Teaching Assistant, 1998
Collaborative Design Studio (Thomas Barrie)
College of Architecture & Design, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI
Honors and Awards
PHOTO: Michael in 2009 at Alden B.Dow Gardens in Midland, Michigan
Residential Architect Design Awards program entrant, 2004.
Metal Architecture Design Awards program entrant, 2003.
Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, 1998.
Taliesin Fellowship Certificate, 2007
“In appreciation of your contribution past present future, love of beauty, youth, creativity, courage, heart, humor, dedication, change, resilience.”
Yamasaki Scholarship, 1997-1998
College of Architecture & Design, Lawrence Technological University
- annual award from Minoru Yamasaki and Associates for outstanding academic and architectural achievement
First Place, AIA Certificate, 1993
Architectural Design & Planning Charrette for Valmeyer, IL
- national competition of 10 teams (incl. Harry Weese, HOK) for the redesign of flood-destroyed Valmeyer, IL
- published in Inland Architect and St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Second Place, 1993
Design Charrette for Reuse Plan of St. Louis Chain of Rocks Bridge
Honorable Mention, 1991
Sigma Chi Photo Contest
- “Service to Others” photo published in national The Magazine of Sigma Chi.
Distinguished Service Citation, 1990
Tau Tau Chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity
- For establishment of quarterly newsletter program and published submissions in national The Magazine of Sigma Chi.
Selected Publications and Media
PHOTO: Michael hosted two radio programs in 2014
"Inspiring Conversations with Michael Hawker..." VoyageMichigan (online magazine), July 23, 2025.
Hawker, Michael C., "Another Look at Volunteering," The Globe (print and online edition), August 21, 2014.
Hawker, Michael C., "'Mise en place' for future SLCC Culinary Institute," The Globe (print and online edition), August 6, 2014.
Hawker, Michael C. (Editor-in-Chief), The Globe (Issue No. 1, 2014), August 2, 2014.
Hawker, Michael C., "Salt Lake Community College closing Highland campus at the end of June," The Globe (print and online edition), April 2, 2014.
Hawker, Michael C., "Fast rising rock band visit Radio SLCC," The Globe (print and online edition), April 2, 2014.
Hawker, Michael C., "Architecture and Technology: GSBS Architects offer insights into CAM's design," The Globe (print and online edition), November 20, 2013.
Hawker, Michael C., "A CAM Caper: There's a mouse in the house (likely more than one)," The Globe (print and online edition), November 7, 2013.
Hawker, Michael C., "One Ingredient for Culinary Institute Success: Chef Marone," The Globe (print and online edition), August 17, 2013.
Hawker, Michael C., "Green Academy generates positive energy," The Globe (print and online edition), February 29, 2012.
Hawker, Michael C. (editor), Journal of the Taliesin Fellows Journal (No. 38), Winter, 2012.
Hawker, Michael C. (editor), Journal of the Taliesin Fellows Journal (No. 37), Summer, 2011.
Russell, Stefene, “A House, Ensouled,” At Home St. Louis Magazine, January-February, 2008.
Hawker, Michael C. (editor), “Celebrating the Life and Work of Nari Gandhi”, Friends of Kebyar, Journal (volume 23.1, No. 72), November, 2007.
Hawker, Michael, “Organic Architecture: The Other Modernism,” Book Review, The Free Radical, July-August, 2007.
Walker, Anthony, “Zoetic: The Architecture of Art and Life”, The Prow Express, February, 2007.
Russell, Stefene, “Modernizing the Modernist,” At Home St. Louis Magazine, January-February, 2007.
“A Garage for the 21st Century,” Architectural Insights, Weather Shield Manufacturing, Inc., [Issue No. 3, 2003] Fall, 2003.
Exhibition at the Missouri History Museum, “St. Louis Affordable Housing Design Competition,” entry for Beyond Housing, November, 2001.
“LTU Alumni Notes,” Lawrence Technological University Magazine, (Vol. XXIII, Number 1, p. 39) Spring, 2001.
Spiegel, Robert, “New Catalogs: MaraVilla,” Catalog Age, (Vol. 16, No. 7) June, 1999.
Volland, Victor, “Dream of Building Center in Nicaragua Draws Closer,” The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, (Vol. 120, No. 328, Section W-2) November 25, 1998.
Murphy, Kevin, “Three Days of Hell: Kirkwood couple visited Nicaragua just days after Hurricane Mitch struck,” The Webster-Kirkwood Times, (Vol. 21, No. 20, p. 5) November 20–26, 1998.
Murphy, Kevin, “Plans Underway to Construct Pre-School, Convent in Tipitapa,” The Webster-Kirkwood Times, (Vol. 21, No. 20, p. 5) November 20–26, 1998.
“Mission of Hope,” Leisa Zigman (corr.), KSDK Channel 5 News, St. Louis, Missouri, November 12–13, 1998.
“Sunflower Seeds,” MaraVilla, Behrens, Inc., d/b/a MaraVilla World Furniture Importers, Inc., Holiday 1998.
“Understanding Demographics—A Vital Part of Identifying Housing Needs,” The Orchard Lake Community Project, Thomas Barrie (ed.), Palimpset Press, 1998.
Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, 1998
“Class Notes,” Architecture News, Washington University School of Architecture, St. Louis, Missouri, 1995.
Carlson, Victoria, “Talk of the Town: Dialogue and Design at the Valmeyer Charrette,” Inland Architect, Spring, 1994.
Brown, Susan K., “Valmeyer Designs Its Destiny,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, (Vol. 115, No. 319, Section A-1) November 15, 1993.
“New Valmeyer,” Leisa Zigman (corr.), KSDK Channel 5 News, St. Louis, Missouri, November 13-14, 1993.
“Service to Others” (photograph), The Magazine of Sigma Chi (vol. 110, no. 3), Fall, 1991.
“Sigma Chi Proudly Serves...” (photograph featuring President George Bush during 1989 speech), The Magazine of Sigma Chi (vol. 110, no. 2), Summer, 1991 [also published in vol. 108, no. 2 issue, Summer, 1989].
Hawker, Michael, “To Tipple or Not to Tipple?”, The Magazine of Sigma Chi (vol. 109, no. 4), Winter, 1990.
Hawker, Michael, “Entering the 1990’s...”, The Magazine of Sigma Chi (vol. 109, no. 3), Fall, 1990.
Hawker, Michael, “College is a time...”, The Magazine of Sigma Chi (vol. 109, no. 1), Spring, 1990.
Mr. Hawker was both Editor-in-Chief and a regular Contributing Writer. Several of his articles, prior to being Editor, appeared on the front page of the paper. This one, in particular, was a hot topic.