Michael Davis
Michael Davis
AIA
Education
Bachelor of Architecture, 2008
University of Tennessee
Organizations
American Institute of Architects
Michael joined the team at Marlon Blackwell Architects in June 2022 after practicing in Knoxville, Tennessee for almost fourteen years. During his time in Knoxville Michael worked for Sanders Pace Architecture where he led the design of a wide range of project types, from single-family homes to complex adaptive reuse development projects. Michael was the lead designer on many of the firm’s award-winning projects, including the Loghaven Artist Residency, which received an AIA National Architecture Award in 2021. In total, his work at Sanders Pace Architecture was recognized with over 30 awards for design excellence at the local, regional, and national levels.
Michael is committed to developing thoughtful and engaging designs that respond to both the programmatic needs of the client and the surrounding context of the given project. Central to his design approach a sensitivity to place. Michael’s interest in place began in college at the University of Tennessee, culminating in self-directed research focused on strategies for adapting obsolete sites. This interest was further informed by the numerous adaptive reuse and rehabilitation projects that Michael worked on early in his career. He is dedicated to making architecture that responds to the histories, traditions, and contexts of the places in which he works. Informed by a research-driven approach that critically investigates these conditions, Michael leverages these factors to develop innovative and inspiring design solutions that are rooted in an understanding of place.
In addition to practice, Michael has been an adjunct lecturer at the University of Tennessee. His most recent studio was focused on a series of projects located within Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, allowing the students to draw inspiration from the various networks and landscapes that exist in this area. He has been a visiting critic at the University of Memphis, the University of Tennessee, Clemson University, and Kansas State University. Michael is also an active member in the American Institute of Architects. He has served on the Board of Directors of AIA East Tennessee and AIA Tennessee, and has been involved in numerous committees at the local and state level. In 2021 he served as the President of AIA East Tennessee.
In 2021 he was a recipient of the AIA Young Architects Award, which honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their careers. He is a registered architect in the state of Tennessee.
Contact:
michael@marlonblackwell.com
