Michael Chavez

Michael is an architect who considers architecture his tool for social activism. His path to design started in the nonprofit sector, working with youth in underserved communities in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Seeing the numerous challenges these communities faced, he chose to pursue architecture as a career to address those issues through better design and community engagement.

Michael’s design career has spanned a range of building typologies, climate zones, cultural regions, and more. Examples include affordable housing, transit-oriented design, daycare centers and community spaces, adaptive re-use, community resiliency hubs, and working in both urban and rural settings. His entrepreneurial spirit propelled him to co-found Social Impact Collective, a Boston-based design firm that expanded his network across the country. He brings many of those projects, collaborations, and clients with him.

Michael’s design philosophy centers on a hands-on and engaging approach with the client and community to ensure every voice is heard. He believes in understanding the history behind the cultures, buildings, and landscapes he works in to make certain the final design is as holistic and place based as possible.