He has been in private practice in Boston since 1981 and prior to that in Ithaca, New York from 1970. His experience extends over 30 years and includes projects of various types and scales. The firm’s work has been exhibited and published nationally and internationally. Much of the firm’s recent work is institutional, beginning with the Art Museum for the University of California at Santa Barbara, which received First Prize in a national design competition in 1983. Recently completed are the Science/Technology Building at Syracuse University and the first buildings in the extensive plan for Carnegie Mellon University. The Carnegie Mellon Campus Design won first prize in a major design competition and received a 1988 Progressive Architecture Urban Design Citation as well as a 1990 AIA award. The firm’s Precinct Plan for the University of Southern California in Los Angeles won a 1993 Progressive Architecture Urban Design Citation. Dennis has also lectured widely and is the author of Court and Garden: From the French Hotel to the City of Modern Architecture, 1986. Dennis has also been actively involved in research concerning campus design and planning. He has used the design studio to explore such issues as the possibility of buildings having their own independent identity, but also relating to the continuity of the place and being a part of the campus fabric. Over the last few years, work at Arizona State University, Syracuse, University of Virginia, the University of Southern California, and Carnegie Mellon University has provided the opportunity for such exploration.

Michael Dennis's picture
background
Education
1959
University of Texas
1962
Bachelor of Architecture, University of Oregon
Academic Experience
1992-present
Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1988
Eero Saarinen Professor of Architecture, Yale University
1986
Thos. Jefferson Professor of Architecture, University of Virginia
Professional Experience
1981-present
Michael Dennis Associates, Boston
1970-81
Michael Dennis, Ithaca
awards
1996
Boston AIA Design Award
1993
Progressive Architecture Urban Design Citation
1990
AIA Honor Award Boston AIA Design Award Progressive Architecture Urban Design Award
1988
Progressive Architecture Urban Design Citation
1984
The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts Grant
1982
Harvard University Research Grant
1973
Cornell University Research Grant
1962
Ion Lewis Traveling Fellowship