Academics / School of Architecture / Students / Michael Bowen

Michael Bowen

Michael Bowen
    • Michael Bowen
    • Master of Architecture
    • Class
    • 2012
    • Hometown
    • Born in Yuba City, CA; has lived all over the world
    • Extracurricular:
    • Info:

    • "I have always been in construction and on the fringe of architecture and really just got tired of wishing that I would have pursued a degree in architecture. Finally, in 2006, I got tired of this "dream" bugging me and made the decision that I was not going to take this regret to my grave. So, I applied to UNC Charlotte and to the School of Architecture and got accepted. In the fall of 2007 I started at level zero and haven't looked back."


      Michael Bowen had already lived a pretty full life before he ever came to UNC Charlotte to pursue an architecture degree. His father was in the Air Force, so he traveled the world as a child, landing in Grand Rapids, MI in his youth to study and begin a career. Accumulating years of experience in project management, sales, carpentry, and building, Michael decided at age 40 to follow his dream to become an architect. With the support of his wife, Shannon, and their two daughters, Michael will graduate in May 2012 with his master's degree.


      Michael's primary focus is in smaller, sustainable residential design, and he has a particular interest in the exploration of Critical Regionalism (his thesis topic). He attended the two-week architecture program Ghost12 in Nova Scotia in the summer of 2010 and the Glenn Murcutt Master Class in Australia in the summer of 2011, along with additional time there for the 2011 UNCC/AIA Charlotte Traveling Fellowship researching and studying regional architecture.


      Michael is also interested in teaching architecture on the university level. For now, "what I can give ... has been to be available and offer my experience and advice to my classmates, to be an encourager and someone who goes out of his way to help others, especially underclassmen."