If you’ve spent much time at all around the UBC Alma Mater Society (AMS) office – or any of the student spaces, for that matter – chances are you’ve crossed paths with Michael (whether or not you realize it).
For the past 40 years (42 years, to be precise), Michael has worked to reshape not only the buildings – but also the UBC community – one conversation and project at a time.
Four decades in, and Michael has produced a remarkable legacy of not just new and renovated spaces – but also scores of students and colleagues who consider him to be a beloved and caring mentor who is deeply committed to the idea that universities should help people grow and thrive.
When you ask Michael what has kept him at the AMS all these many years, his answer is simple: “It’s the students that make me stay. They keep me young.”
For Michael, the AMS and UBC student environment is so much more than just a workplace – it’s a living, evolving community – one that challenges him to stay open, curious and hopeful about the future. Not to mention, the work and the students – which compel him to… well, stay.
Always a Creative Spirit
For those who don’t know, Michael’s journey to the AMS began long before his first campus project.
Born in Toronto, he spent part of his early childhood living in British Guyana before later moving to Montreal and eventually Vancouver – experiences that brought him closer to different cultures, environments and ways of seeing the world.
Creativity has also been key for Michael from very early on, encouraged and influenced by his artistic mother – which developed into a lifelong passion for painting and the visual arts.
Though he is modest about it, Michael’s artistic work has included multiple exhibitions and sales to collectors – a creative life that has very much accompanied and complemented his professional one.
In early adulthood, these same creative inclinations led him to Victoria, where he helped develop a licensed independent arts school. In his role as assistant director, he managed programming that ranged from studio painting and photography to dance. In conversations with Michael, he reflects on this as one of the most formative and adventurous chapters of his life.
Eventually, he did return to Vancouver to complete his degree that involved art, engineering, architectural history and finance – a blend that perfectly captures how he understands (and has chosen to understand) the world around us. And this is why, for Michael, architecture has never been just about design.
Rather, he says, “It’s an art, a science and a people skill. It’s really important to understand how spaces will actually be used, and how people experience them.”
One Project That Became a Career
Michael joined the AMS in the early 1980s for what was to be a single assignment: evaluating the potential for an underused area under the Student Union Building plaza – now known for its pyramidal skylights.
That one project became another. And yet another.
Over time, Michael has become one of the people who subtly shapes how student spaces function across campus – from retail spaces to student services, gathering areas, infrastructure and other initiatives.
Someone arrives with a problem: A program needs space or a facility needs to evolve. And Michael? His job is to reflect on the best and most reasonable way to make this a possibility… and then deliver.
“I’ve often been approached to find a solution to something,” he says, reflecting on his decades of experience and impact behind the scenes.
Through years of managing upgrades, renovations, relocations and long-range planning, Michael has worked to ensure that AMS facilities continually adapt and meet ever-evolving student needs.
“Students change, needs change – you have to constantly evolve and grow,” he adds. This philosophy, as it turns out, is one he applies not only to buildings – but also to himself.
Already a Legacy
Though Michael’s physical contributions to campus are unquestionably substantial, one thing that becomes clear in most any meaningful conversation with Michael is his care and support for students.
Throughout his time at AMS, Michael has worked closely with student employees and work-learn participants – helping them to build skills, gain experience and connect with future opportunities wherever possible.
As testament to this support, many students still reach out years later simply to say hello and check in – which speaks to his impact and care.
“One of the greatest things is to help somebody,” Michael explains. “Even in small ways, it feels good knowing you’ve made a difference.”
Helping students thrive, he adds, has always been the real purpose of his work. “There’s an opportunity here – directly or indirectly – to help students grow. And it’s nice having a place where you feel you can help someone when they walk through the door.”
A Community Providing Hope for the Future
For Michael, it seems that one of the greatest gifts of working at the AMS is the constant renewal that comes with a new academic year – and with it new and inspiring students who bring with them new hopes and perspectives as well as new ideas about what makes a community.
Rather than resist these changes, Michael welcomes them. The result is a career that never feels stagnant or still, adding: “It’s invigorating to be here in terms of ideas and ideologies.”
And while some colleagues joke about how Michael practically lives at work – to many, this is just another reflection of his long hours and dedication to both the organization and care for students.
Building Spaces & Places
There is no doubt that in a career spanning more than four decades, Michael could easily point to a long list of projects that have charted his time at AMS. Instead, though, he talks of the students. About staying open and curious and hopeful. And about the energy that comes with each new September.
For Michael, it seems the measure of a successful life goes beyond the bricks and mortar. Rather, it’s about the care and support of people, of students and of finding new and better ways to create spaces where people can evolve, grow, thrive – and find a home away from home.
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