Design Project
Resume:
Will Wittig, AIA, LEED r AP
Dean & Professor
University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture
Ferndale, MI 48220
abo125@r.postjobfree.com
education: Cranbrook Academy of Art Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Master of Architecture, May 1996
The Architecture Department grants a post-professional Master of Architecture
degree based on a two year, self-directed thesis project. The studio, under
the direction of Dan Hoffman, consisted of approximately eight students in
each year. The first term was spent on several open-ended assignments,
leaving three terms for the development of the thesis. Graduation
requirements included a written thesis and a gallery show of the thesis design
work.
University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas
Bachelor of Architecture, May 1989
The College of Architecture and Urban Planning grants a five year accredited
professional Bachelor of Architecture degree. Studies at the University
included a full year of liberal arts courses prior to entering the College of
Architecture, and a study abroad program in Spannochia, Italy.
academic & administrative experience:
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, Michigan
Dean, May 2011-present
Director of Architecture, 2009-2011, Director of Masters Program, 2008-2009,
Founding Co-Director, Master of Community Development Program 2005-2009,
Assistant Professor, 2001 2006, Adjunct Professor, 2000 2001
The school of architecture includes the core professional architecture
program, which leads to a 5-year professional accredited Master of
Architecture Degree with an option to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in
Architecture. At the undergraduate level the SOA also offers a Digital Media
Studies program and works collaboratively with the College of Engineering
and Science to offer an Architectural Engineering program. At the Masters
level the School also offers a Master s of Community Development. In
addition, the School is home to the Detroit Collaborative Design Center. The
DCDC is a full service architectural practice providing design, planning, and
community engagement services to the non-profit community, primarily in the
metropolitan Detroit area.
The dean is responsible for the oversight of all academic programs and the
Detroit Collaborative Design Center. Duties include management of all full
and part time faculty and staff, budget management, and collaboration with
all stakeholder groups including alumni, prospective students, the greater
University, etc. The dean is also actively involved with academic issues such
as curriculum and faculty development and strategic planning. All deans at
the University are also part of the University s Academic Leadership Team, led
by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Courses Taught at UDM
Masters Thesis Studio I & II (ARCH 5100, 5110, 5200, 5210)
The thesis studio is a two-term sequence that also includes a concurrent thesis
support course that is integrated into the studio (8 credit hours total per term). In
the fall term students develop their own thesis position and project parameters
and begin the design process. In the winter term they continue to develop the
project into design development and complete a comprehensive thesis book.
Vertical Studio (ARCH 2100, 2200, 2300)
The vertical studio combines third and fourth year students who are given the
opportunity to choose a studio based on the proposed project. Several vertical
studios have been offered, many of which have included involvement with local
community groups.
Ecological Design (ARCH 2140)
A required lecture course dealing with a broad range of issues related to
sustainable building and site design. The course has been taught at the fourth
year level but has recently been relocated to the second year.
Advanced 3-D Design (ARCH 5610)
A master s level elective seminar/studio course dealing with material explorations.
Students work to explore material possibilities, which are then, translated into
functional objects, installations, and design/build initiatives.
Urban Analysis (ARCH 3270)
An undergraduate seminar/studio course dealing with field analysis of Italian cities,
which was offered in conjunction with a study abroad program in Volterra, Italy in
2007.
Introduction to Architecture (ARCH 1190 & ARCH 1290)
This course serves as a general introduction to architectural thinking for first year
students in the architecture program. Major topics of the course center around
primary influences on design such as site, culture, form, and technology.
It also includes an introduction to topics related to the profession. Approximately
half of the lectures are given by guest speakers.
Introduction to Physical Development (MCD 5060)
This master s level seminar is a part of the core required curriculum for the Masters
of Community Development program. The course covers a range of issues from
historic urban patterns, to contemporary development theories and real estate
development.
Masters of Community Development Capstone Prep. (MCD 5900)
An informal research seminar that prepares students to complete their
collaborative capstone projects in the subsequent term. Also served as an
informal advisor for five capstone projects.
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan
Oberdick Fellow & Visiting Assistant Professor of Architecture, Taubman
College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Fall 1997 - Winter 1998,
Adjunct
Professor, Fall 1998
Will Wittig, C.V. - Page 2 of 9
A full time fellowship position during the 97-98 academic year. During both
terms teaching responsibilities included a studio course. During the fall term, as
part of the Fellowship requirements, a building technology research project
was completed that focused on the production of translucent concrete.
The spring term included teaching a construction drawing studio (in
conjunction with a required building technology course). Duties also included
serving as an instructor for independent study courses for several students, and
as an adviser on three graduate thesis committees. The fall term of 1998 was
an adjunct appointment teaching an undergraduate studio and included
continued participation on thesis committees.
registration: State of New York, Architecture License, 1993
United States Green Building Council, LEEDr AP,
2009
professional experience:
Crossings Architecture, Inc. Ferndale, Michigan
Founding Partner, 19952003
The practice focused on two areas of service. The firm completed projects for
several non-profit and institutional clients including Covenant House Michigan,
Vistas Nuevas / Head Start, Sts. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, The Eastside
Cowboys Athletic Association, the University of Detroit Mercy, and the
Cranbrook Educational Community. The firm also completed a number of
residential addition and renovation projects that were often pursued as
design-build projects. These projects typically included custom fabrications
completed by Crossings as well as general construction services.
Peix and Crawford, Architecture New York, New York 1992 - 1994
Project architect responsible for all aspects of work from initial client contact
through completion of construction administration. Projects included:
Warner + Ladd Residence New York, New York
Fine Residence Hewlett, New York
RDA International Offices New York, New York
PeterMarino + Associates New York, New York 1989 - 1992
Architect responsible for design and construction documents and
coordination with consultants. Projects included:
Seymour Walk Antiquities Museum London, England
Palazzo Sernagiotto Venice, Italy
Calvin Klein Stores Boston, Chicago, New York
John Victor Frega & Associates Chicago, Illinois 1988
Undergraduate intern responsible for preparation of construction documents.
W.A.C. Construction Olathe, Kansas 1986
Carpenter working on a framing crew during the construction of four homes.
Lund + Balderson Overland Park, Kansas 1985Intern responsible for drafting of working drawings and model building.
Will Wittig, C.V. - Page 3 of 9
exhibitions: Detroit Artist Market 2011 Design Show
Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, MI. January-February 2011.
Bath vanity cabinet featured in a group show of designs for bathroom fixtures.
Detroit Artist Market 2010 Design Show
Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, MI. January-February 2010.
Full-scale thermal bottle wall installation featured in a group show of designs
dealing with light.
Condition 13
University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI. March, 2008.
Coordinator for the team room including sole responsibility for an exhibition
of student work from 2002-2008 in support of the N.A.A.B. accreditation
process. The exhibition resulted in 100% of the 34 student performance criteria
being met with several being well met.
Faculty Show
University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI. March, 2008.
A summary of design work included in the N.A.A.B. accreditation visit faculty
show.
Figura Sfondo
Pinocotteca, Volterra, Italy. June 2007
University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit MI. September 2007
Exhibition of student work done during a six week study abroad program in
Volterra including design sketches, urban analysis drawings, and alabaster
sculpture.
Urban Alchemy: Artifacts Transformation.
Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit, MI. May-June 2007
4 student constructions from AR 561, Advanced 3-D design were selected for a
juried show featuring the use of recycled materials.
Betons: Etonnez-Vous ( Concrete: You Astonish )
Le Musee des Arts et Metiers, Paris, France. June November 2006
Translucent concrete panels included in a show surveying the use of concrete
in architectural design.
Urban Alchemy:
Artifacts Transformation.
555 Gallery, Detroit, MI. June 20062 pieces were featured: Quilted Space: 4429 Avery Street is a student project
for a new house built with salvaged materials that was proposed for the
Woodbridge neighborhood in Detroit. Plank House: A full scale construction
done in collaboration with the Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit
demonstrating a possible house construction technique.
"Found: Hidden Treasures from Detroit and its Suburbs."
Focus: Hope Community Arts Department, Detroit, MI. October November,
2005. A full scale construction done in collaboration with the Architectural
Salvage Warehouse of Detroit included in a small group show.
Will Wittig, C.V. - Page 4 of 9
Living Light on the Land: Prototypes for Sustainable Architecture and Design
Cranbrook Art Museum Bloomfield Hills, Michigan June September 2005
Several full scale constructions illustrating innovative sustainable construction
techniques included in a small group show.
Liquid Stone: New Architecture in Concrete
National Building Museum Washington, DC June 2004January 2006
Translucent concrete panels included in the Future of Concrete section of a
broad survey of the use of concrete in architectural design.
Critical Mass
Museum for New Art Detroit, Michigan December, 2002
Student work from Down to Earth community development studio included
in a group show focusing on innovative architectural proposals for Detroit.
Faculty Show
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI February, 2002
Material studies included in N.A.A.B. accreditation visit faculty show.
Artist s Take on Detroit: Projects for the Tri-Centennial
Detroit Institute of Art Detroit, Michigan 2001
Student work from Maternity House community development studio was
included with other community development projects in association with
Deborah Grotfeldt of Project Rowhouses in this show that the DIA featured to
align with Detroit s Tricentennial.
Incomplete Notebooks
Network Gallery Pontiac, Michigan 1999
Installation of custom furniture and building fragment prototypes by Crossings
Architecture, Inc. that transformed the gallery into a pseudo loft apartment.
Fellows Show
University of Michigan Architecture Gallery Ann Arbor, Michigan 1998
Inside the Apple House project exhibited in a three person show reviewing
results of fellowship research projects.
Degree Show
Cranbrook Art Museum Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 1996
Full class thesis/degree show.
Vermeer White-Out
Cranbrook Academy of Art Forum Gallery Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 1995
Group show focusing on speculative transformations of several Vermeer
paintings.
N.A.A.B. Accreditation Exhibit
University of Kansas College of Architecture Gallery Lawrence, Kansas 1989
Two student projects were featured in a gallery exhibition illustrating student
performance in conjunction with N.A.A.B. accreditation review.
Will Wittig, C.V. - Page 5 of 9
lectures & publications; peer reviewed:
Ponce de Leon, Monica, ed. Fellowships in Architecture. Pt. Reyes Station, CA;
ORO Editions, 2009. Crossings World Headquarters and Homespun
Exhibition, are included in this compilation published to celebrate the 25th
year of the University of Michigan Taubman College Fellowships in
Architecture Program. (Text provided by Wittig.)
Wittig, Will. Filling the Void: Detroit Open Source. The Plan: Urban
Development, No. 047, December 2010/January 2011. Page 122-127.
Discussion of alternative models of urban development as part of a suite of
articles on Detroit.
Wittig, Will. An 8 Step Recovery Program for Shrinkage. REbuilding.
Goodwin, Bruce and Judith Kinnard, ed. Washington, D.C.: Association of
Collegiate Schools of Architecture. March 2010. (Paper also presented at
A.C.S.A. 2010 Annual Meeting.)
Wittig, Will. Place Making Making Place. University of Kansas, Lawrence,
Kansas, March 2010. Invited individual guest lecture dealing with work in
urban design, ecological design, and material research.
Wittig, Will. Reinventing Marginalized Spaces: Thesis Proposal by Carl Bolofer
Seeking the City: Visionaries on the Margins. Association of Collegiate
Schools of Architecture Annual Meeting. March 2008. (Poster summarizing
Carl Bolofer s design project was presented.)
Wittig, Will. Sketching with Stones. In.Form Volume 7. Swoboda, Katie and
Peter Bissen, Ed. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Architecture.
2007.
Wittig, Will and Dan Pitera. Wittig, Will and Dan Pitera. Ecological Design in
Practice and Education. Midwestern Green Building Conference, April,
2007. Invited guest speakers.
Wittig, Will and Dan Pitera. Quilted Space: 4429 Avery. A.C.S.A. Central
Regional Conference. October 2006.
Wittig, Will. Homespun: A Full Scale Sketch. Getting Real: Design Ethos Now.
Cheng, Renee and Patrick J. Trapani, Ed. Washington, D.C.: Association of
Collegiate Schools of Architecture. March 2006. (Paper also presented at
A.C.S.A. 2006 Annual Meeting.)
Wittig, Will. Analogue Aggregation. A.C.S.A. Southwest and Central
Regional Conferences. October 2005.
Wittig, Will. Making Architecture. Ryerson University Toronto, Ontario,
March 2005. Invited individual guest lecture dealing with work in
design/build and ecological design education.
Wittig, Will. The Art of Ecological Design. The Art of Architecture, the Science
of Architecture. Hejduk, Renata and Harry Van Oudenallen, ed.
Washington, D.C.: Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.
March 2005. (Paper also presented at A.C.S.A. 2005 Annual Meeting.)
Will Wittig, C.V. - Page 6 of 9
Wittig, Will. "Introduction to Ecological Design." Invited guest speaker at the
Michigan Interfaith Power and Light Conference, Detroit, MI, November
2005. Invited guest speaker.
Wittig, Will. [Re] Making Place. A.C.S.A. Northwest Regional Conference:
Other Shades of Green. October 2004.
Wittig, Will. Inside the Apple House. Dimensions Volume 12 edited by
Clauset, Caleb and Carla Swickerath. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan
College of Architecture and Urban Planning, 1998. Pg. 36-41.
academic references:
Bonnemaison, Sarah, Ronit Eisenbach, Robert Gonzalez. 2006. Introduction:
Installations by Architects. Journal of Architectural Education 59 (4): 3-11.
Wall fragment studies discussed in the introduction to a special issue
dedicated to installation work.
Cohen, Jean-Louis & Martin Moeller, Jr. Liquid Stone: New Architecture in
Concrete. New York; Princeton Architectural Press, 2006. Translucent
concrete study included in The Future of Concrete chapter.
Coolman, Alex. Meals on Wheels. Dwell Magazine. v.3, no. 3. Jan./Feb.,
2003, p. 28. Review of folding table design-build project by Crossings
Architecture, Inc. done in collaboration with Theodore Galante.
Lerner, Kevin. Young Architects Join the Fold. Architectural Record. v. 189,
no.9. Sept, 2001, p.59. Review of folding table design-build project by
Crossings Architecture, Inc. done in collaboration with Theodore Galante.
McIntosh, Doug. Young Architects / Planners and their Clients. Museum of
African American History Detroit, Michigan, 1999. A.I.A. Regional and
Urban Design Committee Forum. Presentation of the work of several young
Detroit architecture firms including Crossings Architecture.
non-academic references:
Goho, Alexandra. Concrete Nation. Science News. 1 January, 2005. pg. 7.
Review of current technological advances in the design and use of
concrete.
Green, Roger. Earth to Builders: Recycle!.. Ann Arbor News. 9 June, 2005.
Review of Living Light on the Land exhibition.
Hackney, Suzette. Building Hope, Piece by Piece. Detroit Free Press. 1 May,
2006. Feature story on the Quilted Space studio house design.
Hartman, Carl. Liquid Stone: Translucent Concrete Lets the Light Shine
Through. Associated Press. 20 July, 2005. Review of Liquid Stone
exhibition at the National Building Museum published in more than 50
newspapers throughout the U.S.
Will Wittig, C.V. - Page 7 of 9
Hendrickson, Tom. Detroit Artist Market Design Show 2010. Model D Media
Video feature article reviewing exhibition of the same name, 18 January,
2010.
Mannisto, Glen. Homes that Heal: Architecture and Design Embrace Wind,
Water and Waste at Cranbrook. Metro Times. 6-12 July, 2005. pg. 20.
Review of Living Light on the Land exhibition.
Sanchez, Brenna. Detroit s Next Hour Detroit. July, 1999. pg. 68.
Crossings Architecture firm profile.
activities: American Institute of Architects
Member, Detroit Chapter, Ongoing since 2009
AIA Michigan Board of Directors
Education Representative, 2012
Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit Detroit, Michigan
Advisory Board Member for a local Non-Profit organization that deconstructs
and recycles buildings throughout metropolitan Detroit.
Detroit Collaborative Design Center Detroit, Michigan
Faculty Advisor and periodic consultant for the University s non-profit design
center, 2001-2010. Projects include University of Detroit Mercy master
planning, a proposed student housing development, and a
sustainable/affordable prototype house design.
Michigan Association of Planning Ann Arbor, Michigan
Member, 2007-2008
St. John s Episcopal Church Royal Oak, Michigan
Sanctuary Renovation Committee, 2011
Lay Eucharistic Minister, ongoing
Chancel Choir, Soloist, ongoing
Music Librarian, 2005-2011
South Oakland Shelter Volunteer, annually
Sanctuary Lighting Committee, 2003
Junior Warden, 2000, 2001
Vestry Member, 1999 - 2001
Compensation Committee, 2001 - 2003
Maintenance Committee Member, 1997 2003, Chairperson, 1998
Capital Campaign leadership 1999 - 2000
Sustainable Detroit, Detroit, Michigan
A regional grass roots community organization originally formed under the
name Adamah which was inspired by a previous design studio at the
University of Detroit Mercy. Participated in a variety of community events 2001
- 2003.
Will Wittig, C.V. - Page 8 of 9
United States Green Building Council
Member, Detroit Chapter, Ongoing (as WARM Board Member)
W.A.R.M. Training Center Detroit, Michigan
Board of Directors Member (+ Finance Committee, Building Committee, Board
of Directors Membership & Elections Committee) for a local non-profit
organization, with over $ 2 million in gross contract revenues, dedicated to
energy conservation, green building, and public education.
academic honors: University of Detroit Mercy
Full Professor, May 2011
Associate Professor with Tenure, April 2006
Instructional Design Studio Honor Roll, 2004
University of Michigan
Willard A. Oberdick Fellow, 1997-1998
University of Kansas
Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society, 1989
Ewart Traveling Scholarship, 1987
Dean s List: Fall 1983, Spring 1985, Fall 1987
Beta Theta Pi Academic Scholarship, 1984, 1985
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