Archinect
Michael Wacht

Michael Wacht

Los Angeles, CA, US

 

About 

Company: https://intuarch.com/

Architecture License – California, New York

LEED Certified (GA) 

Employment 

IntuArch, Los Angeles, CA, US, Principal

Architecture from the Occupant Perspective

Our company name is short for “Intuitive Architecture,” stemming from our consistent belief that users of a building have intuitive perceptions of space. We can design our buildings to be more successful by understanding the true nature of how users would interpret our buildings. We utilize design strategies that encourage and respond to how occupants perceive their spatial environment, bringing added value to users, clients, and all project stakeholders. Successful architecture creates spaces of comfort, delight, enjoyment, and movement.

We believe that design must constantly be evaluated for effectiveness. Besides occupant motivation analysis, our designs are produced by determining the most important goals of a project in reference to context, economics, program, circulation, and the environment. Our clients are presented with clear reasons and options of how we can create a successful building together, sharing applicable data, logic, and diagrams, to facilitate the design process.

Jul 2014 - current
 

John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects (JFAK), Los Angeles, CA, US, Project Architect

Projects included work for: UCSB, Academia Moderna Charter School, Chino Hills Crossroads Shopping Center, Occidental College, several multi-family projects, Icon Venue Group (AEG), Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative, and The Taubman Company.

Nov 2012 - May 2014
 

MADA s.p.a.m., Los Angeles, CA, US, + Shanghai, CN, Senior Architectural Designer + Project Manager

Internationally recognized architecture and planning firm led by Qingyun Ma, Dean of USC School of Architecture

[ Lead design teams for conceptual design phase of projects ranging in scale from 7,000 m2 to 7 km2, Lead presenter, Marketing Portfolio Management, Client meetings, Coordinate overseas offices ]

[1] Shanghai Disneyland Metro Station - Walt Disney Imagineering - Conceptual + SD March 2010 to Oct. 2010. Ground level concourse design for four track underground metro station at new theme park. Design to accommodate 50,000 people per day. Concourse size 7,522 m2

[2] Xujiahui Air Promenade - Xuhui District Government - Conceptual Design June 2010 to May 2011. Elevated public plaza and gardens over existing road network to create a dynamic link between commercial centers, isolated sidewalks, and three line underground metro station. 22,847 m2

[3] Ziwei International Community - Ziwei Property Group - Competition Design April 2010 to June 2010 Resort community including: four densified urban centers, 2 golf courses, villa communities, university, medical center, recreational facilities. Land Area 10,658,139 m2; Gross Built Area 13,072,116 m2

[4] Lintong Spa Hotel - Lintong People’s Government - Conceptual Design February 2010 to June 2010 New 400 key hotel, restaurants, and spa facility in three pyramidal buildings on expansive landscaped property

Feb 2010 - Sep 2011
 

SBJ Group, New York, NY, US, Project Manager

Commercial architecture firm specializing in high rise hotel and residential design and construction

[ Schematic design, design development, project management, construction administration, subcontractor coordination, shop drawings, client correspondence, consultant coordination, LEED certification process, code and zoning compliance, affordable housing components, contract negotiations, Landmarks Preservation Commission review, historic preservation, extensive site surveys, marketing and realtor coordination ]

[1] 34th Street Hotel, New York - BFC Partners - Design Fall 2007 to Spring 2008 - unrealized. New 300 key hotel tower utilizing renovated brownstone homes for support services, restaurant, spa, rooftop pool, and rooftop bar, 186,481 ft2 / 17,325 m2

[2] The Puck Building, SoHo, New York - Kushner Companies - Design Spring 2007 to Winter 2008 - unrealized. Renovation and adaptive reuse of an historic landmark building. 147,994 ft2 / 13,749 m2Program areas explored include: hotel, lounge, rooftop club, office space, restaurants, and banquet facility.

[3] 189 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn - SDS Procida - Construction completed Fall 2008. New high rise condominium with 246 apartments in two towers (25 stories and 5 stories), ground floor retail, lounge facilities

[4] The Puck Building, SoHo, New York - Kushner Companies - Design Spring 2007 to Winter 2008 - unrealized. Renovation and adaptive reuse of an historic landmark building. 147,994 ft2 / 13,749 m2Program areas explored include: hotel, lounge, rooftop club, office space, restaurants, and banquet facility.

Jun 2005 - May 2008
 

B Five Studio, New York, NY, US, Architectural Intern

Contemporary high-end residential architecture firm with projects in Manhattan, The Hamptons, and Westchester County

[ Design and drafting of construction documents, millwork, details, custom furniture; Communicate with contractors, clients, consulting engineers; Manage and edit image library (digital and film); Prepare presentation drawings for clients and Landmarks Board; Edit shop drawings; Model making; Site surveys ]

Oct 2002 - Jun 2005
 

Education 

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, US, MArch, Architecture

[ Coursework Included: Studio Work in Shanghai, China; Industrial Design; Ecology Technology & Design; Digital Fabrication; Responsive Building Envelopes; Case Studies in Contemporary Urbanism, Landscape, and Design; Property Development ]

Aug 2008 - May 2009
 

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, US, BArch, Architecture

Aug 1997 - May 2002
 

Awards 

Tel Aviv Green: From Garden City to Ecosystem, 1st Place

2008
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills