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Michael Hirsch

Michael Hirsch

New York, NY, US

 
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About 

Mr. Hirsch is an urban planner/designer.  Michael earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute.  He has a Historic Preservation Planning certification.  During his 30 year professional career, Mr. Hirsch has worked as a Project Architect and a Project Manager, responsible for all phases of project development.  He has worked on many building types including large scale mixed-use developments, such as the Lulu Island Master Plan, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. and the Coney Island Redevelopment Plan, Brooklyn, NY as well as individual building types including luxury hotels and resorts, residential work, and educational buildings in Palm Springs, Vail, and Westlake, Texas.  Mr. Hirsch received an AIA award in 2007 for his resort planning work.

Employment 

LiRo Architects & Planners, New York, NY, US, Urban Planner / Designer

Part of a team led by URS Corporation to assist communities impacted by Superstorm Sandy participating in the NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program. The team assists some of the hardest hit communities in planning for their recovery.
Assessed community vulnerability to future natural disasters and needs for economic development.
Identified projects and actions that will increase resiliency and protect vulnerable populations . Made presentations to client and community groups.

Design team for Sea Beach Renewal Eighth Avenue. The $50 million rehabilitation includes making station ADA accessible. The station work includes complete rehabilitation of two 600 ft long above-ground platforms, two control houses, and the structure spanning over adjacent Long Island Railroad tracks. MTA - New York City Transit and using Microstation for drawing production.

Design team for Hudson River Park's Pier 40 Parks Enforcement Patrol facility hurricane Sandy design and restoration to existing space.

Hurricane Sandy Capital Improvement Program at Lillian Wald Houses – New York, New York
Designer – Responsible for design and technical aspects at Buildings 1 through 18. The scope includes renovation of buildings and MEP systems damaged, incorporation of remedial storm attenuation features to prevent future flooding, and the incorporation of emergency power generators to provide full back-up power at all buildings.

Sep 2013 - Jul 2016
 

Arquitectonica, New York, NY, US, Senior Urban Designer

Design guidelines, recommendations and regulations for Lulu
Island Master Plan, An Island for Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
A new seafront for Abu Dhabi, hosting a modern and luxurious range of residential, health, commercial, recreational, and cultural facilities for an expected population of 27,000.

Design guidelines and signage recommendations for Coney
Island Redevelopment Master Plan for NYDCP/NYEDC
A new zoning framework that includes the preservation of
existing amusement areas in addition to up-zoning portions for
mixed-use development to foster 4,500 new housing units and
460,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

Jan 2006 - Oct 2009
 

Education 

Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, US, Masters, City and Regional Planning and Preservation Planning Certification

2005 Sustainable Design in Germany,
GCPE Summer Course

Sep 2004 - May 2006
 

Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, US, BArch, Architecture

Sep 1981 - May 1986
 

Awards 

Pennsylvania AIA Honor Award, Honorable Mention

The Wildwoods Design Guidelines.

2008
 

Philadelphia AIA Honor Award, Honorable Mention

The Wildwoods Design Guidelines.

2007
 

Carol R. Bloom Award. Resort + Tourism Division APA, Award

Graduate Thesis, "Housing for Seasonal Workers"

2007
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills