Michael Salka is a multi-disciplinary creator who, in less than 30 years of life, has built projects spanning three continents based on his commitment to addressing the unprecedented challenges of a globalized, majority-urban, and climatically unstable world using the equally unprecedented potential of big data and digital technologies. In 2014, he earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design (B.Envd) at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU Boulder) with highest honors. While an undergraduate, he won multiple competitions organized by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), led a team of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-CU) through the conception and construction of rainwater catchment systems in rural Rwanda, defended an independently researched thesis regarding emerging parametric urban design tools, and published an environmental justice study informed by geographic information systems (GIS). After graduation, he contributed to the realization of the USA’s largest net-zero energy, master-planned neighborhood before departing on a year of investigative working travel throughout Europe. Upon returning to Colorado, he assumed an associate position at Hangar 41, a diversely innovative architecture firm rooted in Denver's historic Art District on Santa Fe. In this role, he collaborated on and directed complex multi-family, retail, restaurant, commercial, and mixed-use urban infill projects. In 2019, he graduated from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia’s (IAAC) first ever Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings (MAEB) program at Valldaura Labs after managing the design and fabrication of the Niu Haus, a full-scale, fully-functional, self-sufficient prototype home built in only 8 weeks primarily of wood from the surrounding Collserola forest processed directly on site using both analog and computationally-driven methods. Subsequently, he served as the Technical Coordinator/Head of Projects for Valldaura Labs, overseeing Horizon 2020/EU research initiatives, facilitating workshops, instructing, and creatively expanding regenerative forestry operations. In September of 2021, he began doctoral studies focused on the application of GIS to locally appropriate, nature-based solutions (NBS) for development and regionally attuned, circular value-chains at the University of Cambridge's Department of Architecture as a Gates Cambridge Scholar.
Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), Barcelona, ES, Instructor in Building Information Modeling for the Master in Mass Timber Design
Lesson planning, and group and individual instruction of post-professional master's students regarding the intersection of building information modeling (BIM), mass timber design, and circular economics (CE)
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, Gates Cambridge Scholar PhD in Architecture Candidate
Under the supervision of Professor Koen Steemers, I will independently investigate the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and algorithmic modeling technologies to the advancement of nature-based solutions (NBS) for development and regionally attuned circular value-chains supported by funding from the Gates Cambridge Trust.
Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), Barcelona, ES, Head of Projects at Valldaura Labs
Coordination of Horizon 2020 EU urban/agricultural/environmental/informational research initiatives
Facilitation of Master’s program courses and workshops
Expert consultation regarding a wide array of traditional and advanced fabrication tools and techniques
Project management
Fab Lab management
Oversight of sustainable forestry practices and creative direction of relevant projects
Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), Barcelona, ES, Academic Coordinator of the Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities
Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), Barcelona, ES, Green Fab Lab Manager
Hangar 41: Architecture, Planning & Interiors, Denver, CO, US, Associate
Production of concept design, schematic design, design development, construction documents and renderings for retail, commercial, restaurant, multi-family residential and municipal building projects
Building Information Modeling
Coordination with clients and consultants
Massing studies
Analyses and application of international and municipal building codes
Participation in collaborative charrettes
Direct contribution to all other aspects of running a profitable and productive firm, including but not limited to: permit procurement, marketing, community engagement, material specification, project selection, scheduling, team management and construction administration
Like A Local Guide, Tallinn, EE, Head Contributor for Denver & Boulder
Authoring and editing of locally insightful, interactive travel guides
SUN Studio, Denver, CO, US, Intern
*Then Michael Tavel Architects
Facade design and production of architectural renderings for single and multi-family residences comprising a 25-acre, 308 residence net-zero energy community
Code analysis, schematic design and design development for single-family residential remodels & additions
Consultation with city planning officials
Production of as-built and schematic design drawings for permitting
Engineers Without Borders CU Rwanda Program, Kigali, RW, Design, Travel & Construction Team Lean
In my role as the Design and Travel team lead I guided two groups of undergraduates through the comprehensive technical design and construction of 3 rainwater catchment systems in rural Rwanda. As of August 2014, 80,000 liters of sanitary collection and storage capacity was provided directly to approximately 250 residents.
The process began in the summer of 2013 when a team of 5 students, including myself, travelled to northwestern Rwanda to found a partnership with government administrators and representatives of several neighboring communities in need of accessible clean water. In country, we collaborated with these parties to conduct forums and surveys which determined rainwater catchment to be the optimal method for providing said water. Over the next academic year at the University of Colorado, I led the EWB-USA CU Rwanda Team through the conception and design of two free-standing rainwater catchment pavilions and the adaptation of an extant third structure for catchment purposes. After receiving approval from a board of professional engineers, I returned to Rwanda with a second team of students in the summer of 2014 to lead the construction. All structures were completed on time and under budget with a high degree of craftsmanship. Based on the assessments of local authorities, residents characterized as young, elderly or infirm are allowed priority access to the new resource. Accordingly, the system will directly serve at minimum approximately 250 individuals. The remaining 4,000 community members will benefit indirectly and gain access to any surpluses these systems generate. EWB continues to oversee maintenance and provide educational support, whereas the community leadership has taken ownership and begun saving income from the original systems to finance future implementations.
University of Colorado at Boulder Environmental Center, Program in Environmental Design and Parking & Transportation Services, Boulder, CO, US, Structural Engineering Tutor, Graphic Designer, Recycled Bicycle Mechanic & Sales Manager
Lesson planning
Group and individual tutoring
Ideation, design and production of various graphic media for the Environmental Center's Sustainable Transportation Program
Full repair of bicycles abandoned on university property to market condition for resale, generating approximately $30,000 of annual revenue
Marketing, sales, wholesale parts orders, warehouse supervision and maintenance of registration and inventory records
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, PhD, Architecture
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Under the supervision of Professor Koen Steemers, I independently investigate the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and algorithmic modeling technologies to the advancement of nature-based solutions (NBS) for development and regionally attuned circular value-chains supported by funding from the Gates Cambridge Trust.
IaaC - The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, Barcelona, ES, Masters, Advanced Ecological Buildings & Biocities
Award for Overall Outstanding Achievement
IAAC Top Tier Scholarship for Overseas Students
AIA Continental Europe Scholarship
The Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings & Biocities (MAEBB) program at IaaC is a one-year, fully immersive course emphasizing the use of advanced computational modeling softwares and progressive fabrication techniques such as 3D printing, robotic manufacturing, laser cutting, CNC machining and biologic engineering among others to produce structures which are performatively integrated with their environments. The culmination of the curriculum will be the construction of a full scale prototype pavilion.
University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, US, Bachelors, Environmental Design
Magna Cum Laude Interdisciplinary Honors, Special Departmental Honors
Activities and Societies: Engineers Without Borders, CU Environmental Center, AIAS, Biomimicry Design Club, Phi Beta Kappa
The CU ENVD Program provided me extensive studio experience in architecture, landscape and urban design. By participating in elective design/build projects I practiced working with clients to realize publicly inhabited structures.
To become the first ENVD student awarded interdisciplinary latin honors, I wrote and defended a thesis researching the roles parametric spatial analyses may play in the urbanization of developing nations.
In July 2013 I traveled to Rwanda with EWB-USA CU to assess a water project in partnership with the community. I then led the CU team through the design of two rainwater catchment pavilions and the adaptation of an extant third structure. In August of 2014 I returned to oversee construction.
I contributed to CU's sustainability by designing attractive informational graphics for the Environmental Center and by repairing and reselling bicycles abandoned on university property. Finally, I helped others succeed by serving as a structural engineering tutor.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship, 1st Place
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation established the Gates Cambridge Scholarships in 2000 with a $210 million donation to support outstanding graduate students’ studying at the University of Cambridge. The scholarship is one of the most competitive and prestigious in the world, recognizing both academic merit and social commitment, with only 0.3% of applicants receiving an award. This gift represents the largest single donation to a British university and the University’s most prestigious program for postgraduate students. Each scholarship covers the full cost of a postgraduate degree in any field at the University of Cambridge and includes funding for academic and professional development. More than 1,800 students from over 110 countries have received the scholarship since its commencement and more than 200 Gates Cambridge Scholars are studying at the University at any given time.
AIA Continental Europe Scholarship, 1st Place
The AIA Europe Scholarship is awarded competitively to an architecture student from the United States, for study at an accredited Master's Program in Continental Europe. A jury of AIA Europe Board Members selects one student each year whose work and ambitions show promise, in a European context. In addition to the scholarship funds, recipient are granted the opportunity to present their research in lecture format at an AIA Europe International Conference.
Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia Top Tier Scholarship for Overseas Students, 1st Place
American Society of Landscape Architects Professional Merit Award for the Design & Construction of Burke Park, 1st Place