MASS Design Group President and co-founder Michael Murphy has announced he will be stepping down from his post after 15 years to pursue new academic and professional initiatives in a move announced on Friday.

The announcement stated that MASS will continue under the leadership of Senior Principals and Managing Directors Christian Benimana and Patricia Gruits and Founding Principal and Chief Design Officer Alan Ricks. Murphy will now join the faculty at Georgia Tech as its new Thomas W. Ventulett III Distinguished Chair.

The recent AIA Firm Award winners have become recognized throughout the design community for their commitment to restorative social justice projects and three core guiding principles of beauty, dignity, and the increased flow of natural air best exemplified in their designs for the Butaro District Hospital and subsequent commissions across Rwanda and the United States.

“Founding and leading MASS has been the privilege of a lifetime. I look forward to continuing my service on the MASS Board of Directors and supporting its mission, partners, and projects in that role,” Murphy said in a statement. "And I am excited to begin the next chapter of my career, including not only working with the wonderful students at Georgia Tech, but also launching a new venture which will focus on sharing the financial ownership of our built environment more equitably."

"Most importantly I want to thank everyone at MASS, every single member of the team, each of whom fearlessly made an important idea into a reality," he added. "Nothing can supplant the hard work of our dedicated employees who are evangelists of how the built world can be shaped to improve the lives of individuals every day.”

MASS says they are currently working on 60 projects representing more than $250 million in financial commitments across the world and will look towards further growth under the new leadership team.

“MASS would not be a global force in life changing architecture that has helped thousands of people around the world without Michael," Neil Mahapatra, the firm's board Chair said finally. "We look forward to benefiting from his wisdom in the years to come on the board and wish him the very best as he shares his innovative approach to architecture with even more people and programs.”