Archinect
Michael Polka

Michael Polka

Palm Beach Gardens, FL, US

 

About 

Michael J. Polka, AIA, LEED AP is a generalist and Registered Architect, proven consultant coordination specialist believing that civil, landscape, mechanical/HVAC, electrical, plumbing, acoustic, and interiors are as important as the architecture - with broad experience with the following typologies:


high rise luxury condominiumslibraries
religious campuses and sanctuaries
schools/universities
retail T.I.
low and mid-rise luxury condominiums/townhouses
city/county halls
restaurants/bars
office/commercial

I believe that architectural documents are time and money consuming.  The design of a facility is PARAMOUNT above all else.  Without unique  and powerful design, the art and poetics are absent from a building/built work.

Employment 

Michael J. Polka, Architect, LLC, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Principal

Residential, Retail Commercial/Food Service design, site design, and construction documentation.
Also, specifications, plan takeoffs, 3D computer modeling with Form-Z Renderzone Plus

Dec 2009 - Jul 2012
 

Leo A. Daly, Project Architect

Coordinated attainment of LEED NC templates & credits,
Plan checking for church and university documentation,
Directed consultant teams from SD through CD phase documentation,
Saved school Client $100000 by suggesting alternate code analysis method,
Reviewed & corrected architectural specifications fro College Institute project,
Successfully directed selective demolition & HVAC coordination for retrofit & renovation of 48,000 square foot university building.
Numerous DD and CD sets for high, mid, and low rise luxury condominiums
Project Manager on grades 1-8 private school

May 2003 - Nov 2009
 

CJK Design, Project Architect

Project Architect & team member fro numerous NATIONWIDE Greek Orthodox and catholic churches, schools, and fellowship/community halls/centers. Performed Architectural Packages for SD, DD, CD coordination, direction, and production.

Chief site planner for nearly all church projects during my tenure at EKONA and then - CJK Design Group including parking, play fields, drop offs, all zoning research. AIA G601, & AIA G602 surveying & requests for geotechnical work as well as RFP's fro civil engineering consultant contracts. Created spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel.

Jan 2001 - Mar 2003
 

Brand + Allen Architects, Designer

Responsible for Form-Z and Photoshop modeling and 3D rendering & detailed 3d models of complete office/retail buildings, signage, canopies. SD, DD, and CD packages in New York City, San Francisco for retail/office buildings in AutoCad, including floor plans, reflected ceiling lpans, elevations, and building sections. Significant retail TI experience with Thomas Pink stores in San Francisco and New York City.

Jan 2000 - Dec 2000
 

Glass Associates, Inc., Intern Architect

Drafting, 3D modeling with Form-Z, Lightscape, and PowerCadd. Typologies included:
multi-family housing,
single family custom homes in Santa Cruz, CA and Beirut, Lebanon,
restaurants,
University of California, Berkeley building retrofit/remodeling

Jun 1998 - Jan 2000
 

Education 

The University of New Mexico, MArch, Architecture

Heavy emphasis on building design, passive and active solar systems, site design, and environmental planning/watershed management, and global indigenous housing.

Aug 1994 - May 1998
 

University of California, Berkeley, Bachelors, Landscape Architecture

Site Design emphasis

Sep 1979 - Dec 1981
 

Skills