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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
University of California, Berkeley, Bachelors, Landscape Architecture
Site Design emphasis