Conor McMichael

Background

About Conor McMichael

I believe societal challenges large and small can be solved through comprehensive design strategies, and that great architecture must harness collaborative and interdisciplinary design methods to achieve long-term societal benefit. Growing up in an infamously sprawled state made me keenly aware of the importance of community engagement and togetherness. I have seen first-hand the various detrimental impacts of architecture that was designed with a program in mind instead of its people. My personal experience with isolation has led to me to ponder (often behind the wheel) architects’ responsibilities and obligations to design spaces for people. My dream for people to experience these kinds of spaces inspired me to write Enter: Action, through which I explored the role of architecture in enabling and encouraging social connection. It also inspired me to create a bicycle corridor proposal, which I shared with city council members and local leaders in efforts to shift the conversation from a costly sprawl of loosely identifiable bike lanes to a low-cost, high-impact bicycle corridor through downtown Oklahoma City. I strive to create spaces that encourage social interaction and community engagement by leveraging curiosity, empathy, and rigor.