"From the Center"

Recognized as an innovative architect and educator, Michael Rotondi has practiced and taught architecture for 30 years. He has always been based in Los Angeles, co-founding two international practices, first as a partner of Morphosis (1975-1991) and then RoTo Architects (1991-present). He was a co-founder and, for 10 years (1987-1997), the second director of the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). He is currently on the Board of Trustees and a Distinguished Faculty there.

His research and work as a trans-disciplinary educator-practitioner has given him the insights that are essential to an open-minded approach to envisioning new directions, solving complex problems at any scale (object-building-city), working with a diversity of people in unique ways, many of whom are at the frontiers of their particular fields, and testing ideas in real time. Projects range from contemplative and cultural, to commercial and civic.

He works as a practitioner, an educator, education consultant, and an organizational meta-planner. Among his many awards are the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Architecture, received in 1992, and the Gold Medal from the Los Angeles Chapter of The American Institute of Architects for his contributions as a Practitioner and Educator, received in 2009. The works have been published widely, and he has lectured and taught throughout the world, for many years.

Rotondi will present a lecture titled “From the Center" at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in Ken and Linda Sue Shollmier Hall, Room 250 of Vol Walker Hall, on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, as part of the Fay Jones School of Architecture lecture series.

He is this year’s John G. Williams Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Fay Jones School.