Board of Directors

SPOTLIGHT...
	On behalf of all our members, we are very pleased to congratulate Michael V. Murphy, FAIA, who will be inducted into The American Institute of Architects College of Fellows at the annual convention in Boston in May. No small feat!

When I last wrote about Mike in “SPOTLIGHT” in our March 2003 issue, it was difficult to condense his illustrious career. In summary, Mike grew up in Washington, DC, has a B.A. in history from the Wheeling Jesuit University and an M.Arch. from the University of Pennsylvania. He began his work here at DMJM, helping to plan the first line of the Baltimore Metro system, and then spent six years at RTKL, working on interesting projects around the country – hospitals, offices, and shopping centers. Mike realized that he wanted to work more at the local level where he could continue his involvement with clients and communities long after the project was completed, so he began his own firm in 1983 with the expansion of The Johns Hopkins Faculty Club and a chapel for the Newman Center at Towson University. As the workload quickly grew, Mike and Frank Diffenhafer, FAIA, formed Murphy & Dittenhafer, Inc.

Many years and many diverse projects later, the firm thrives with offices here and in York, Pennsylvania. The firm has been recognized frequently for outstanding design in new construction, historic restoration of landmark buildings, and the adaptive reuse of a wide variety of structures. Its diversity of project types has not only been especially stimulating, but economically protective. Now both Mike and Frank are Fellows. Congratulations!

“Reaction to FAIA. I was very proud when Mahendra Parekh, AIA asked that I submit my name and I was chosen to be a Fellow by the AIA. More than anything, I think it affirms the quality of work that Murphy & Dittenhafer has produced. My partner of 22 years, Frank Dittenhafer, was named FAIA last year. His nomination was for design excellence and mine was for excellence in historic preservation, which nicely sums up our practice, although we are each equally interested in both design and preservation. The projects that were included in my submission focused on the renovation of eight historic churches, in Baltimore and elsewhere, along with the Hippodrome and Tremont Grand renovations.

"Historic Preservation. I never intended to specialize in historic preservation, and still don’t consider it more than an aspect of Architecture, using existing buildings to create meaningful places. As an avid history student and fiction reader, what really appeal to me are the stories behind the buildings. This is what we try to keep alive when we preserve or re-use a building, and may explain why I have found myself, as a CHAP Commissioner, advocating the protection of modern buildings like the Mechanic Theater in Charles Center and the Chambers Building in Mt. Vernon, as the age of a building is really irrelevant.

"Baltimore. A D.C. native, I came to Baltimore in 1974, and didn’t know a soul except my brother, who came here to practice law. It took a while to get a sense of the place and I was very put off by what I perceived as the “architectural culture,” or lack thereof. I soon realized that there were other young architects who wanted to do something here, many of whom I met at RTKL, and many of whom now lead excellent local firms. These same folks have helped make our AIA Chapter one of the best in the nation.

"Influences. I have been fortunate in terms of people and institutions in Architecture that have supported and inspired me. Although my father died when I was quite young, he was FAIA (1931) and a Professor of Architecture who left me a treasure of books and buildings. I think that my undergraduate education at Wheeling Jesuit University was also a gift, as the Jesuits are great advocates for liberal studies, followed by action. Of course, being at Penn when Louis Kahn was there was really like a dream, although my greatest teacher there was Mario Romanach, FAIA.

"Gratitude. More than anything, I am grateful for the people with whom I have worked and collaborated. Co-workers, clients, consultants, contractors, crafts-persons, suppliers, all play such important parts in this “symphony” called Architecture that we are trying to create. In the future, as an AIA Fellow, I am looking forward to stepping up my advocacy for Architecture and for our profession.”

Michael V. Murphy, FAIA