With a socially focused design philosophy, Michael Damore’s 30-year career has expanded the role of design excellence as a tool for business administration, collaboration and social influence. As a business manager, he has diversified his firm’s portfolio and revenue base. As a design leader, he has fostered new forms of teamwork. As a designer, he has resolved complex urban issues with socially relevant, award-winning work. And as a citizen, he has built community programs that increase social opportunity.
Previous Experience
- Executive Managing Director, President, Architecture and Interior Design, Epstein
During his tenure as a senior executive at Epstein, Mike has expanded the firm’s services, project types and geographic reach, gaining recognition for quality. He has helped reestablish the firm’s membership in the national AIA and converted the firm designation from E/A to A/E. The firm’s design capabilities are now equally balanced between commercial and manufacturing and include large, urban projects such as Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center.
Mike builds a culture of openness among all design-team members and strives to form a true creative process that involves designer, client and end user. This participatory relationship produces a stronger and more complete conceptual idea that results in a vibrant sense of place and understanding. This philosophy has dramatically expanded the Architect of Record role at Epstein, leading to frequent partnering with world-class designers, such as Harry Cobb (Hyatt Center), Josef Kleihues (Museum of Contemporary Art), and TVS/Tom Ventulett (McCormick Place).
Mike has also directed and overseen the planning and design work for multiple educational projects including facilities for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Public School System, Oklahoma State University, the British School of Chicago, Northern Illinois University and Eastern Illinois University.
- Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Mike spent nearly two decades at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) designing high-rise, mixed use and other building types that span from Texas to Chicago and London to Japan. Specific structures include Texas Commerce Tower, the Memphis Museum of Art and Hotel Shilla in Korea. While at SOM Mike was responsible for the planning and design of numerous institutional projects including developments for Southwestern University, the City of Port Imperial, New Jersey, and the Broadgate Development in London.
Professional Registrations and Licenses
- Registered Architect: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
Professional and Civic Affiliations
Awards
- Oklahoma State University, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology,
- Hall of Fame Inductee, 2007
- Damore House, Fort Myers, Florida, AIA (Chicago Chapter), Distinguished Building Award, 2002
- Museum of Science & Industry Grand Hall, AIA (Chicago Chapter), Special Recognition Award, 1999