Michael Halflants, FAIA started his architectural education in Brussels at the Institut Supérieur de St Luc. He later earned a master’s at the University of Florida, where he was awarded the gold medal, the college’s highest design honor. Upon graduation, Michael was a project designer with the Polshek Partnership in New York City. In that capacity, he drew designs for theaters and offices in Manhattan and for the Kansas University Spencer Museum. Working in a joint venture with Arata Isozaki’s Tokyo office, he worked on the Brooklyn Museum addition. In 2018, Michael was recognized with the Florida Medal of Honor for Design, the highest honor that the American Institute of Architects can bestow upon an architect in Florida. As full professor at the University of South Florida, he teaches graduate design studios, urban design, tropical design, and the modern housing course.  He has lectured on housing and tropical design including in Bogota, Singapore, and Bangkok. He is a native French speaker from Belgium.