“The Architect as Developer”
Shortly after the American Institute of Architects San Diego Chapter named Mike Burnett the 2010 Young Architect of the Year, the San Diego Architecture Foundation noted the rapidly accumulating accolades: “Hearty congratulations to SDAF member Mike Burnett for being named AIASD’s Young Architect of the Year. In addition, FoundationForForm Architecture & Planning, Burnett’s firm with partner Craig Abenilla, received one of the evening’s three Divine Detail awards for MXD830, also a 2009 Orchid (for Architecture) and Community Vision Award winner.”
The Architect’s Newspaper, in an article exploring the Southern California phenomenon of architects as developers and the contribution to the trend by Woodbury University’s then new program leading to the degree of Master of Architecture in Real Estate Development, had taken note of Burnett’s work as early as 2008: “Already, several new architect/developers have emerged from the class, including Mike Burnett, who is working on a Golden Hill mixed-use project.”
Burnett’s commitment to well-designed development as a force in urban planning has led him to co-create a new network, The Community Collective, “a collaborative if you will, of individuals with extensive experience in city redevelopment, public / private finance, architecture, and urban design . . . to work closely with redevelopment agencies to develop challenging sites that the established development companies typically overlook.”
AIA San Diego’s Emerging Professional Commission says: “Being a southern California native and also earning his bachelor’s degree and Master of Architecture in Real Estate Development from Woodbury University, Mike Burnett is a true regional representation of the great architects that continue to emerge from San Diego.”
