Michael Duncan has wide experience planning and designing civic, academic, residential, commercial, and transportation projects. His architecture is characterized by clear geometries, carefully proportioned volumes, expressive structures, and the powerful use of light. With each project, Michael seeks to respond to the environment; his refined, cutting-edge sustainability solutions exemplify high-performance design. With a skillful focus on placemaking, Michael leads the design of transformative spaces that reflect and engage their communities.
Michael’s design work includes the International Terminal at San Francisco International Airport, an iconic structure that has created a powerful identity for both the airport and the city of San Francisco. Michael’s design leadership in the adaptive reuse and renovation of The Strand in San Francisco has transformed a derelict building into a premier performance space, contributing to the revitalization of its neighborhood. At UC Merced, Michael helped to establish the university’s dynamic architectural character and open atmosphere with the design of its first two buildings, the Library and Central Plant. He then led the design team selected to develop the UC Merced 2020 Project, which has nearly doubled the size of the campus. His work at Beijing Finance Street, a 22-acre mixed-use development, has established a new financial center and an important public space for China’s capital city.
