Michael C Abrams

Biography

Michael C. Abrams is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Maryland-College Park, a licensed Architect, and has taught sketching, drafting and design studios at several colleges and universities across the United States. He obtained a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and a Bachelor in Environmental Design from the University of Puerto Rico. Prof. Abrams has spent several years working in the profession in the United States, Spain, and Italy.

Mr. Abrams published the best-selling book “The Art of City Sketching: A Field Manual” (2nd edition: Routledge, 2021 and 1st edition: Routledge, 2014). Research for the book included documentation and analysis of hundreds of historic buildings and public spaces throughout Western Europe, the Caribbean and the US, and interviews with local and international scholars, architects and historians. Through his research Mr. Abrams has developed techniques and methods to teach students how to draw and help them to graphically capture their visions of the built (and un-built) environment. The first edition of the book is available in English (2014), Simplified Chinese (2017), and Complex Chinese (2019).

In 2014, Mr. Abrams received an AIA award for his design proposal of an Art Center in Evansville, Indiana (One Site, Infinite Solutions competition), and in 2011 an honorable mention for his rehearsal music space design in Madrid, Spain (Soundroom International Design competition).

Since 2006, Michael Abrams has been teaching architectural design studios, hand-drafting, and field sketching courses in the US and abroad.  He also has taught at the Interior Design Program at Corcoran College of Art + Design and at the School of Architecture and Planning at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. His drawings have been exhibited at the George Washington University, the Catholic University of America, Marymount University, Marywood University, and the University of Monterrey in Mexico.

Education

Master of Architecture, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI
Bachelor in Environmental Design, University of Puerto Rico

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

Research: Design Studios, Field Sketching, Manual Drafting and Media Representation
Professional Expertise: Multi-family residential design, Senior Living design, Interior Design, and Commercial Design.

Personal Interests

Drawing, sketching, and playing guitar.

Websites

• Arch Careers Guide (Michael Abrams)

• Maryland Today

• Michael Abrams

• Michael Abrams bio (University of Maryland)

• Student's work: Façade Design

• Student's work: Plaza Study

• Student's work: Urban Analysis

• Student's work: Urban Design project

• VISUAL ANALYSIS Video presentation

Books

Articles

Photos

News