Michael Lockwood

Nearly two decades into a career designing buildings and places that draw people together, Michael has a knack for rallying client stakeholders to achieve innovative solutions through a collaborative design process. It starts with the innate ability to listen and interpret a variety of voices in the room. This consensus-building utilizes design thinking to provide solutions to challenges, creating places that perform, inspire and leave a legacy.

A native of Northern California, Michael leads our firm’s United States west coast presence, applying his skills in urban design, architecture and planning to a portfolio of projects that literally spans the globe. Starting close to home, his ongoing involvement in the L.A. LIVE mixed-use development has brought new perspective to an iconic destination.

As design director of Populous’ convention center practice, he’s delivered award-winning work in the heart of America (San Antonio’s $325-million convention center expansion and renovation), the desert landscape of the Middle East (Qatar National Convention Centre) and one of the busiest public spaces in all of Australia (ICC Sydney). Each is notable for its integration of complex facility planning into the urban environment to improve the customer and destination experience. Whether it’s re-planning entire sections of downtowns or designing a 60-acre precinct from scratch, Michael’s work goes well beyond the city block.

At the same time, he’s passionate about small-scale urban development. From boutique venues that seat 200 people to facilities that welcome 2 million guests each year, Michael applies the same design thinking principles. Innovative public assembly projects start with strong relationships – between spaces and stakeholders – and result in making each city a better version of itself.