Michael Carney
Michael W. Carney is an architect and educator whose work bridges professional practice and architectural education through a multidisciplinary, practice-based approach. With more than twenty-five years of professional experience, he brings to the Southern Illinois University School of Architecture a comprehensive understanding of how architectural ideas are developed, coordinated, and delivered in real-world contexts.
Michael is the founder and principal of Studio Carney Architecture, Inc., established in 2014 and recently celebrating its tenth anniversary. His professional portfolio encompasses a wide range of building types and scales, including federal and state government facilities, higher education and K–12 environments, public libraries, commercial office interiors, multi-story residential buildings, climate-controlled storage facilities, retail developments, and food service projects. His work is characterized by close collaboration with engineers, consultants, contractors, and public agencies, and by an emphasis on integrating architectural intent with building systems, environmental performance, life-safety requirements, and constructability.
Over the course of his career, Michael has led multidisciplinary teams on projects exceeding 500,000 square feet and construction budgets surpassing $80 million. His experience includes all phases of architectural service—from early planning and conceptual design through technical documentation, regulatory review, and construction administration. Licensed in numerous states across the Midwest, Northeast, South, and Mid-Atlantic regions, he brings broad familiarity with varied codes, standards, and delivery methods, providing students with exposure to the realities of contemporary architectural practice at multiple scales.
Michael earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and his graduate degree from Southern Illinois University. He is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Association of Licensed Architects (ALA) and is recognized by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) as a Broadly Experienced Architect. He returned to teaching at Southern Illinois University in the summer of 2024, joining the School of Architecture as a member of the Graduate Thesis faculty, and has since expanded his role to include instruction in the graduate-level Architectural Systems and Environment course.
Michael’s teaching is rooted in a practice-to-academy pedagogy that prioritizes the transfer of professional knowledge, decision-making processes, and interdisciplinary coordination skills to students preparing to enter the profession. In the classroom and studio, he emphasizes architecture as an integrative discipline, where design intent, technical systems, environmental performance, and regulatory requirements are inseparable. Drawing directly from professional experience, he structures coursework around applied problem-solving, case studies, and project scenarios that reflect the complexities students will encounter in practice.
Through his role at the SIU School of Architecture, Michael W. Carney is dedicated to supporting students as emerging professionals, sharing the lessons of practice to help them build the skills, confidence, and adaptability required for contemporary architectural careers.
Education:
- Undergrad: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Graduate: Southern Illinois University
Awards and Honors:
Recognition as a Broadly Experienced Architect by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).