Biography

Andrew von Maur holds a Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism from the University of Notre Dame and a professional Bachelor of Architecture degree from Andrews University.  His areas of expertise include urban design, classical and vernacular design, hand drawing, placemaking, pedestrian-centered urbanism, design theory, participatory design charrettes, and architectural studies abroad. Recent scholarship has included various award-winning international participatory town and campus planning projects conducted through the school’s Urban Design Studio.

Professor von Maur’s professional qualifications include extensive experience in urban design and town planning, practiced in collaboration with leading international offices such as Placemakers, Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company, and Studio Sky. This includes a diverse range of projects, including infill, suburban retrofit, resort communities, and transit-oriented development. Other professional work includes significant experience with residential and mixed-use building design in Chicago, traditional heavy timber frame design and construction in northern Michigan, and freelance building design consultation for custom homes and new urban development in Michigan.

Teaching qualifications, particularly regarding studies abroad, are also shaped by an international personal background, having lived, studied, and worked in Europe extensively. His work with the Urban Design Studio has focused especially on uplifting places in need, having served disadvantaged communities in the United States, the Caribbean, southern Africa, and South America.