Michael Green

Michael Green is a Canadian architect recognized for his contributions to sustainable design and mass timber construction. Green is the co-founder of Michael Green Architecture (MGA), which he leads with partner Natalie Telewiak. He is also the author of books on mass timber construction, including "The Case for Tall Wood Buildings," a case study on the use of cross-laminated timber panels and engineered glulam wood beams for constructing tall buildings, and "Tall Wood Buildings: Design, Construction and Performance."

A leader in timber and bio-based construction, MGA coined the term mass timber and has completed significant timber buildings and large-scale sustainable developments. The firm's projects range from cultural installations and private homes to residential masterplans and university campuses, advancing innovation in green building and low-carbon architecture.

Green attended Cornell and worked for César Pelli during the construction of the Petronas Towers, gaining experience in skyscraper design and urbanization. His decision to focus exclusively on timber construction distinguished him within the architecture industry. Green advocated for using materials such as timber, hemp, and bamboo for building not only homes but also skyscrapers, promoting renewable materials in urban development.

Based in Vancouver, MGA was founded by Green to address the environmental impact of the construction industry and to drive change through sustainable innovation and advocacy. The firm's "Wood Innovation Design Centre" in Prince George, British Columbia, was the tallest wooden building in the world at eight stories upon completion. MGA also designed "T3 Minneapolis," a seven-story, 220,000-square-foot building that became the largest modern timber building in North America at the time. MGA's "Google Borregas" project, a five-story office building, serves as Google's first ground-up mass timber development, setting standards in biophilic design, construction techniques, material sourcing, and carbon reduction. MGA's plans include a development in Milwaukee featuring a 55-story tower made principally from mass-timber elements.

Green's expertise in sustainable architecture and timber innovation has earned him international recognition. MGA has received more than 50 international awards for design excellence. Green has delivered TED Talks, including "Why We Should Build Wooden Skyscrapers" and "The Natural Building Blocks of Architecture," and serves as an advisor to government and non-profit organizations on sustainable building practices. He has spoken at the White House and at climate summits. Green is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Northern British Columbia. He lectures internationally on mass timber and new building technology. MGA has been recognized with awards such as the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Firm of the Year, Architizer's Best in North America Firm Award, Governor General's Medals, RAIC Innovation Awards, and the American Institute of Architects Innovation Award.

Beyond his architectural practice, Green is committed to education and systemic change in the building industry. He founded DBR | Design Build Research and TOE | Timber Online Education, a non-profit school and research platform dedicated to teaching the design and construction of socially, culturally, and environmentally relevant student-led installations. Green also serves as a government policy advisor on mass timber design. His career continues to advance sustainable architecture, advocating for the use of wood and renewable materials in the future of urban development.