Michael C. Abrams, RA, NCARB, IIDA

Michael C. Abrams is a Puerto Rican architect and Clinical Professor at the University of Maryland-College Park. Mr. Abrams is the author of two best-selling books: The Art of City Sketching: A Field Manual—2nd ed. (Routledge, 2021) and Metaphoric Architecture: Transforming Ideas into 3D form (Routledge, 2025). He has taught architectural design studios, sketching, drafting, interior design, and history of contemporary architecture at several American colleges and universities in DC, Virginia, Maryland and Chicago. Mr. Abrams obtained his Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and a bachelor's in environmental design from the University of Puerto Rico. Michael has spent several years working in the profession in the United States, Spain, and Italy.

Mr. Abrams involvement in academia has provided him with a platform to inspire students, create new course syllabi, organize workshops, participate in faculty governance, and collaborate with professionals in related fields. As a result of his academic contributions at the University of Maryland, Michael has received two prestigious scholastic awards: the “Outstanding Teaching Award” (2024) from the School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation and the “Faculty Mentor Award” (2021) from the Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars Program, both awards given in recognition for his devotion, rigor, and influence to his student’s architectural education. In 2014, Mr. Abrams received the American Institute of Architects award for his vibrant design proposal of an art center in Evansville, Indiana (One Site, Infinite Solutions competition).

Research interests:

• Architectural design
• Modern architecture and theory
• Metaphoric Architecture
• Field Sketching

Affiliations:

• NCARB
• IIDA