Michael Hynds
Mr. Hynds is founding partner and Managing Principal of Metropolitan Architecture Studio. He has over 20 years of professional experience on various project types such as civic, academic, health care, religious, research and development, entertainment, telecommunications, historic preservation, corporate offices, and residential. Prior to forming Metropolitan Architecture Studio, Mr. Hynds served as Director of Architecture for Vocon Interiors for 5 years, where he designed and managed dozens of projects including Kraftmaid Cabinetry Corporate Headquarters and interiors for Fortune 500 companies. Later he formed a joint venture Partnership with 3D International where he assisted in the construction management for the U.S. Courthouse in Cleveland. Before settling in Cleveland, Mr. Hynds practiced architecture in Boston and Philadelphia, where he worked at Ellenzweig Associates, and Kling Lindquist Partnership, two of the preeminent collegiate academic and medical research designers in the country. There, he designed projects for major universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Hobart Williams and Smith College.
He has taught architecture and urban design at Kent State University and at Pennsylvania State University. Early in his career he was awarded the Young Cleveland Architect Award. He holds a Master of Architecture form the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. He is a registered architect in both Ohio and Pennsylvania and is NCARB certified. Mr. Hynds is committed to the environment, attends environmental conferences regularly, and is an accredited LEED Professional.
Kathleen Tark
Kathleen Tark is Principal and Partner in charge of design at Metropolitan Architecture Studio. With over 17 years of practice, she brings extensive architecture, planning, and urban design experience to Metropolitan Architecture Studio. Her experience includes a wide range of project types such as commercial, residential, institutional, religious, civic, educational, and master planning. Prior to joining Metropolitan Architecture Studio, she was principal for City Architecture, Inc. In her 11 years there, she served as lead designer for dozens of architectural and planning projects including Trinity Commons, East Mount Zion Baptist Church Educational Wing, Brunswick Town Center, Third Federal Corporate Headquarters, and Pierre’s Ice Cream Corporate Headquarters.
She holds a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design where she studied with the founders of the New Urbanist movement, Duany-Plater-Zyberk. She specializes in urban design and has designed and managed many neighborhood plans and master plans ranging from the scale of single block to that of hundreds of acres. Ms. Tark graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati, with a Bachelor of Architecture and early in her career, she won the Premier Prix at the Ecole Des Beaux Arts Americaines, in Fontainebleau, France. She has taught architecture and urban design at Pennsylvania State University, Kent State University and Cleveland State University. She is registered in the State of Ohio.
