UTSOA

Michael Leighton Beaman is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Texas, Austin, and the Director of Design Research Initiative (DRI). DRI focuses on developing sustainable and intelligence-based design solutions with the knowledge and production of advanced digital technologies. In recent, Professor Beaman is the Principle at GA|Collaborative (GA|C) and Founder of Betafield. GA|C is a multidisciplinary, international design firm working primarily in the United States, Rwanda and Bangladesh. Founded in 2007, GA|C works with non-profit organizations, NGOs, co-operatives and like-minded individuals to design and implement strategic architecture and landscape solutions to disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. In 2008, Beaman formed Betafield, a research and design practice working in outlier and theoretical design problems and their implications on the built environment, advanced technology, global culture and politics. Betafield provides a framework to engage projective processes and projects within the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and strategic design.

Beaman holds a Bachelor’s in Architecture from North Carolina State University and a Masters in Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. He has lectured, presented and exhibited work, research, and theoretical texts throughout the U.S. Previous to the University of Texas, Austin, Beaman has taught at Northeastern University, North Carolina State University-College of Design, Boston Architecture College, and the Harvard Graduate School of Design Career Discovery Program.