Mike Mariano (he/him) is a founding principal of the practice, an architect with a critical eye, and the ability of knowing when to bring a fresh-approach or time-tested one to a problem. He has considerable construction administration experience, an understanding of the complexity of the real estate development process and in the studio provides thoughtful design leadership for high-performance buildings and communities. 

Mike left for Chicago in 1993 after graduating from the Washington State University School of Architecture. Returning home to Seattle in 1999, Mike worked with a local firm, while also acquiring a Certificate in Commercial Real Estate Development from the University of Washington prior to founding Schemata Workshop with Grace in 2004.

His personal and professional focus is on elevating the experience of living in, and moving through the built environment. Mike has found that civic and personal well-being are intertwined, and brings a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to building social cohesion and community resilience.