Michael LeFevre

"A 55-year career architect, LeFevre pioneered a new role connecting design and construction. Formerly managing editor, DesignIntelligence Media Group Publications, through invited interviews and essays, he curated, wrote, and edited thought leadership content. As principal, DesignIntelligence Advisory, he consulted nationally on design firm strategy. Formerly vice president, Planning & Design Support at Holder Construction - a national CM firm - he created a pioneering industry role and was responsible for company-wide collaboration and projects with design partners. An early BIM adopter and collaboration evangelist, he is a highly sought, top-rated keynote presenter, and delivered 150+ invited presentations on BIM and design collaboration nationally and internationally. Author of feature articles in national publications, he is frequently cited. Via a unique cross-industry perspective, he brings insight to firms seeking new strategic directions. His debut book - Managing Design: Conversations, Project Controls & Best Practices for Commercial Design & Construction Projects (John Wiley & Son) was published in June, 2019 - an Amazon #1 best selling new release. He was contributing editor to Architect+Action=Result, in 2022, to Designing Words, in 2025 to Winning Words, all by Rebecca W. E. Edmunds; and a contributor to Lean Architecture: Excellence in Project Delivery, by M. Czap and G. Buchanan; Lessons From the Future, by J. Cramer and S. Simpson; and a forthcoming monograph of Phil Freelon, FAIA, by A. Clement and E. Makas. In an award-winning foundational architectural career, he was principal, Lord, Aeck Sargent; project designer/architect at Heery International; associate design director, Herrmann & Holman; and intern architect, Tivadar Balogh. A graduate of the University of Michigan (Masters in Architecture, Summa Cum Laude) he is recognized for work in design, BIM and collaboration as winner of Progressive Architecture Design Award Citations (1972, 1993), High Honors in R&D Magazine’s Lab of the Year, Atlanta Urban Commission, and multiple AIA awards. As thought leader and content creator, he served on multiple industry and university advisory boards, most recently, the University of Michigan’s Taubman College Alumni Board of Governors. Based on career contributions and industry sharing, LeFevre was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows in 2012 for ‘advancing the profession’, in 2023 was recognized as a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council, and continues the quest for industry change."