Mike O'Brien
Mike O'Brien
William E. Jamerson Professor of Construction
Department of Building Construction

Virginia Tech
Department of Building Construction, 430A Bishop Favrao Hall
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
E-mail
Web site

Mike O'Brien

1975, Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies, Architecture, North Dakota State University

1976, Bachelor of Architecture, Architecture, North Dakota State University

1982, Master of Architecture, Architecture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 

Previous Professional Experience

Virginia Center for Housing Research, Associate Director for Technology Research, 2005 to 2008

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Architecture: Chair, Graduate Programs in Architecture, Aug. 1994 - Aug. 1998.

Principal, Twichell, Thompsen, Martens, OBrien Architects P.C. Fargo, N.D. 1982 - 1987.

Project Architect, Seth W. Twichell and Associates Architects and Planners P.C. Fargo, N.D. 1981.

Associate, Mutchler and Lynch Associates Architects and Planners P.C. Fargo, N.D. 1979.

Job Captain, Mutchler and Lynch Associates Architects and Planners P.C. Fargo, N.D. 1977 - 1978.

Achievements and Awards


  • 2007 Creative Achievement Award, College of Architecture and Urban Studies.
  • 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Architecture and Urban Studies, University Certificate.
  • 2006 Wine Award Nominee, College of Architecture and Urban Studies. One of 9 finalists drawn from the 2,706 faculty.
  • 2006 Excellence in Outreach Award, College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Virginia Tech Solar House 2006. Project team led by Robert Dunay, Joe Wheeler, Robert Schubert, Michael Ellis.
  • 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award, Myers-Lawson School of Construction, Department of Building Construction.2003 NCARB Prize for Creative Integration of Practice in the Academy. Award from the National Council of Architecture Registration Boards for The Art of Integration/The Science of Building.” Project leaders, Robert Schubert, Robert Dunay, Michael Ellis.
  • Honorable mention for Raymond Unwin, John Nolen and the Garden City Design Principles awarded by the Architectural Research Center Consortium in the Conference Paper Competition at the ARCC 2003 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.
  • 2003 XCaliber Team Award. Member of The Art of Integration/The Science of Building. Project team led by, Robert Schubert, Robert Dunay, Michael Ellis awarded by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  • Nolen Scholarship award, Rare Book and Manuscript Division, Kroch Memorial Library, Cornell University, 2000.
  • Distinguished Scholarship Award, College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Virginia Tech. 2000.
  • National Notable Documents Award, American Library Association: O’Brien, M., with Johnson, B., Safer Places: A Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Tutorial” Interactive CD ROM tutorial first printing published by The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. One of two Virginia publications recognized in 1997
  • Certificate of teaching excellence, College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Virginia Tech. 1992
  • Merit award, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the New River Valley as an Associated Architect with James Ritter FAIA. Constructed in1991, honored by the Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1992.
  • Merit award, The Upper Nine, Fargo, N.D. Project architect, Twichell, Thompsen, Martens, OBrien. Constructed in 1985 - 87, honored by the North Dakota Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1988.
  • Merit award, The Casselton State Bank, Casselton, N.D. Project designer, Mutchler, Twichell, and Lynch. Constructed in 1978, honored by the North Dakota Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and with publication in the American Institute of Architects Journal in 1980.

    • Research Interests


    • History of Construction

    • Historical Development of the American Light Wood Frame

    • Affordable Housing Design and Production

    • Industrialization of Residential Construction

    • Whole House Design and Evaluation

    • Design & Construction Information Flow

    • Pervasive Computing and Construction Environments

    • Construction & Design Collaboration

    • Architectural Ornament

    • Progressive Era Subdivision Design and Planning


    Current Projects

    Research Programs:

    • Title: Intersections between Pervasive Computing and Construction Safety
      • Sponsor: Center for Innovation in Construction Safety and Health

      Dates: 7-07 7-08
      Amount: $4,000.00
      Level of Resp.: Primary Author, Co-Principle Investigator with Tom Martin, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Ed Dorsa, Industrial Design; Ron Kemnitzer, Industrial Design.

      • Title: Interdisciplinary Research Team Fellowship Application: Pervasive Computing for Improving Safety on Building Construction Sites
        • Sponsor: Office of the Vice President for Research
        Dates: 8-07 8-08
        Amount: $85,000
        Level of Resp.: Co-Principle Investigator with Tom Martin, Electrical and Computer  Engineering; Eloise Coupey, Marketing; Ron Kemnitzer, Industrial Design.

        • Title: A Catalog of Louis Sullivans Ornament; 1886 1889 The Auditorium Building
          • Sponsor: none
          Dates: ongoing
          Amount: 0
          Level of Resp.: Principle Investigator
          • Title: The history of light wood framing
            • Sponsor: none
            Dates: 11-99 ongoing
            Amount: 0
            Level of Resp.: Principle Investigator
            Podcast Development:
            • BC 3115, Building Cultures I. A history of construction technology/methodology in the context of politics, finance and technological developments in the context of milestone projects, projects that changed the way we think about construction.
            • BC 1214 1224 Podcasts developed lectures as m4a files posted to http://www.mjobrien.com for linkage with Powerpoint presentations to support non-native speaking students and students missing class due to illness.
            • BC 3115 Podcasts developed lectures as m4a files posted to http://www.mjobrien.com for use by students or faculty next Fall.


              • Selected Publications

              • OBrien, M., Wakefield, R., Considering the Whole, Developing a Whole-House Calculator” Published in CD-ROM proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium Spring Research Meeting Green Challenges in Research, Practice and Design Education University of Oregon, Eugene, 2007, pages 1-8 under OBrien, M".
              • OBrien, M., Wakefield, R., Nowak, M., 2005, Preliminary Method to Develop a Calculator for Evaluating Physical Design Characteristics and Whole House Performance Scoring U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, Washington D.C. 42 pages
              • OBrien, M., Wakefield, R., 2004, Industrializing the Residential Construction Site Phase Four, Simulation Systems U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, Washington D.C. 64 pages.
              • OBrien, M., Martin, C., Building the whole house greater than the sum of its parts: The whole house and systems integration focus area summary Proceedings of the National Science Foundation Housing Research Agenda Workshop, February, 2004. Volume I pp. 77-88. Published at http://www.pathnet.org/sp.asp?id=12201.
              • OBrien, M., Wakefield, R., 2003, A Preliminary Method for Evaluating Physical Design Characteristics and Whole House Performance Scoring, presented to the National Science Foundation at the Housing Research Agenda Workshop, February, 2004. Volume II pp. 290-298. Published at http://www.pathnet.org/sp.asp?id=12201.
              • OBrien, M., Raymond Unwin, John Nolen and the Garden City Principles Published in the proceedings of the annual Spring Research Conference of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium Stimulating Research April 2003, Arizona State University. PDF index OBrien pp. 1-13.
              • OBrien, M., Wakefield, R., Beliveau, Y. 2002, “Industrializing the Residential Construction Site Phase Three, Production Systems U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, Washington D.C. 69 pages.
              • Wakefield, R., M. OBrien, Y. Beliveau, 2001, Industrializing the Residential Construction Site Phase Two: Information Modeling U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, Washington D.C. 77 pages.
              • OBrien, M., Wakefield, R., Beliveau, Y., 2000, Industrializing the Residential Construction Site U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, Washington D.C. 87 pages.
              • OBrien, M A Brief History of Systems Additions and Material Innovations in the Light Frame House Presented to the International Science and Technology Meeting of the ACSA, CIB, ARCC, SBSE, Montreal, Canada, 1999, Proceedings p. 235 - 240.

                • Courses Currently Taught

                • BC 1214 - 1224 Introduction to Building Construction
                • BC 4444 - Capstone Design Build Studio
                • ARCH 3045 - 3046 Building Assemblies
                • ARCH 3015 - 3016 Architecture I, Studio
                • ARCH 4515 Architecture V, Thesis
                • ARCH 3054 Building Analysis

                  • Courses Previously Taught

                  • BC 3116 Building Cultures II
                  • BC 5974 History of Construction
                  • ARCH 5974 Housing and Affordability
                  • ARCH 5974 Crime & Environment

                    •